For the millions of Americans who have physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism may present special challenges. The same challenge also applies to the elderly and other special needs populations. Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) are urging residents of Washington state to be prepared.
Disasters may increase hardships for seniors and people with disabilities. They are in the best position to plan for their own safety, as they are best able to know their own functional abilities and possible needs during and after an emergency or disaster. Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning and may force people to evacuate their neighborhoods or confine them to their homes.
To be ready, officials urge seniors and people with disabilities to:
Make prior arrangements with your physician or check with your oxygen supplier about emergency plans for those on respirators or other electric-powered medical equipment. Be sure to have electrical backup for any medical equipment.
Maintain a two-week supply of medications, both prescription and non-prescription.
Have copies of your medical records readily available.
Have copies of prescriptions for medical equipment, supplies and medications on hand readily available
Keep extra contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses and extra batteries for hearing aids.
Make plans now to have accessible transportation in case of evacuation.
Shelters may be limited in accommodations to meet some of the needs of those with disabilities. Prepare ahead of time to ensure that you will have what you need.
Include your service animals and pets in your plans.
In addition, people with special needs should organize a network of assistance that includes care attendants, neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers at home, school, work place, volunteer sites and any other places where they spend a lot of time. People should find out about special assistance that may be available in their community through their local emergency management coordinator.
All Washington state residents should assemble a kit with disaster supplies with basic items they anticipate needing to stay safe and comfortable during and after a disaster. This should include items such as water, food and first aid supplies.
More information regarding disaster plans and planning for special needs can be found at www.ready.gov and www.fema.gov.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters.
Showing posts with label seniors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seniors. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Opinion: Establish State Task Forces to Monitor Medicaid Spending, Ascertain Funds Going to Pro
National Caregiver Coalition to National Governors Association: Establish State Task Forces to Monitor Medicaid Spending, Ascertain Funds Going to Protect Seniors
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a new letter to National Governors Association (NGA) Chairman Ed Rendell (D-PA) and James Douglas (R-VT), the Coalition to Protect Senior Care (CPSC), a national coalition of front line caregiver advocacy groups, today urged the nation's Governors to ensure new state Medicaid funds disbursed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) actually go towards meeting poor seniors' care needs, and are not diverted to other state spending priorities that have nothing at all to do with eldercare.
"Now that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been passed into law, and states begin to receive the Medicaid funds that have the capacity to protect seniors' access to quality care, we are concerned there is no guarantee funds will be used for the intended purpose of protecting care access," writes Lori Porter, co-founder of the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), and a senior spokesperson for the Coalition to Protect Senior Care, based in Joplin, MO. "Unfortunately, these Medicaid resources can be diverted to other state spending priorities - priorities that have nothing at all to do with eldercare. Doing so would be unwise and unfair."
Later this morning, President Obama announced at a White House meeting with the NGA that in order to bring prompt economic relief, states will be able to access the first two quarters of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage Funding (FMAP) starting this Wednesday, February 25. In making the announcement, the President said that the swift release of these funds would prevent the need for states to make cuts to critical healthcare services, such as eldercare.
The President stated, "This plan will also help ensure that you don't need to make cuts to essential services Americans rely on now more than ever... By the time most of you get home, money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health coverage. Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won't need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won't need to worry about the health of their babies."
In the CPSC letter, Porter urged Governors to use the enhanced federal Medicaid funds provided through ARRA to reverse cuts already made to health care providers, and to prevent new cuts being considered. "Ensuring impoverished seniors in nursing homes continue to receive high quality care is contingent upon the ability of facilities to hire and retain appropriate numbers of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs)," she continued. "When state officials choose to cut Medicaid funding to providers, they are often forced to eliminate critical nursing staff positions - ultimately to the detriment of seniors' care needs."
Porter applauded the Governors for developing strategies for disbursing ARRA funds, and to establish transparency and spending accountability. "Governors are implementing a number of best practices provisions in regard to how these new Medicaid funds will be spent, and the nation's front line care givers support these initiatives, and this approach."
In this context, Porter said every state would benefit from a special task force that would monitor and report to the public specifically where this new federal Medicaid funding is allocated. "Doing so would establish maximum transparency - and enable stakeholders to ascertain what percentage of funds goes towards meeting poor seniors' care needs, and the degree to which these funds are redirected to other priorities unrelated to seniors. Ensuring these Medicaid funds are directed towards seniors and the front line nursing staff who care for them will not only help ensure patients retain access to quality nursing home care, but also protect and help create the key facility staff jobs that make an enormous difference in patient outcomes."
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a new letter to National Governors Association (NGA) Chairman Ed Rendell (D-PA) and James Douglas (R-VT), the Coalition to Protect Senior Care (CPSC), a national coalition of front line caregiver advocacy groups, today urged the nation's Governors to ensure new state Medicaid funds disbursed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) actually go towards meeting poor seniors' care needs, and are not diverted to other state spending priorities that have nothing at all to do with eldercare.
"Now that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been passed into law, and states begin to receive the Medicaid funds that have the capacity to protect seniors' access to quality care, we are concerned there is no guarantee funds will be used for the intended purpose of protecting care access," writes Lori Porter, co-founder of the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), and a senior spokesperson for the Coalition to Protect Senior Care, based in Joplin, MO. "Unfortunately, these Medicaid resources can be diverted to other state spending priorities - priorities that have nothing at all to do with eldercare. Doing so would be unwise and unfair."
Later this morning, President Obama announced at a White House meeting with the NGA that in order to bring prompt economic relief, states will be able to access the first two quarters of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage Funding (FMAP) starting this Wednesday, February 25. In making the announcement, the President said that the swift release of these funds would prevent the need for states to make cuts to critical healthcare services, such as eldercare.
The President stated, "This plan will also help ensure that you don't need to make cuts to essential services Americans rely on now more than ever... By the time most of you get home, money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health coverage. Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won't need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won't need to worry about the health of their babies."
In the CPSC letter, Porter urged Governors to use the enhanced federal Medicaid funds provided through ARRA to reverse cuts already made to health care providers, and to prevent new cuts being considered. "Ensuring impoverished seniors in nursing homes continue to receive high quality care is contingent upon the ability of facilities to hire and retain appropriate numbers of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs)," she continued. "When state officials choose to cut Medicaid funding to providers, they are often forced to eliminate critical nursing staff positions - ultimately to the detriment of seniors' care needs."
Porter applauded the Governors for developing strategies for disbursing ARRA funds, and to establish transparency and spending accountability. "Governors are implementing a number of best practices provisions in regard to how these new Medicaid funds will be spent, and the nation's front line care givers support these initiatives, and this approach."
In this context, Porter said every state would benefit from a special task force that would monitor and report to the public specifically where this new federal Medicaid funding is allocated. "Doing so would establish maximum transparency - and enable stakeholders to ascertain what percentage of funds goes towards meeting poor seniors' care needs, and the degree to which these funds are redirected to other priorities unrelated to seniors. Ensuring these Medicaid funds are directed towards seniors and the front line nursing staff who care for them will not only help ensure patients retain access to quality nursing home care, but also protect and help create the key facility staff jobs that make an enormous difference in patient outcomes."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Economic Stimulus Package Would Place Social Security Trust Fund in Deficit for First Time Ever Next Year
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional economic stimulus plan would place the Social Security Trust Fund into deficit for the first time ever next year, if the current economic stimulus package is passed by both Houses of Congress.
Social Security is funded by payroll taxes that employees and their employers pay into the system. Money that comes into the Social Security Trust Fund is used to pay the Social Security checks retirees receive each month, and since the creation of the Trust Fund in 1983, the program has always had more money coming in than going out.
However, that may change as soon as next year, due to a proposed refundable payroll tax credit which would offer workers a refund on their portion of Social Security taxes, meaning there would be insufficient cash to pay benefits. The $145.3 billion refundable payroll tax credit proposal would give individual workers up to $500 and couples up to $1,000.
According to the 2008 Social Security Trustees Report, the estimated surplus under "high cost," or bad economic conditions, is as follows:
Year Social Security Trust *Payroll Credit Costs,
Fund Projected Surplus Proposed Legislation
(Billions) (Billions)
2009 $54 $24
2010 $57 $80.8
2011 $43 $37
2012 $26
2013 $5
* Source: Joint Committee on Taxation
"A sufficiently funded Social Security Trust Fund is critical in ensuring that seniors don't have to endure benefits cuts," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "Although we recognize the economy is in bad shape, we don't think putting the Trust Fund into the red is a responsible response."
The Senior Citizens League is advocating for any decrease in payroll taxes to be taken from the general treasury, not the Social Security Trust Fund.
Social Security is funded by payroll taxes that employees and their employers pay into the system. Money that comes into the Social Security Trust Fund is used to pay the Social Security checks retirees receive each month, and since the creation of the Trust Fund in 1983, the program has always had more money coming in than going out.
However, that may change as soon as next year, due to a proposed refundable payroll tax credit which would offer workers a refund on their portion of Social Security taxes, meaning there would be insufficient cash to pay benefits. The $145.3 billion refundable payroll tax credit proposal would give individual workers up to $500 and couples up to $1,000.
According to the 2008 Social Security Trustees Report, the estimated surplus under "high cost," or bad economic conditions, is as follows:
Year Social Security Trust *Payroll Credit Costs,
Fund Projected Surplus Proposed Legislation
(Billions) (Billions)
2009 $54 $24
2010 $57 $80.8
2011 $43 $37
2012 $26
2013 $5
* Source: Joint Committee on Taxation
"A sufficiently funded Social Security Trust Fund is critical in ensuring that seniors don't have to endure benefits cuts," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "Although we recognize the economy is in bad shape, we don't think putting the Trust Fund into the red is a responsible response."
The Senior Citizens League is advocating for any decrease in payroll taxes to be taken from the general treasury, not the Social Security Trust Fund.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Economic Stimulus Package Offers Little Help to Seniors in Poverty
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Senate version of the economic stimulus package would provide Social Security recipients and disabled veterans a one-time extra payment of $300.
The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) supports the $300 payment to seniors, but maintains that amount is insufficient to truly help the nation's poorest seniors. The average Social Security beneficiary receives just $13,836 per year, and more than 10 percent of seniors live below the poverty line.
TSCL is advocating for as much as $1,000 in relief for the nation's poorest seniors - the same amount couples earning up to $150,000 per year would receive.
A recent study released by TSCL found that seniors lost 51 percent of their buying power since 2000, a result of costs increasing more rapidly than the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment.
"It's difficult to understand why the Senate would give the least money to the most vulnerable group in our economy," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "It seems clear that seniors - especially those barely getting by - are precisely the people that will stimulate the economy by spending their stimulus checks."
"We receive phone calls from seniors every day who are having a tough time paying for their prescriptions, groceries, and rent - these are the very people who need the stimulus most," said Shannon Benton, executive director of TSCL.
TSCL is concerned with one part of the Senate proposal: since workers would not pay a portion of their Social Security taxes, the Social Security Trust Fund would go into deficit spending as soon as 2010. TSCL encourages lawmakers to take the money required for this tax relief from the general treasury rather than the Trust Fund.
With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.
The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) supports the $300 payment to seniors, but maintains that amount is insufficient to truly help the nation's poorest seniors. The average Social Security beneficiary receives just $13,836 per year, and more than 10 percent of seniors live below the poverty line.
TSCL is advocating for as much as $1,000 in relief for the nation's poorest seniors - the same amount couples earning up to $150,000 per year would receive.
A recent study released by TSCL found that seniors lost 51 percent of their buying power since 2000, a result of costs increasing more rapidly than the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment.
"It's difficult to understand why the Senate would give the least money to the most vulnerable group in our economy," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "It seems clear that seniors - especially those barely getting by - are precisely the people that will stimulate the economy by spending their stimulus checks."
"We receive phone calls from seniors every day who are having a tough time paying for their prescriptions, groceries, and rent - these are the very people who need the stimulus most," said Shannon Benton, executive director of TSCL.
TSCL is concerned with one part of the Senate proposal: since workers would not pay a portion of their Social Security taxes, the Social Security Trust Fund would go into deficit spending as soon as 2010. TSCL encourages lawmakers to take the money required for this tax relief from the general treasury rather than the Trust Fund.
With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.
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