Low-income seniors deserve good care in their homes

By The Globe Gazette, Mason City

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Senior citizens concerned about legislative issues may want to put Thursday, Feb. 3, on their calendars.

That's when Advocacy Day for seniors will be held at the Legislature in Des Moines, giving seniors a prime opportunity to speak on issues of concern to them.

We have a distinct feeling that the Senior Living Trust Fund will be one of the topics.

It certainly was a point of concern at the Elderbridge Agency on Aging's annual legislative forum held recently in Mason City.

Seniors said they were concerned about the $8.5 million that “disappeared” from the fund, according to Lahoma Counts, executive director.

It didn't disappear; it was moved from that fund to cover other obligations.

But seniors are concerned that they could be affected, and that the action could hurt the state budget.

For example, the Medicaid Elderly Waiver program paid through the Senior Living Trust Fund provides services to enable lower-income seniors to remain in their homes instead of going to a nursing home.

The difference in costs to the state is astounding: $606 for in-home services compared to $3,654 in monthly Medicaid costs of nursing home care, according to Elderbridge.

Those kinds of figures are bound to get legislators' attention.

In fact, state Sen. Amanda Ragan, the Mason City Democrat and only legislator who attended the forum, said she believes the Legislature will make sure needs for the low-income elderly are met - and that those needs are best met when keeping seniors in their homes when possible.

“I truly think that the services being provided in the home is the best and the cheapest way to do it,” Ragan said. “That's what people want.”

Seniors expressed other priorities for legislators:

Reimbursing agencies for services provided to consumers under the Medicaid Elderly Waiver at actual cost.

Providing appropriations to meet the unmet needs of the frail elderly.

Expanding the elder abuse initiative.

Funding to help prevent and slow the growth of mental diseases and Alzheimer's.

Providing funding for property tax relief for lower-income seniors.

That's a nice wish list; now if there only were funding to make it all happen. That's not likely given the economy. Legislators will have to pick and choose what they consider most important.

What's obviously important is helping the low-income elderly and delivering that help in their homes - where most want to live as long as possible and where care can be delivered much more economically.

Ragan believes that will be the case and we know she will work to make it happen.

Still, there is power in numbers and there's no question Iowa' ever-growing senior population can form a powerful lobby and voting bloc.

That's why we urge them to put Feb. 3 on their calendar to give lawmakers a friendly piece of their mind about providing the care they need and deserve.