N4A Reports Most U.S. Cities Unprepared For Aging Boom

News organizations around the country ran stories today about a just report sponsored by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging that claims the majority of U.S. cities are unprepared to meet the needs of aging baby boomers over the next two decades.

The Associated Press story that ran in Newsweek and other national publications quotes n4a CEO Sandy Markwood as saying that the report's findings "should serve as a wake up call for communities to begin planning now."

The report, titled “The Maturing of America — Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population,” looks at health care and nutritional programs, transportation, public safety and emergency awareness, volunteer opportunities and other services.

From the report's Executive Summary:

To help cities and counties better meet the needs of their aging population, and to harness the experience and talent of their older citizens, five national organizations joined forces to identify ways to prepare for the aging of this population. Known as The Maturing of America — Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population, the project is being led by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities. The initiative is funded by a grant from MetLife Foundation.

In the project’s first phase, Maturing of America partners surveyed 10,000 local governments to:

• Determine their “aging readiness” to provide programs, policies and services that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers;
  • Ensure that their communities are “livable” for persons of all ages; and
  • Harness the talent, wisdom and experience of older adults to contribute to the community at large.

The survey found that only 46 percent of American communities have begun to address the needs of the rapidly increasing aging population. The survey results show that although many communities have some programs to address the needs of older adults, few have undertaken a comprehensive assessment to make their communities “elder friendly” or livable communities for all ages.

Survey findings indicate that local governments generally offer basic health and nutrition programs, but as yet do not have the policies, programs or services in place to promote the quality of life and the ability of older adults to live independently and contribute to their communities for as long as possible. These services might include job retraining, flextime and other job accommodations; home chore services, home modification and senior-friendly housing options, tax relief, roadway redesign or public transportation assistance as well as volunteer opportunities targeted to older adults.

National "Employ Older Workers Week" Celebrated

Celebrated annually, National Employ Older Workers Week showcases the efforts of the Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

For over 40 years, SCSEP has served the job training and placement needs of people with limited financial resources who are age 55 or older. Since its inception under the Economic Opportunity Act, this program has helped over one million people enter the job market each year by providing workforce services to older Americans and exploring ways for older workers to respond to the rapidly changing skills demands of business.

The Anderson Independent-Mail newspaper reported in August that one of its own, 76 year old press room supervisor George Mize, has been named South Carolina's Outstanding Older Worker for 2006 by the non-profit organization Experience Works.

Experience Works is a national, nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers.  Established in 1965 as Green Thumb, and renamed Experience Works in 2002, the organization reaches more than 125,000 mature individuals in all 50 states and Puerto Rico each year. 

The Outstanding Older Worker recognition program is part of Experience Works’ national effort to raise awareness of the contributions made by older individuals and to break down barriers associated with the hiring of older workers.  All of the outstanding older workers will attend Experience Works Prime Time Awards week in Washington, D.C., in September where America’s Oldest Worker will be announced.

Clicking on the organization's logo pictured at the left will take you to their web site, ww.experienceworks.org.  

Final WHCOA Report, The Booming Dynamics of Aging, Issued

The final report of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging has been printed and is being disseminated to the President, the Congress and all Conference participants.  The report, as well as other information about the conference, can be found on the WHCoA website. The complete report can also be downloaded in PDF format by clicking on the icon at the left.

The report stresses the need to find innovative solutions for the challenges posed by the impending retirement of the baby boom generation.

Lt. Governor André Bauer led a delegation of South Carolinians to the conference December 2005 conference. Bauer, along with Norma A. Curtis of McCormick and Harris B. Davis of Orangeburg was chosen to represent the state by Governor Mark Sanford.

In addition to Governor Sanford’s picks, delegates were also chosen by South Carolina’s Congressional delegation and in an at-large process. Sen. Lindsey Graham named Bill Dukes of Chapin, and Sen. Jim DeMint named Dr. Gil Bradham of Charleston. Rep. Gresham Barrett named Eileen Hayward of Salem, and designated Becky McDade of McCormick as an alternate. Rep. John Spratt named Lynn Stockman of Newberry. Rep. Henry E. Brown named Roberta Combs of Charleston, and Rep. Joe Wilson named Tom Brown of Columbia. Rep. James E. Clyburn named Ollie Johnson of Columbia, and designated Linda Mitchell-Johnson of Florence as an alternate. Rep. Bob Inglis named Cornelia Gibbons of Columbia. Delegates named through the at-large nomination process were Randolph Thomas of Blythewood, Nancy J. Muller of Columbia, and Antonio B. Boyd of Columbia.

From the Final Report Summary:

Beginning January 1, 2006, on average, a new 60 year old was celebrating a birthday every seven seconds, and these celebrations will continue for another 18 years. The impact of this demographic shift will affect every level of our social, economic and political systems.

In his address to the WHCoA delegates on December 12, 2005, David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, summed up the challenges our country faces by outlining the consequences that the projected growth of the aging population has for our nation’s health care system and its economy, especially if we take no action. Mr. Walker said that “continuing the current national direction of our country is not an option” or the result will be that “our children and grandchildren may face taxes 2.5 times today’s levels.” He suggested three ingredients needed to address these changing times: “courage, integrity and innovation,” and he challenged all delegates to draw upon these ingredients in their deliberations – to have the courage to make tough choices, the integrity to do what is right and fair, and to unleash their minds in pursuit of innovative approaches that will make the coming decade one of positive and productive aging.”

Solutions to the challenges ahead will not come from looking back because there is no prologue. As one reviews this report and reflects on the discussions of the delegates and the thousands of other participants who shared their views through pre-WHCoA events, it would be wise to remember that a new lens focused on the future of an aging society, together with an understanding of the past, will be needed. This is perhaps the greatest challenge we will face in the coming decades.

Florida Adopts Long Term Care Insurance "Partnership Plans"

The state of Florida - along with 20 other states - has agreed to implement a new program authorized by the federal government that will provide incentive for more people to purchase long term care insurance, according to an article published September 18 in the South Florida Sun Sentinel and picked up by numerous other news outlets.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) announced the availability of the new Medicaid LTC Partnership programs in late July.

 “One of the greatest challenges facing our nation is providing high-quality care for older Americans when their health declines,” said outgoing CMS Administrator Mark McClellan.   “As the Baby Boom generation approaches Medicare eligibility we need to make sure that benefits are secure and available for those who need them. Today we announced more steps we are taking to provide well-coordinated care to prevent costly complications for beneficiaries with complex medical problems.

Medicaid rules normally require applicants to have spent their assets (with some exceptions such as a home or burial funds) before they qualify for Medicaid and its long-term care (LTC) benefit.  In fact, the new Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) tightens existing rules to discourage individuals from transferring their assets to family members or others to hasten their Medicaid eligibility.

State Medicaid programs may disregard assets that match, dollar for dollar, the amount paid to an applicant by a private long-term care insurance policy when determining if the applicant meets the asset limits for Medicaid eligibility.  Changes made by the DRA, and announced today, will allow those same assets to later be deducted from the amount the state must recover from the beneficiary’s estate.

Lt. Governor André Bauer, head of the State Office on Aging, also supports the idea of providing incentives to encourage citizens to take personal responsibility for planning for their own long term needs. Bauer told the members of the State Silver Haired Legislature that he'd like to see state lawmakers pass a tax credit for individuals who purchase their own long term care insurance policies, when he spoke to that group during their recent legislative session in Columbia.

"All too often, families end up spending a lifetime of savings at the end of life on nursing home care," said Bauer. "Long Term Care insurance can help tremendously with that, and I hope you will join me in working to provide incentives for working people that will make the purchase of this insurance more attractive. We need to institute a tax credit or other incentive to encourage people to take this important step towards planning for a secure future."

Third Annual South Carolina Summit on Aging to Focus on "The Aging Brain"

The deadline for early registration for this year's South Carolina Summit on Aging conference is October 20.

The conference, sponsored by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging, the Medical University of South Carolina Center on Aging/South Carolina Geriatric Education Center, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Palmetto Health, Geriatrics Services, the USC School of Medicine Division of Geriatrics, AARP South Carolina, and USC College of Social Work will focus on the health of the aging brain and related issues.

Held in the new Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street in Columbia's Vista, the conference will address various aspects of “The Aging Brain,” beginning with an overview of brain health issues in South Carolina. A number of experts will provide information on specific topics including, Emerging Opportunities to Promote and Protect Brain Health, Cerebrovascular Health and Stroke, and Promoting and Protecting Brain Health. There will be a question and answer session after each presentation.

The afternoon will consist of a series of breakout sessions. Topics include Staying Sharp: A National Retired Teachers Association Program, Maintain your Brain, and Dementia Respite Care and Community Outreach. The day will conclude with a presentation, “A Healthy Brain in a Healthy Body: Lessons Learned from Research and Life.” The conference program has been approved by the Mid-Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC) for continuing education credits for social workers, counselors and various other fields.

More information about the conference, including registration materials, the agenda, a list of presenters and a complete listing of approved CEU's can be found on the web site of USC's College of Social Work. The registration fee is $50 per registrant. On-site registration is $65. Student registration fee is $20.00.

AARP Holding Town Meetings on Payday Lending

Could you imagine that a $300 payday loan could end up costing you your home or forcing you to declare bankruptcy? AARP South Carolina and its community partners are concerned about the impact payday lending is having on South Carolina consumers.

To help draw attention to this issue and educate the public, Payday Lending Town Hall meetings have been planned in Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and Rock Hill over the next few weeks to raise the issues, uncover the harm, and address concerns of payday lending as practiced in South Carolina, according to a press release issued by AARP South Carolina.

“With 1,120 payday lending locations statewide – more than double the number from five years ago – payday lenders make it easy for consumers to get trapped in predatory debt,” says Teresa Arnold, AARP South Carolina Legislative Director.

You can download "The Facts on Payday Lending in South Carolina," a handbook prepared by AARP, South Carolina Fair Share and the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center by clicking on the Icon at the left (adobe PDF format).

The complete schedule of Town Meetings includes:

Myrtle Beach:
When: Thursday, September 14, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Grand Strand Senior Center
1268 21st Avenue North Myrtle Beach

Greenville:
When: Thursday, September 21, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Greenville County Council Chambers
County Square – Conf. Room A 301 University Ridge

Columbia:
When: Thursday, September 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Suggs and Kelly Law Firm – Vista Room
(Corner of Taylor and Huger Streets) 500 Taylor Street

Charleston:
When: Thursday, October 12, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Holiday Alumni Center – Renken Dining Room
The Citadel

Rock Hill:
When: Thursday, November 9, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Baxter Hood Center - York Technical College 452 S. Anderson Road

Medicare Premiums on the Rise, and Part B Rates Will Be Tied to Income From Now On

Newspapers around the country are beginning to report on the effects of a New Medicare policy that will increase the Part B premiums for wealthier beneficiaries next year.

Beginning January 1, 2007, Part B Premiums for most Medicare beneficiaries will increase an average of 5.6% - from $88.50 to $ 93.50. That's a fairly modest increase, compared to other increases in recent years, according to a fact sheet sent out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Tuesday (September 12). But the part of the increase that's drawing the most attention concerns the fact that for the first time in the history of the program, upper income beneficiaries (CMS estimates about 4% of the total) will pay much higher part B premiums. Based on their income.

People who earn more than $80,000 per year will now pay $106 per month for Part B, and people in the highest income bracket ($200,000 per year or more) will pay $162.

The program change was initiated with little public notice as part of the Medication Modernization Act, the same piece of legislation that created the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit and HMO-style Medicare "Advantage Plans" (Part C). Medicare leaders say the move was necesary to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Medicare program in the face of the impending retirement of the baby boomers.

A September 10 article in The State covered the issue, and the Tribune News Service ran a story on September 13 .

Newspapers Focus on Aging Workforce

Many newspapers around the nation featured stories during the Labor Day weekend that addressesed the issue of the aging of the American work force.

This August 29 story from the Saint Petersburg Times (Florida) focussed on recent retirees who have changed gears and started new careers, and this Labor Day piece in the San Antonio Express-News (Texas) looked at older workers who are simply continuing to work well past traditional retirement age, either from necessity or because they just don't want to stop.

Experts watching this trend predict that the American workforce will age rapidly over the next two decades, as ever-increasing numbers of the baby boom generation choose to continue working well into their 60's, 70's or even 80's.

In August, 76-year-old George Mize of Anderson was recognized as South Carolina's Outstanding Older Worker for 2006 by the non-profit organization Experience Works.

The Outstanding Older Worker recognition program is part of Experience Works’ national effort to raise awareness of the contributions made by older individuals and to break down barriers associated with the hiring of older workers.  All of the outstanding older workers will attend Experience Works Prime Time Awards week in Washington, D.C., in September where America’s Oldest Worker will be announced.