Opinion: RI legislators must fund a support system that allows seniors to age safely, affordably
Maureen Maigret, a former state legislator and director of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs, is chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council.
The state Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council was created by law in 2014 to “develop a plan to provide the needed infrastructure and program improvements in support services, housing and transportation that will enable the state's growing elder population to safely remain living at home and in community settings.” Following comprehensive research listening to advocates, providers and older adults across the state, in 2016 the subcommittee developed a Strategic Plan to promote older adults’ capacity to age in the community.
Research shows this is not only what older adults overwhelmingly prefer but that funding of such lower-cost supports such as Meals on Wheels, home care, adult day programs and caregiver respite can defer or delay persons from entering high-cost nursing homes causing them to deplete assets and rely on Medicaid costing Rhode Island an average of $65,000 per year.
Some of the Strategic Plan’s recommendations have been implemented, but far too many still need to be accomplished. While our older population has grown dramatically, the state has failed to invest in the support system needed to help them remain safely at home.
In addition to increasing numbers, the state’s older population is getting more diverse and poorer. With 28% of senior households having income less than $25,000 a year many can barely afford basic necessities. Baby boomers have started to reach age 75 and research shows one-third to one-half will need some form of long-term care with average future costs projected at $137,800.
Now is the time for our legislators to fund a support system that allows our seniors to age safely and affordably in the community by adopting an “age friendly" budget for fiscal year 2024. Such a budget will lead to better care and include:
• $500,000 in first-time state funding to improve the state Aging and Disability Resource Center (The Point), so older adults and families have a source to get timely information about services and supports.
• Adding funds for at least five staff positions for the Office of Healthy Aging. While the older population has grown dramatically, the 31 full-time staff allotted to the office has been stagnant for nine years.
• $860,000 in increased population-based funding to support our local senior centers/programs, which provide an array of health, social, educational and nutrition programs shown to promote physical and mental well-being.
• Bringing Medicaid eligibility for older adults to 138% of the federal poverty level to provide equity with other populations and pay for care not covered by Medicare.
• Raising the income level for the Medicare Premium Savings Program, to save almost $2,000 a year for many lower-income seniors; and adding a cost-of-living adjustment to the $39.92 state Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit for low-income older adults and persons with disabilities.
• Working toward a $20 an hour minimum wage for direct care home care and nursing home staff to address critical workforce shortages. Many seeking home care wait three months or longer to get care, and nursing homes are unable to meet staffing needs.
• Funding to address the housing needs of older adults as part of state plans to deal with the housing crisis.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Needed: A support system to help seniors remain safely at home | Opinion Column
