Reauthorization Of Federal Program Needed Projects For Frail Elderly Funded By Older Americans Act Could Be In Serious Jeopardy

First in a series

When Celia was 86, she moved in with Mary, 88, to care for her newly diagnosed terminally ill friend.

Celia and Mary are not their real names, but this is their real story.

After Celia moved in, she suffered a serious heart attack, and she soon found herself with Mary in the terminally ill category. Mary, who now is 89, was not expected to live this long and now cares for her terminally ill friend, Celia, who turned 87 in September.

They need help, and they have help thanks to their family, the federal Older Americans Act and other related services for the frail elderly.

Neither can keep up with the routine of daily living without help from homemaker services, hospice and home care, which help keep these two dear old friends at home in a secure environment they both know and love.

The Older Americans Act, which provides funding for many of these services, has been operating on a continuing resolution from Congress, awaiting reauthorization, since 1994. The reauthorization needs to be done soon or “all programs funded and authorized within the act are in jeopardy,” said Debra Gordon, director of the North Idaho Office on Aging.

All of us need to be aware of the significance of the Older Americans Act. The fastest-growing segment of our population - in Kootenai County and around the world - is the elderly. We may not consider ourselves seniors, but we all have family members in that group, and many of us plan to join the expanding elderly population.

The Older Americans Act became the first federal program to focus on community-based services for older persons. Many people feel that because of Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act - all created in 1965 - our population is living longer than all previous generations.

Gordon said she feels the “most important aspect of the Older Americans Act is that it created local offices to plan and implement programs and services at the local level.”

This role becomes vital to good local service delivery because too many federal programs are designed “categorical.” That is, they deal with only one type of service or care, and they often are created at the national level without any consideration or understanding of local operations, culture or local priorities. Many federal programs do not allow local people to change their programs even if the service is not appropriate for that area.

Gordon said the Older Americans Act is different because “it allows us flexibility to use the federal resources our way to better meet our unique needs here in North Idaho.”

The act funds services that are not based on an individual’s income.

Gordon said this “is just one more strength of the program because people can look at these services as not being welfare. Many programs have suggested contributions, and this has allowed many seniors to contribute what they can.”

She emphasized that “seniors do not want welfare because those who can are willing to pay their share.”

Celia and Mary are lucky because their insurance company and Medicare make their payments.

Attention is beginning to shift now to direct, health-related and long-term care services for the frail elderly who otherwise could end up in an institution.

Celia and Mary often talk of this possibility, and they hope to avoid it by all “three passing on together.” The third party is Rusty, their dog, who also is quite old.

Susan Syth-Keeley, chair of the Legislative Committee for the Aging and Adult Services of North Idaho, states that “one of her committee’s key objectives is public awareness. We focus on issues that are presently affecting our senior citizens whether it is senior program changes or legislation.”

According to Syth-Keeley, anyone who wants to comment on the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act can call this toll free hotline, (800) 998-0180, dial in your zip code and you will be transferred to your senator or representative.

Gordon said “in my opinion, it will take phone calls from constituents who are unhappy about the low priority Congress has placed on senior citizen programs and the reauthorization.”