N4A News on OAA Funding

News

Major Increases for OAA Pass Congress

By: n4aOn: 03/23/2018 18:21:51In: Policy & Advocacy
The House and Senate approved the FY 2018 omnibus bill, which includes significant increases for several OAA programs and has thrilled advocates and SHIP champions who exhaled at the news of continued (and boosted) funding. After threatening to veto the bill earlier this morning, the President signed the bill this afternoon.

“This funding bill is great news for older adults and their caregivers, and the increases it includes will improve the capacity of local aging programs to effectively meet the needs of our nation's rapidly growing aging population,” said n4a CEO Sandy Markwood in a statement.

She continues, "Given the projected growth in the aging population, it is essential that we continue to increase funding for OAA and other aging programs to ensure that we keep the country's longstanding commitment to help its citizens live with dignity and independence at home and in their communities. The increases included in this funding bill represent the first step in that process.”

For details on the spending measure, including n4a's appropriations chart, see our March 22 Legislative Update.

n4a CEO Sandy Markwood's full statement.

Stay tuned for tips on thanking your congressional delegation for these vital increases, and get ready to advocate again, as the FY 2019 appropriations process has already begun! And don't forget to register for next month's n4a Aging Policy Briefing in D.C.!

Voting Resources for Older Americans and People with Disabilities

ACL Updates

 

October 26, 2016

Voting Resources for Older Americans and People with Disabilities

Election day, November 8, is right around the corner. Several federal laws protect the voting rights of older Americans and people with disabilities and require accessible polling places.

Here are some voting resources for older adults and people with disabilities :

State Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) are another valuable resource. The Voting Access Program, Help America Vote Act (HAVA) administered by ACL, provides funding to P&As to support efforts to ensuring full participation by people with disabilities in the electoral process, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places.

P&As are responsible for the following HAVA activities:

  • Full participation in the electoral process;
  • Education, training and assistance;
  • Advocacy and education around HAVA implementation efforts;
  • Training and education of election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers regarding the rights of voters with disabilities and best practices;
  • Assistance in filing complaints;
  • Assistance to state and other governmental entities regarding the physical accessibility of polling places; and
  • Obtaining training and technical assistance on voting issues.

Each P&A determines the best mix of HAVA services to provide based on the needs of their community. To find your state P&A for requesting assistance with voting, visit this website and select your state.

Finally, the Southeast ADA Center has compiled an up-to-date Resource List (PDF) with more information on accessible voting.

  BACK TO TOP
 

 

Education Toolkits on Vaccinations

n4a

As Flu Season Approaches, Get Your Community Education Toolkit on Vaccinations!   

It’s only October, but already flu cases have begun to escalate, several states have already reported deaths, and the media is beginning to cover what this means for older adults. Because as our network knows too well, more than 50 percent of annual flu-related hospitalizations and 90 percent of annual flu-related deaths are in people age 65-plus. What can you do in your community to help encourage older adults to receive their flu and other critical immunizations?   To reach seniors across the U.S., n4a teamed up with the Alliance for Aging Research's "Our Best Shot" campaign, a public education initiative that urges older adults to get life-saving vaccines and encourage their loved ones to do the same.                               The centerpiece of the campaign is a FREE, easy-to-use community leader toolkit that has resources to conduct successful workshops on vaccination in older adults. The toolkit includes a short film highlighting how vaccines work and why they are important for older adults, an educational patient brochure, participant quizzes and a slide presentation to guide discussion throughout the workshop—everything a AAA, Title VI or provider needs to host an effective community workshop!   Not yet convinced and want to know how your peers have used the Our Best Shot toolkit? Check out this recorded webinar (at the bottom of the page) that features vaccination experts from the Alliance for Aging Research, as well as two AAA leaders, Cynthia Banks of Los Angeles County and Kristie Sharp from the Atlanta Regional Commission, both of whom led their agency’s pilot site efforts to test this toolkit. Please also share this new resource widely with providers and other aging and health allies in your community!                                                               

 

I4A Alert for October 2016

I4A Alert

Illinois Aging Network Alert

A periodic report on the impact of the State budget crisis on Illinois seniors and community programs from

I4A ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING

Contact: Joy Paeth (618) 222-2561 or Jon Lavin (708) 383-0258

The Illinois Aging Network is comprised of many different organizations with the shared goal for directly helping older persons in their own homes and communities.  The Illinois Department on Aging is the leader for the aging network through its support of services, programs and public policy for Illinois.

Obviously, the aging network has been on the ropes this past year.  Home care, emergency response system companies, and adult day agencies serving the over 40,000 people in the Community Care Program who do not qualify for Medicaid at last received payment through the Stop Gap Legislation for the period July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. But these agencies are currently not being paid for this client population going back to approximately July 1, 2016.  That is because the Stop Gap offered approximately $300 million to cover services over an 18 month period that actually costs $500 million.  The Department on Aging has enforced contractual requirements that home care agencies must serve both the Medicaid eligible and those people who are currently not on Medicaid, even though payment is being processed only for those on Medicaid (through court action).

We understand that CJE SeniorLife informed the State earlier this summer that they are no longer offering home care services - not only because the payments for non-Medicaid clients stopped again at the beginning of the state fiscal year, but also because their costs to provide services in Cook County has consistently exceeded the state rates, and no relief for those extra costs was in sight, possibly for years!

On another note, planning for the separation of the Medicaid and non-Medicaid clients is proceeding at the Department on Aging through the proposed Community Reinvestment Program.  Information on the Department’s plan is expected later this week. 

We ask that the Illinois General Assembly pass, and the Governor sign a budget with adequate resources, in order to assure that the loyal organizations that are willing to deliver services are paid for their past service, and are then offered strong rates to assure continued services into the future. The Aging Network believes in Illinois and deserves payment for their outstanding efforts to help older and disabled persons.

Distributed for I4A by:

Jonathan Lavin

President and CEO

AgeOptions

1048 Lake Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60301

708-383-0258

 

 

More Articles ...

Get in touch

Location

ECIAAA
1003 Maple Hill Road
Bloomington, IL 61705-9327

Contact

Contact Us
Email: aginginfo@eciaaa.org
Phone: 309-829-2065
Fax: 309-829-6021

Seniors may call toll free:
Phone: 1-800-888-4456

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sat-Sun: CLOSED