September 13, 2011
Medicare Event This Week
Meet with Congresswoman Betty McCollum to learn about new improvements to Medicare, including the changed Medicare open enrollment period.
Wednesday, September 28
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Kings Crossing Community Room
500 Dale St. North
St. Paul
(Sponsored by MatureVoices Minnesota, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, and Episcopal Homes)
Miriam DeVaney
And who is Miriam DeVaney you may ask?
To introduce myself, I am the newest intern here with the ElderNomics Team. I am pursuing my Masters in Gerontological Social Work at the University of Minnesota, and will be with the ElderNomics team till May. My background is in the Arts and Aging field- I have a BA is in Studio Arts and a MA in Gerontology. In my free time, I enjoy playing accordion and exploring Minnesota’s vast expanse of dog parks with my Norwegian Elkhound!
September 13, 2011
Don't miss the boat! New 2012 DATES for MEDICARE Open Enrollment October 15 – December 7
The Fall Open Enrollment Period, during which people with Medicare can make unrestricted changes to their coverage options, has new dates this year: October 15 to December 7. Medicare enrollees need to be aware of this change, as well as changes taking place in 2012, in order to assess their options and make the best informed decision.
All enrollees are urged to “review their options.” Medicare participants need to carefully consider how they get their Medicare benefit. No matter what Medicare coverage you have or how happy you are with your current coverage, do this:
- Review all of your coverage because plans change their costs and benefits every year and your current plan may not be your best choice for 2012.i
- Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that your insurance company must have in your mailbox by Sept. 30.The ANOC lists changes in your plan, such as the amount of premium and co-pays and which drugs and services are covered, and compares benefits in 2012 with those in 2011. It’s very important to read your ANOC and consider all of your options.
- Shop around to find a plan that best meets your needs and makes the most financial sense to you. To help you make your choice of Medicare Health and Part D plans in 2012 the Minnesota Board on Aging publishes Health Care Choices. This indispensable booklet provides general information about Medicare clearly and compares plans and coverage. To get a copy, 1-800-333-2433 and leave your name and address on the message machine. This booklet is also available online at http://www.mnaging.org/pdf/HCC2011.pdf
If you have questions or need help making a decision regarding your coverage or choices call the Senior Linkage Line 1-800-333-2433.
Medicare Rights Center help line is another great resource for those with questions and concerns 1-800-333-4114.
i For example
Part D plans may place coverage restrictions, such as quantity limits, prior authorization and step therapy (requiring you to try another drug before the plan will cover the prescribed drug) on certain drugs. Make sure to get the facts about coverage before you enroll in a plan.
Part D formularies (lists of covered drugs) often change from year to year. Drugs and restrictions can be removed or added. Check your plan’s new formulary to see how the drugs you take will be affected. Your ANOC should include a summary of the new formulary. You can also get a complete copy of the formulary on your plan’s Web site or by calling your plan.
Linda Feist
September 5, 2011
Calendar of upcoming events hosted by Minnesota Women's Consortium partners and/or endorsers of the Elder Index.
(Want your event listed? Contact us.)
- September 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Information session on Vital Aging Network’s Evolve: Re-igniting Self & Community Leadership Development Program.Saint Paul College, Drake Building, 60 East Plato Boulevard, Suite 150, Saint Paul. Are you 50+ and thinking about how you will engage and contribute in this phase of life? Are you interested in making a difference? If so, attend this information session. <http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=sorbjocab&oeidk=a07e4gjevnpb6dd2dd5>
- September 15: Life-Work Planning Center's 10 week Personal Growth & Career Development Workshop for Women 50+. 1:00-3:00 p.m. 1618 S. Broadway, New Ulm, 507-345-1577. http://www.lwpc.org/calendar.php
- September 15: Minnesota Network on Abuse in Later Life (MNALL)'s A Collaborative Victim-Centered Response to Abuse in Later Life Cross Training for Victim Service Providers. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (lunch on your own). Free. First Lutheran Church, 900 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji. Register. More info on their Facebook page.
- September 15: WomenVenture's Help Wanted: Grow Your Business with Great People. Go from solo worker to The Boss! 2324 University Avenue West, #120, St. Paul. www.womenventure.org
- September 16: NCOA's How to Facilitate the Savvy Saving Seniors Financial Education Program. This webinar with train you to be a facilitator of the National Council on Aging's "Savvy Saving Seniors: Becoming Resource-FULL with the Help of Benefits" financial education toolkit.Teaching older adults about money can be a daunting task. NCOA has partnered with Bank of America Charitable Foundation to help. NCOA's new Savvy Saving Seniors toolkit can help your organization empower older adults with money management skills, and educate them about the wide array of community supports and benefits that can provide a financial boost to savings. Get the free toolkit now, then register for NCOA's upcoming webinar on how to run a successful workshop. 2:30-3:30 p.m. CDT. Download the toolkit | Register for the webinar
- September 18: Association of Universalist Women's Are you caring for elderly parents? There are a few openings in the professionally facilitated Caregivers Support Group, held the second Wednesday of each month, Chancel Room. 6:45 to 8:15 PM. First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Avenue South, Mpls. Contact Margit Berg for reserved space (no drop-ins), margitkb@comcast.net or more info firstuniv.org/caregivers.
- September 21: Minnesota Network on Abuse in Later Life (MNALL)'s A Collaborative Victim-Centered Response to Abuse in Later Life Cross Training for Victim Service Providers. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (lunch on your own). Free. First Congregation Church of Christ, 150 Stadium Court, Mankato. Register. More info on their Facebook page.
- September 24: American Association of University Women - Red Wing Area Branch. Gala Premiere of "Women Making Change", a 30-minute documentary about women in Minnesota politics made in partnership with Twin Cities Public Television. 7:00 p.m. at the historic Sheldon Theatre, 443 West Third Street in Red Wing. Following intermission a Singing Performance by The Hot Flashes. Adults $15; Students $10. More info: sgwollschlager@mmm.com
- September 27: WomenVenture's Building Your Brand! 2324 University Avenue West, #120, St. Paul.
- October 3: The White House Project's Go Lead Training Series: Public Speaking 101 - Using Stories to Move People to Action. 5:30-7:30 p.m. 800 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis.
- October 4: WomenVenture's Creating Your LinkedIn Profile. 2324 University Avenue West, #120, St. Paul.
- October 11: WomenVenture's Implementing Your Communications Plan. 2324 University Avenue West, #120, St. Paul.
- October 13: Older Women's League (OWL) of MN's Monthly Board Meeting. 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Minnesota Women's Building, 550 Rice Street, St. Paul. 651-228-9990.
- October 13: Honoring Women Worldwide. Let Yourself Glow, Leveraging My Inner Talents and Gifts to Thrive. www.honoringwomenworldwide.org.
- October 13-14: Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. 2011 Annual Membership Meeting. More info later. Call Leticia Jones at 651-646-6177.
- October 14: WomenVenture's 2011 Annual Event, with Connie Chung: Inspiration. Insight. Investment. 10:30 AM-2:30 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center. Hear Connie Chung's story about overcoming workplace challenges, advocating for diversity and making a difference locally and worldwide. You'll be inspired by successful leaders, awards, stories and more. Gain insight about women's achievements and show your support by donating. Register.
- October 17: Twin Cities Women in the Boardroom. Panel that includes Linda Hall Keller, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Carlson School of Business, UofM and Esperanza Guerrero-Anderson, President, Guerrero Anderson, Inc. and facilitated by Beth Leonard, Managing Partner, Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP with discussion that includes Role of being a director, Differences of a nonprofit, private and public board, Board selection process, Being an effective board member, positioning yourself for board service, taking the next step. 3:00-6:00 p.m. Registration 2:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. $105 individual tickets or $1,050 reserved table of 10. Register online.
- October 18: Life-Work Planning Center's Networking Event: Personality Styles. 5:00-7:00 p.m. 201 North Broad Street, Suite 100, Mankato. RSVP by October 14 to 507-345-1577.
- July 19-23, 2012: Old Lesbians Organizing for Change asks you to save the date for their National OLOC Gathering (a Gathering of Old Lesbians), set for at the Hilton Hotel in Woburn, near Boston, Massachusetts. The Consortium appreciates this new member group's participation in ElderNomics and the work to end abuse (physical and financial) of older women. Like many of our members, this one has an active national affiliate we are glad to promote.
Barbara Battiste
September 2, 2011
Help Us Name New One Away Video
We here at ElderNomics are in the midst of filming our second One Away video, which will be on the need for older Minnesotans to have jobs.
We're going to have three segments in the video: the first is an older couple who have done everything right--they're well-educated, hard-working, fiscally responsible. However, the husband was laid off and only able, probably because of age bias, to find a low-paying new job that has no benefits. One bad break could put this couple in economic crisis.
The second segment features a woman who stayed home for many years to support her husband (who was in the military, so they lived many places) and raise her children. Now in her late fifties, and divorced, she is struggling to gain marketable job skills and find a decent job so that she can make enough to be self-sufficient.
The third is a 60-year-old woman who is a nationally and locally recognized leader and founder and president of a thriving corporate consulting firm. She embodies how older workers can be a capable and dynamic asset in the workplace.
Instead of focusing solely on the economic vulnerability of seniors, we want our "older worker" video to portray seniors as strong and capable. If we are just given a break by employers, we want to and can earn our way.
So...what should we name this video? Please give us your suggestions. If we choose your title, you will become famous, though possibly not rich. Here are a few suggestions we have so far:
- Boomers At Work
- Granny Needs A Job
- Older Workers: Give Us A Chance.
As you can see, we definitely need your help. Email your suggestions to Barbara.
Barbara Battiste
August 25, 2011
Statewide Videoconference on "The Cost of Caregiving" One Away Video
The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.
The late, great Hubert H. Humphrey, U.S. Senator from Minnesota
Today Minnesota held a statewide videoconference to showcase our first One Away video:"The Cost of Caregiving." Two hundred forty-five people registered from all across Minnesota to take part (another 150 asked to be sent the accompanying handouts), gathering at 25 different sites strategically located throughout the state. From Koochiching County on the Canadian border to Lyon County on our southwestern border with South Dakota, citizens and representatives of nonprofits and government agencies got together to watch the video, listen to a panel of experts at the St. Paul location discuss caregiving, the Elder Index (data showing the true cost of living for seniors), and advocacy efforts centered on reauthorization of the federal Older Americans Act, and then to question the panel or pass on comments.
We were so fortunate to have the subject of "The Cost of Caregiving," Sheryl Fairbanks, take part in the videoconference. Everyone had questions about her 10 years of staying home to care for her and her husband's aging parents. When asked what single most important piece of advice she has for caregivers, Sheryl answered, "Join a support group. It may be the one place where you can talk about how your life really is."
The video highlights the financial sacrifice of those who choose to leave their jobs to care for loved ones. As Bonnie Watkins, Executive Director of the Minnesota Women's Consortium(an ElderNomics partner) pointed out, most (75%) family caregivers are women. Older women often are already at risk financially because of a history of lower pay and careers interrupted by family responsibilities, resulting in lower social security benefits and retirement savings. Leaving employment late in their careers to care for loved ones puts them at even greater economic disadvantage.
A 1999 report by MetLife [PDF] estimated a caregiver's average lifetime wage and salary loss plus Social Security and private pension losses at $659,139.
Many of the videoconference participants were struck by the Elder Index data showing the cost of a bare bones budget for a single Minnesota senior to be $19,090, yet the median income for Minnesota women in retirement is $12,691. A participant in Lyon County commented that some seniors in her area have an income of only $600 per month.
"The majority of seniors in need don't qualify for government support," stated Watkins. "Most government support is based on the federal poverty level of $10,400 for a single person, or some slight multiple of that. Yet the Elder Index shows that older people need at least twice that amount to meet minimal necessities of life."
Some interesting policy proposals were offered by participants:
- Strengthen penalties for elder abuse. A recent Minneapolis Star Tribune article reported that Minnesota is one of five states that do not have a felony-level penalty for criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult, treating all such crimes as misdemeanors.
- Employers should let employees use sick leave to take care of sick family members. Currently there is no federal legislation, nor Minnesota legislation, that requires employers to offer paid sick leave even for an employee's own illness, much less for the illness of a child, or spouse, or elderly parent. In 2009, state legislation was proposed that would have provided mandatory paid sick days when employees are ill or when they need to care for a sick family member, but the bill went nowhere.
Our great thanks to Lee Graczyk, Executive Director of MatureVoices Minnesota, for his explanation of The Older Americans Act and its importance to the economic security of seniors. Also, our thanks to our fabulous facilitator, Mary Olsen-Baker, with Aging and Adult Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services. Mary's knowledge of elder economic security issues added greatly to the discussion. Mary urges everyone to check out the Department's Aging 2030 website.
We hope to post the videoconference on this site and the websites of the Minnesota Women's Consortium and MatureVoices Minnesota in a week or so. Stay tuned!
Barbara Battiste
August 3, 2011
Well, the federal debt ceiling crisis is kinda sorta over...at least for now. At the end of this post are links to some summaries of yesterday's debt deal.
In general, for now Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are protected. However, a 12-member, bipartisan congressional "super-committee" will recommend by Thanksgiving $1.2-$1.5 trillion in additional budget cuts. Congress can't alter the super-committee's recommendations, and must vote yea or nay by Christmas. If the super-committee fails to recommend the target amount of cuts or if Congress fails to approve the super-committee's recommendations, a round of automatic cuts is triggered.
Social Security and Medicaid are protected from these "automatic cuts," if we get in that pickle. However, the automatic cuts could reduce Medicare payments to providers, which, according to AARP, will "shift costs to seniors."
Has this got your head spinning yet?
What is in trouble right now and undoubtedly more in trouble when the super-committee homes in on it, is the federal Older Americans Act. The OAA funds many support programs for seniors that help them be economically independent and remain in their own homes, like the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which helps low income seniors find employment, and senior nutrition programs, like Meals on Wheels, which helps seniors stay in their own homes, and family caregiver supports and monitoring of nursing homes. The OAA could very well be cut substantially soon and then cut again by the super-committee.
According to NCOA, the super-committee could recommend cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Here's my gripe with this whole discussion. Heaven bless AARP and NCOA for fighting to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security...and the senior support programs in the Older Americans Act. These are all very important. But "seniors" are a widely divergent group, and there are economic factors as important or more important to many seniors.
What, you ask. The stock market, I answer. Jobs, I answer. More important than social security to many Americans over 55 is the fact that their retirement investments, much more important to their financial security when they retire, have tubed. Do you know what so many of us Boomers cared about in these past few weeks of the budget crisis? We cared about getting the darned thing settled so the U.S. wouldn't default on its debt, which undoubtedly would have triggered a global market crash and left us with cents on the dollar to fund our "golden years."
And we care about jobs. The great recession so decimated our retirement savings that we need to keep on working until we are wheeled into the funeral parlor, so please give us an economy that makes jobs available. Decent paying jobs.
And we care about affordable health care. And affordable prescription drugs.
The AARP statement, below, about the debt deal is certainly good and appreciated, but here's something in it that's disturbing. AARP CEO A. Barry Rand says, "...cuts to the benefits seniors have earned could undermine the standard of living of not just those with limited incomes, but middle class seniors who have median incomes of only $18,500."
The Elder Index (developed by Wider Opportunities for Women and the University of Massachusetts Boston to give reliable data on the true cost of living for seniors) shows that a bare bones budget for a single Minnesota person age 65+ who rents and is healthy is $19,090/year. And these are 2009 figures. The $18,500 AARP cites isn't enough to cover basic housing, health care, transportation and food.
Let's get real about what it really costs to live. Let's support policies that help seniors have that amount through a combination of earned income, retirement savings, and affordable housing, health care, transportation and food.
Some summaries of the federal debt deal:
White House Brief Download
AARP Download
Washington Post Download
Reuters Download
Barbara Battiste
July 31, 2011
What's new at ElderNomics?
Things are hoppin'! Especially for a hot, steamy summer.
- The statewide videoconference giving everyone, no matter where in Minnesota you live, a chance to participate live in a conversation about public policy affecting caregivers and other economic difficulties faced by older Minnesotans, is scheduled for August 25. Click here for details and to pre-register (required, but there's no registration fee) at one of the 22 locations around the state. Download Aug. 25 Announcement
- ElderNomics is starting to film its second One Away video, with several older Minnesotans talking about their need to keep working, the barriers of age bias in hiring practices and in the workplace, and the knowledge and skills older workers contribute. Kathleen Holland, a member of the ElderNomics Task Force and an actor in her own right, has mastered the intricacies of the ElderNomics videocam and will be the camera"man" for this video.
- We have a new ElderNomics student intern, Miriam Devaney, starting in September. Miriam's resume is impressive: she has a Masters of Arts in Gerontology from Bethel University in St. Paul and is now pursuing a Masters of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Miriam has worked as an Activities Assistant for elders in a mixed cognitive community (much like Bonnie and me at the Consortium!), as a Personal Care Assistant and as a Home Health Aide for elders. Even though she hasn't officially started yet, Miriam wrote an article for the August ElderNomics Update on Mill City Commons, a "naturally occurring retirement community," or NORC, along the Mississippi riverfront in Minneapolis. You should receive your copy of the Update on August 2.
- I'm on my way to D.C. in September to meet with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and other State Partners in the One Away elder economic security video advocacy campaign, and to show Minnesota's The Cost of Caregiving video to our state's congressional delegation. I'll be asking our congresspersons and senators to pledge to protect and strengthen the Older Americans Act (OAA), which is up for reauthorization in September. The OAA provides many supports (e.g., Meals on Wheels, home health care services, SCSEP--a jobs program for low income seniors) that help seniors be economically independent and remain in their own homes.
- We're also seeking additional volunteers for our ElderNomics/WisdomWorks Volunteer Project. This team is highlighting a community that has a large number of seniors, identifying an area where a coordinated, community approach could reduce costs to senior residents, and designing a project to achieve that end. The project may be a group transportation system for work or shopping; educational seminars on financial matters like long-term care, reverse mortgages or social security; a job fair for older workers; or something else...the team will decide. This is a chance to get in on the initial decision-making and really make a difference to seniors in one of our Minnesota communities. Time commitment: about 5 hours/month--2 hours in a team meeting and 3 hours or so on your own, either researching or meeting individually with community participants. Email Barbara to find out more.
Barbara Battiste
July 31, 2011
“This we know: All things are connected….”
Chief Seattle
How are financial exploitation of elders, a Minneapolis Star Tribune article about some Minnesota nursing homes hiring workers with known criminal histories, and last week's approval of our state budget connected?
As we reported in the Download June 2011 ElderNomics Update, interviews of elders in New York State show financial exploitation to be the most common form of elder abuse, and a Met Life study reports that seniors in the United States lost $2.9 billion in 2010 through financial abuse.
Today's article in the Star Tribune, Workers with checkered pasts get a pass, Download Elder Care Workers, describes several cases in Minnesota nursing homes where workers with criminal histories were hired and those workers subsequently defrauded (a kindly term for "stole from") elderly nursing home residents. One nursing home worker bilked two elderly residents out of almost $63,000.
The Strib article goes on to say that Deb Holtz, Minnesota Board of Aging's ombudsman for long-term care, believes "[e]mploying care workers with criminal histories or other problems is an outgrowth of a national shortage of people available to work in a field with low wages and demanding conditions."
What does this have to do with Minnesota's new state budget? As the July 23rd blogpost below points out, the new budget eliminates "rebasing." AARP of Minnesota characterizes this as an "indirect cut" to long term care that could result in reduced staffing and a lower quality of care.
"Rebasing" is an adjustment to the nursing home reimbursement rate that allows nursing facilities to have new or currently unreimbursed expenditures recognized in the facility payment rate. Download Nursing Home Reimbursement for a state legislative brief explaining Minnesota's system of nursing facility reimbursement, including an explanation of the rate equalization law and of rebasing.
July 27, 2011
Two of the real Minnesotans advocating for ElderNomics - Women's Consortium executive director Bonnie Watkins and ElderNomics director Barbara Battiste. Up to our elbows in social media!
July 23, 2011
Impact of State Budget Cuts on Seniors
Well, the state shutdown is over. Early this week, Governor Dayton and Republican leaders of the State Senate and House of Representatives reached a compromise agreement on the state budget for the next two years, starting July 1, 2011. Consequently, a flurry of budget bills covering the major state government functions were passed in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and signed into law by the Governor a few hours later.
Facing a projected $5 billion state budget deficit, the Governor wanted to raise taxes on the very wealthiest Minnesotans and cut state spending. Republican legislators refused to raise taxes and opted to overcome the deficit solely through deeper spending cuts than Dayton had proposed. Republicans also wanted to tack controversial social policy legislation (e.g. restrictions on abortion rights and stem cell research) onto the budget bills. The compromise solves the deficit through a combination of spending cuts (more than the Governor wanted, less than the Republicans wanted), delays in state payments to schools and local governments, and borrowing. Dayton prevailed in removing all social policy legislation from the budget bills.
We’ve heard the term “kicking the can down the road” often since Wednesday. Hmmm…cutting local government aid means local governments will probably have to raise property taxes. Borrowing means we have to repay it at some point and pay interest in the meantime.
Concerned organizations and individuals are still analyzing the new budget legislation to determine its impact. We at ElderNomics have searched news articles, blogs, and other information put forth so far by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ “Minnesota Budget Project” , AARP of Minnesota, MinnPost, and MPR to get an initial insight into how seniors will be affected by the budget cuts.
Trust us on this: it’s not good news for Minnesota’s seniors, although there are a few--a very few--small bright spots. In general, if you’re a senior who has very little money and/or is in frail health, you’ll feel the pain posthaste. If you’re a healthy older Minnesotan with a moderate income and own your home, you might not feel an impact right away, but brace yourself for 2012, when your local government will likely raise your property taxes to make up for its loss of revenue in the new budget.
Here are some highlights—or lowlights—from the new budget:
If you’re a renter, your Renters’ Tax Credit will be reduced by an average of about $80 starting with refunds filed in 2012.The Renters’ Tax Credit is a type of state property tax refund to renters who have annual incomes of less that $53,539.The maximum refund is $1,520. Not just college kids are renters. About 22% of Minnesota’s seniors (age 65+) rent. Older women are especially hit hard by reducing the Renters’ Tax Credit. There are about 70,000 older Minnesota women who are eligible for the Renters’ Credit. The median income of retired Minnesota women is $12,691, meaning half of Minnesota’s retired women have an annual income below that. Yet a “bare bones” budget for a single Minnesota senior who rents is $19,090. The Renters’ Tax Credit is important to these seniors. Download Minnesota Women's Consortium Testimony on Renters' Credit
If you’re a homeowner, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The “giveth” part is that the property tax refund for qualifying homeowners (as opposed to renters), is increased. The new state budget increases the homeowner property tax refund, commonly called the Circuit Breaker, by $30 million, starting with applications filed in 2012. Read more....
The “taketh” part is that homeowners are likely to see future hikes in their property taxes. Local Government Aid to cities is cut by $204 million in FY 2012-13. County Program Aid is cut by $73 million; in addition, counties face cuts to other specific funding streams. It will be interesting to see what these cuts end up doing to our property taxes, to say nothing of what services local governments will have to cut. 2011 property tax levels have already been set, so be prepared for changes in 2012.
If you use libraries, or you or your family use county mental health services, counties will be required in 2012 to spend only 90% of what they had to spend in 2011 on regional libraries and mental health services. Similarly, the amount cities must spend on regional libraries in 2012 will be 90% of the 2011 level. Read more....
If you need “affordable” housing, there is good and bad news. There is a $2 million increase for the Housing Trust Fund in FY 2012-13, which will preserve 150 rental assistance opportunities. However, there is $7 million in cuts to other areas of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, which is expected to hurt efforts to preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing units, and to reduce help to first-time buyers. Read more....
If you’re a Baby Boomer still saving for your children’s college education, sorry. General fund support for the Minnesota College Savings Program, which provides approximately 2,500 low-income families with a state match when they save for college, is phased out. Oh yeah, just to make sure you really feel the pain on paying for your children’s college, there are likely to be tuition inceases. The new budget cuts state funding to higher education by $351 million, a 12% cut, taking the state’s higher education funding to a level lower than in FY 2000-2001 (in actual dollars, not adjusted for inflation). I suppose we could also have started this paragraph with “if you’re a Minnesota employer who needs to hire an educated workforce.” Read more....
If you are in a nursing home, or have a parent or spouse in a nursing home, comme ci, comme ça. AARP of Minnesota commends Governor Dayton for protecting Minnesota’s nursing home rate equalization law, noting that rate equalization protects thousands of seniors from discrimination in the quality and cost of care. Without rate equalization, AARP points out, frail seniors would be faced with rising out-of-pocket costs that would spend down their income faster and make them dependent on government assistance sooner.
However, AARP goes on to say, the new state budget eliminates “rebasing” – an adjustment to the nursing home reimbursement rate – which results in an indirect cut that could result in reduced staffing and a lower quality of care. Read more....
Additional comments on the new budget from nursing home groups are contained in this MinnPost article.
If you’re able to remain in your own home, i.e., “age in place,” because you have family that helps take care of you, sorry, but the new budget cuts payments for family members who serve as personal care assistants by 20%. Read more....
If you can’t afford health care, so sorry. It’s not true that there’s nothing good about being over 65. Medicare is good. (So far, that is.) Because for those of us low income Boomers who aren’t yet 65, the new state budget affects our health care. Republicans say the change is good. See what you think. The new legislation moves about 8,000 adults who earn more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline - about $22,000 a year - off MinnesotaCare, the state's health insurance program for people who cannot afford coverage. Instead, they'll receive vouchers to buy private insurance. The voucher amount varies, but critics say it's not enough to buy decent coverage. The new legislation also makes it more difficult for some low-income adults to receive General Assistance, the state's cash assistance program for people who can't work due to an illness or disability. Read more....
If you use mass transit to get to work, or to doctor’s appointments, shopping, etc., you might have to find a friend with a car. The new budget cuts mass transit funding in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota by more than $54 million—a 40% reduction next year for the Twin Cities and an 8% reduction for Greater Minnesota. However, there are no cuts to commuter and passenger rail. Read more....
If you don’t have enough money to hire a lawyer to help resolve housing, credit, family matters, or other civil issues, maybe you should advise one of your children to get a law degree so she can represent you for free. Oh, that’s right, you’re not going to be able to afford to send your children to college. The new budget reduces funding by 7%, nearly $2 million in FY 2012-13, for Legal Aid and other programs that provide free legal services to those who can’t afford an attorney to help resolve housing, credit, family matters and other civil issues. State funding for civil legal services had already fallen below 2006 levels. However, if you can’t afford an attorney for criminal, juvenile delinquency and child protection cases, the new budget increases funding for public defenders. Read more....
This has been a downer of a blogpost, so let’s end on an up note. If you’re a senior in a Minnesota prison, take heart. The new budget increases funding to the Department of Corrections by $21 million in FY 2012-2013.
July 19, 2011
The state shutdown may end today! But federal and state budget worries will continue for years to come. If you haven't yet seen the new video below - check it out! Meanwhile we continue to research Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities; are planning a new video on elder employment; working to add captions and Spanish voiceover for our "Cost of Caregiving" video; and doing our best to keep you abreast of all the budget and policy issues. Follow us on Twitter @ElderNomicsMN. And if you don't already subscribe to our ElderNomics Update email, please write Barbara & stay tuned! - Bonnie
July 9, 2011
New national One Away video
July 5, 2011
ElderNomics has been busy publicizing the first One Away video, "The Cost of Caregiving." In addition to its being posted on YouTube, Twitter, the One Away website, and the websites of MatureVoices Minnesota and Minnesota Women's Consortium, we've given "real" presentations to MatureVoices Minnesota, Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging, key staff of Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging, Living at Home Network, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Lifespan Respite Caregivers, Wilder Care Advisory Group, the Older Women's League of Minnesota, the Conway-Battle Creek Living At Home Block Nurse Program, and at the Age Odyssey conference in Rochester. The video has been viewed more than 1,000 times on YouTube, and has been posted by several national organizations. Contact us if you'd like us to show the video and foster a discussion on elder economic security with your organization, or maybe with your city council or county board. - Barbara
P.S. Please note that you can now comment on this page (below). We'd love to hear from you!
June 17, 2011
Watch Minnesota's first One Away video, featuring the stories of real Minnesota elders about the economic challenges they face. In "The Cost of Caregiving," Sheryl, a 61-year-old woman who lives in Roseville, describes the economic and health consequences of her 10 years of full-time caregiving for her parents.
On July 7, there will be a statewide videoconference to view and discuss "The Cost of Caregiving." Find a videoconference location near you and register so you can add your voice and experience to the discussion.
June 16, 2011
The Consortium's Annual Meeting location has been finalized! We will host this fantastic networking opportunity at the Minnesota Nurses Association in St. Paul. Register.
May 24, 2011
What does Elder abuse have to do with Elder Economic Security? That's what I wondered when I started to read the just-published Under the Radar: New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study. This study compared the number of "known" elder abuse cases (i.e., those reported to the responsible New York State agencies and programs) to the number of "hidden" cases (determined by the study's interviews of New Yorkers age 60+) to determine the rate of elder abuse underreporting in New York State.
Two major findings stand out:
- The number of elder abuse incidents in 2008-2009 was nearly 24 times greater than the number referred to social services, law enforcement or legal authorities.
- Psychological abuse was the most common form of mistreatment being reported, but financial exploitation was the most common form found in the direct interviews of New York elders.
In fact, a 2009 Met Life Study of Elder Financial Abuse estimated the annual financial loss by victims of elder financial abuse to be at least $2.6 billion. Now that's a figure that definitely could buy us seniors some economic security, isn't it?
A paper on Financial Elder Abuse in Minnesota, by Cullin J. Smith of the William Mitchell College of Law, lists Eleven Signs of Financial Elder Abuse.
If you suspect someone (maybe you!) is the victim of financial elder abuse, call Minnesota's Senior Linkage Line (1-800-333-2433), either to report the abuse, or just to find out more information
May 20, 2011
We continue our focus on improving the economic security of older Minnesotans in many ways. Just today we have posted our first Minnesota-made video on YouTube - check it out (we'll post the full 4 minute video here later, just have to double check the carburetor and tighten the gaskets....). The video features the eloquent Sheryl explaining her 10+ years of intense caregiving for both her parents, currently her mom with dementia but otherwise in good health. Among the related discussion topics: since Sheryl left a six-figure job to do this work, she and her husband calculate the cost to their family finances has been over $1 million - and that's before estimating the price in lost Social Security and pension benefits down the road. In addition, Sheryl has developed diabetes. Her husband cannot retire because then they would lose health insurance and with her "pre-existing condition" the costs would be exorbitant. And her parents had "just enough money so they qualified for nothing" in terms of home care assistance.
Yet Sheryl's work saves costs to society of about $14,000 per month. So..... can we continue to rely on unpaid family caregivers to provide this level of care, considering the considerable financial and other penalties and the potential for re-inventing the cycle of elder economic insecurity? How is that going to work out when Sheryl and the other baby boomers increase the numbers of older
people, many of whom need only minimal assistance to stay out of institutions? Well, we'll prepare a discussion guide to encourage everyone to ponder such things. No easy answers at this time when budgets are being slashed!
We have also been monitoring government action at many levels, such as opposing deep cuts to the state Renter's Credit tax rebate which helps many elders not eligible for any special low-income programs like heating assistance or home care. Research shows that this rebate is spent locally on necessities such as groceries, laundry detergent, or a visit to the dentist. Yet at this point the legislature plans to cut the total funds available for this program by 45%. Stay tuned for possible action by the governor. And of course we are watching the proposals for deep cuts at the federal level to Social Security and Medicare and preparing to advocate for reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.
"We" by the way is a collaboration of two organizations in Minnesota, Mature Voices Minnesota and the Minnesota Women's Consortium. We are linking those who advocate for elders and those who serve, advocate, and otherwise lead women and women's organizations for a wider and more powerful network. Two tips for now:
* Some are reporting significant savings on the cost of prescription medicine through the Mature Voices website - visit today and check out the link called "Save On Drugs."
* Send your email address to receive the monthly ElderNomics Update with news on this project as well as events of groups which have endorsed the Elder Index and lots of other news relevant to the economic status of elders.
And be feisty, older people and everyone who plans to grow old! Your voices make a difference. - Bonnie Watkins
April 21, 2011
Your ElderNomics Minnesota team has been working hard towards our goal of engaging everyone in conversation about economic security of older Minnesotans - including reauthorization this fall of the federal Older Americans Act. Bonnie and Barbara filmed an interview with a wonderful family caregiver who has been providing intense in-home assistance to her parents for 10 years, saving an estimated $15,000 per month in what would have been costs of memory care and other specialized institutional care. We have engaged a new video editor and hope to premiere our first video within the next two weeks.
Barbara Battiste of the Minnesota Women's Consortium and Bob Hines of Mature Voices Minnesota are just back from Wisdom Works training in Washington, D.C. with our partner, the National Council on Aging. They will head up a new volunteer team of Minnesotans age 55 and over to undertake a project related to elder economic security - so watch for news about this new venture which will complement our other work.
The ElderNomics Minnesota steering committee met yesterday to plan future activity, which will include meeting with our members of Congress around these issues. And Barbara transmogrified the former MinnEESI Update e-newsletter into the ElderNomics Minnesota Update, so we can share news about the Elder Index (a new measure of the true cost of living) as well as the One Away video advocacy campaign. Finally, Bonnie interviewed for a social work graduate student field placement and hopes to be approved for a Hartford Scholar - MSW specialist in gerontology - to help with ElderNomics work starting in September.
What can you do?
***Write eesi@mnwomen.org to be sure your name is on the list to receive the monthly ElderNomics Minnesota Update.
***Ask your organization to endorse the Elder Index, a new measure of the true cost of living for older people which provides a more accurate standard than the federal poverty guidelines - and let us know at eesi@mnwomen.org.
***Schedule a half-hour presentation about ElderNomics Minnesota for your group or let us know about an opportunity to present a workshop at your conference.
***Visit the national One Away website to view the first national video - Seattle Bettye who wishes she could be "a giver," Chicago Andre who felt safer sleeping in his car than in the homeless shelter, and New York Maria who would love to eat a steak but settles for much less.
***Read the recent MinnPost article about projected state budget cuts to programs serving elders - and make sure your state senator, state representative, and U.S. Congressperson know where you stand on budget priorities.
- Bonnie Watkins
Hooray! Today (3/28/11)we trained Bob, Barbara, Kathleen, and Elsa on use of our ElderNomics video equipment. And here's a great quick update on the state Renter's Credit from the Minnesota Budget Project.
- The Senate omnibus tax bill (Senate File 27) includes a $106 million cut to the Renters' Credit. Households receiving the Renters' Credit would see an average cut of $170 in their property tax refund. (This same proposal was included in House File 130, which was passed by the legislature in February 2011 and was vetoed by Governor Dayton.)
- The House omnibus tax bill (House File 42) makes even deeper cuts to the Renters' Credit, cutting it by $186 million in FY 2012-13, a 46 percent cut from base funding. Households receiving the Renters' Credit would lose an average of $300.
More info, including links to key resources like the most recent analysis of Renters’ Credit recipients by county - http://www.mnbudgetproject.org/current-agenda/protecting-the-renters-credit
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Today the Minnesota Women's Consortium submitted its testimony opposing cuts to the state Renter's Credit tax rebate, which you can download here. About 22% of older Minnesotans are renters, and we estimate there are about 70,000 older Minnesota women renters eligible for the Renter’s Credit. And researchers at the University of Boston, using Minnesota data and supported by our national partner Wider Opportunities for Women, found that the Renter’s Credit increased the typical income for an older woman from 61% to 93% of the cost of living on a bare bones budget.
However, at this writing, both the Minnesota House and Minnesota Senate are planning significant cuts to the Renters Credit. The budget discussion will continue for at least the coming month. Minnesota readers, please be sure your state Representative and State Senator know your position on this issue (as well as other key budget issues of special importance to women and elders). Thanks! -Bonnie Watkins, Consortium Executive Director
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We will have more links for this page in the future! For now, please see the first One Away video published by the National Council on Aging, with stories of three older Americans facing economic insecurity.
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