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From New York Times New Old Age February 16, 2012:

Credit these folks with a shrewd slogan. The National Council on Aging and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging are kicking off a campaign to nudzh older people into taking advantage of programs they could qualify for but don’t apply for.

We’re talking about things like reduced-cost drugs, food stamps, home care aides, transportation programs. Help with heating bills. Subsidies that lower Medicare premiums. The council analyzed a random sampling of 1,100 older adults or caregivers who’d used its BenefitsCheckUp Web site since 2010 and determined that more than 70 percent were eligible for at least one benefit they weren’t receiving.

So the council and the association are printing up thousands of booklets to be distributed through local agencies on aging and putting notices up on their Web sites and others. The slogan? “You Gave, Now Save.”

“We hope it helps get by that natural bias that this is a handout,” Sandy Markwood, C.E.O. of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, explained in an interview. “Especially with the older old, they don’t want to take what they consider ‘welfare.’ They’d rather do without.” The slogan makes the point that old people have been contributors, that “in some cases, these are programs people have invested in throughout their working lives.”

The campaign directs older adults and their caregivers to two information sources, both of which we’ve discussed here before. The Eldercare Locator makes more sense for those without computer skills, because inquirers can talk to a live person at 800-677-1116. The Locator is also online atwww.eldercare.gov. The National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp site is Web-only atwww.benefitscheckup.org. Both tailor their responses to an individual’s geographic location, income, veteran status and other such factors.

That matters, because programs for old people are, frankly, a confusing hodgepodge. Some benefits are the same across the country, but many vary by state or even county. Programs may be available to all, or they may involve varying income guidelines.

Older people can’t qualify for certain benefits unless their annual income is at or below the federal poverty level, which last year was a meager $10,890. (About 9 percent of those over age 60 are that poor.) But in many states, the elderly can earn up to twice that amount and still qualify for S.N.A.P., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a.k.a. food stamps.

State pharmaceutical programs have similarly varying requirements. If you live in Maryland, for instance, you can qualify for subsidized prescriptions even with an annual income up to $32,670, three times the poverty level. Other states use other numbers.

“The goal is to move to a one-stop, no-wrong-door approach, but we’re just not there yet,” Ms. Markwood said. “You really do need a tool or a system to navigate this.”

Those tools already exist — the Eldercare Locator gets 150,000 calls a year, and almost a quarter of a million people completed a BenefitsCheckUp screening last year. But these resources remain underused.

More than 60 percent of the BenefitsCheckUp sample were eligible for food stamps but weren’t getting them. What could be more basic, at any age, than having enough to eat?

You can read more about the “You Gave, Now Save” campaign at the Web sites above, at the federalAdministration on Aging Web site, or on this Facebook page.

As my Aunt Minnie used to say, you don’t ask, you don’t get.

For the New Old Age Blog:  http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/tracking-down-government-aid/

The Elders in Action Commission is a citizen advocacy group that advises Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, and the Portland City Council on the concerns and needs of older adults in our community. For over 40 years, this dynamic group has shaped aging policy in city, county and state government through strong advocacy by active commissioners.

• Balance the state budget while also protecting Oregon’s heralded system of long term care programs and supports that ensure independence, choice, and dignity for aging Oregonians.

• Help struggling senior homeowners by readmitting them into the Senior Property Tax Deferral program until more thoughtful changes can be made to the program in the 2013 session. No senior with a reverse mortgage should have their home foreclosed while this issue is still being discussed in the Legislature.

• Strengthen Oregon Project Independence, our most cost-effective solution for keeping older adults out of higher cost levels of care, and keeping them independent in their own homes where they wish to remain.

• Support SB 1567 which will appropriate money from the General Fund to the Oregon Health Authority to provide Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Vouchers to 6,000 low-income seniors this spring. This not only helps the senior hunger and nutrition issue we face in Oregon, it helps local farmers and keeps these dollars circulating in Oregon.

• Support HB 4084 which creates a crime of assault in the third degree for intentionally or knowingly causing physical injury to elderly persons. Elder abuse is a troubling issue in our communities, and this is the first step in bringing it out of the shadows.

• Fix Oregon’s boom-or-bust revenue cycle be eliminating the kicker refund and creating a robust Rainy Day Fund that protects our vital services from cuts when times are hard.

Program Specialist Job Announcement

Scope of Position:

Elders in Action is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to assure a vibrant community through the active involvement of older adults. This position provides support for our Personal Advocate program area. The staff person answers the Personal Advocate Services Line, makes referrals, completes intake information, keeps program records using Raiser’s Edge and Excel software and provides other program support for the Personal Advocate and Speaker’s Bureau  program services offered by Elders in Action. Elders in Action programs utilize trained volunteers to assist elders in resolving problems they experience in their daily lives, such as health care, housing, crime, fraud or abuse. This program also provides community education in the areas of : scams, fraud and identity theft and other related senior topics.

Status: 40 hours per week- Full benefits and competitive salary

Supervisor: Director of Operations

Examples of Work:

• Answer the Program Services Line, makes appropriate referral for service, and complete all intake information using Raiser’s Edge software.

• Make calls to community agencies offering our community education program and develop outreach places for referral.

• Manage client records.

• Keep track of the flow of the case referrals and monitor the Personal Advocate  Standards of Service with other staff and volunteers.

• Provide guidance and ongoing support to in office interns and volunteers and volunteers in the field on a daily basis.

• Assign cases to volunteers in a timely manner and provide resource support for them.

• Maintain and update resource and information files for public and volunteer use.

• Assist in evaluation of program results.

• Other duties as assigned for the good of the agency

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of the aging and disability social service system and resources.
• Degree in the Social Service field and experience in working with older adults.
• Extensive knowledge of computer record keeping systems for the social service field; especially Raiser’s Edge and Excel; and knowledge of computer software including windows-based word processing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and to make decisions within established guidelines.
• Skill in working with the public and relating to program volunteers.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally on the phone and in person; and in writing with people in diverse situations and of varied backgrounds.
• Valid Oregon driver’s license.
• Criminal Background Check required

Send Resume and 3 professional references to Leslie Foren, Director of Operations at leslie@eldersinaction.org by February 10, 2012

Elders in Action wishes you a happy and healthy 2012! We are extremely grateful to the hundreds of generous donors who graciously supported our 2011 year end giving efforts. The wonderful support from our Annual Appeal donors; people who participated in the Oregonian’s Season of Sharing Wishbook; and those who donated to us through the Willamette Week’s Give Guide  have resulted in a joyful  end of the year for the thousands of elders who benefit from our services. The total end of year donations of $32,723 will help us provide our unique services to ensure that the quality of life never depends on age.

The new year is a perfect time to remind us all of our mission and some of the main tenets of our vision and values which are:

MISSION -To assure a vibrant community through the active involvement of older adults.

VISION- We envision a community that promotes opportunities for all older adults to be active and involved to the extent individually possible, and to contribute in meaningful ways to the health and vitality of our communities. The ideal community advocates for those older adults who are unable to speak out for themselves.

We envision a society where aging is viewed as positive and older adults are valued as important resources in their communities.  In the ideal community, individuals take the responsibility for preparing for their own aging.  Today’s children are tomorrow’s elders.

VALUES -As an organization of volunteers, we believe that:

• Older adults should be informed and encouraged to understand the issues facing our community; have the tools to solve problems; and empowered to speak out for change.
• Both the marketplace and service system should be coordinated, efficient, accessible,easy to use, and responsive to the special concerns of older customers.
• Volunteers bring a wealth of talent, wisdom, and experience, to our community.  Volunteers are our greatest asset.
• Every individual has dignity and worth, and the right to have their own belief, practice, or lifestyle.

Thank you all for helping us to end 2011 on a high note. We look forward to your interest and involvement in 2012!

Kind Regards,

Vicki Hersen, Executive Director