By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews
Many area senior
citizens were reminded that growing older involves more than
aches and pains – it also requires diligence. The Issues of
Aging forum at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Sept. 12,
which included a discussion with gubernatorial candidates Dino
Rossi and Ron Sims, was a reminder of that.
The forum was
sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in
conjunction with Jewish Family Service, Kline Galland Center
and Affiliates, and the JCC.
If one message was
clear throughout the forum, from opening remarks by local
attorney Karen Treiger to the candidates themselves, it’s that
being involved with what the state legislature and Congress
are doing is important to ensure that this segment of the
population’s voices are heard.
About 125 people
attended the event, said Remy Trupin, director of government
affairs at the Federation. "It went outstanding," he said. "I
felt like it met all of our goals."
He said all of the
speakers brought of breadth and depth to their subjects, and
the positive response from attendees included requests to
continue the discussions.
Breakout sessions
on issues affecting seniors included finances, understanding
the most efficient and inexpensive way to obtain prescription
drugs, and where and how to live as they get older.
"Not all boarding
homes and not all adult family homes are the same in what they
provide," said Deb Murphy, CEO of Washington Association of
Housing and Services for the Aged, in a session on housing and
continuum of care issues. She said checking marketing
materials as well as the level of services that homes provide
to help make the choice.
Don Armstrong,
Director of Aging Services at JFS, has been working to set up
an aging-in-place program called a Naturally Occurring
Retirement Community. He said that for many people, being able
to age at home with a minimum of outside assistance can be the
best choice. For people requiring a 24-hour presence, however,
with costs of $13,000-$14,000 per month for round-the-clock
home care, that might not be the case.
"Any level of care
can be provided in the house, assuming you have the
resources," Armstrong said. But, he added, "most of us do
not."
Another session
dealt with the high cost of growing older. Attorney Jacob
Menashe stressed the value of long-term care insurance and
urged seniors to set up a durable power of attorney in the
event of incapacitation.
"You really need to
have 1,000 percent trust in your agent," he said. By not
setting up this power of attorney, a spouse or other agent
might have to go to court to get the designation, which opens
up private matters to the public record and could cost from
$3,000-$5,000.
While Menashe spoke
about the possibility of divestment of assets to receive
Medicaid coverage – essentially taking the burden of care from
the family and putting it onto the community – Rabbi Moshe
Kletenik of Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath Congregation laid
out the ethical implications of doing just that.
"It is the
responsibility of our government to provide for the needs of
society for those who cannot care for themselves," Rabbi
Kletenik said. However, he noted, "the law of the land is the
law," meaning that within Jewish law it may be permitted to
divest assets to receive government care. When doing so,
however, the caregiver receives less compensation than if paid
directly. That should be cause for concern, and the divestment
itself must be within the confines of the law.
"If a person can
care for themselves, they should," Rabbi Kletenik said.
Otherwise, the obligation falls to the family, and if not
possible, responsibility ultimately lands on the community.
Prescription drugs
also weighs heavily on the minds of seniors. This November
election could have a big impact in the long term with
Medicare drug benefits, said Rod Haynes, the regional media
representative of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. Haynes said that with confusion over the new system
of benefits cards and keeping track of each part of the law,
"Everyone has to become health insurance benefits
specialists."
Audience members
were anxious to get a better understanding of how the cards
work, and when in 2006 the cards are phased out, how much the
government will cover, and for how much of the monthly cost of
prescription drugs.
He said that the
with the exception of people on both Medicare and Medicaid,
the prescription drug card is not dependent on income, and
several cards in Washington State are free of charge. Bobbi
Christensen of the state’s Insurance Commissioner’s office
runs a helpline that she said can offer a cost comparison of
drugs from different pharmacies within a range of distances
from the consumer’s home. Christensen also offered follow-up
after the event to assist in obtaining benefits.
Though Medicare
will cover a large percentage of costs at both the low and
high end, there is a "doughnut hole" of benefits – monthly
costs between $2,250 and $5,100 that are the full
responsibility of the consumer – but most citizens will not
reach that threshold, Haynes said.
While Haynes
questioned why the government does not have negotiating
abilities on the prices of drugs with the pharmaceutical
companies, the Federation’s Trupin said there is political
will at the state level to address this issue.
What the candidates
said
Gubernatorial
candidates Dino Rossi (Republican) and Ron Sims (Democrat)
attended the aging forum on Sept. 12. Sims was beaten in the
primary by opponent Christine Gregoire, who did not attend the
event. However, as King County Executive, many of Sims’ views
could still affect area residents. The forum was moderated by
KUOW radio’s Marcie Sillman. Questions came from members of
the audience.
On how to encourage
community based innovation such as Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities:
Dino Rossi:
Supports the idea of NORCs because they save the state money.
"My door is always open" to other ideas as well, he said.
Ron Sims: "It
actually saves the state money." There has to be an array of
options for seniors and their families.
On whether seniors
should be able
to travel to Canada to purchase prescription drugs:
Sims: "Absolutely."
He said he has never gotten a good reason why drugs are
cheaper there.
Rossi: "I’d be
supportive if you can prove they’re safe." He cited the
questionable quality of drugs ordered on the Internet, and
said prescriptions constitute only 10 percent of medical
costs. The real costs come from medical malpractice suits, he
said, "which is why your doctor has endorsed me." The state
has lost many of its doctors by not supporting tort reform, he
added.
Sims said he also
believes in enacting tort reform.
On providing mental
health care
in nursing homes:
Sims: It’s critical
to deal with mental, general and dental issues. Both his
mother and mother-in-law were put on anti-depressants by the
state, he said, but questioned whether they were necessary. "I
always worry there is a lack of understanding in mental health
needs."
Rossi: Would work
with "what is in the best interest of the public," which would
include working with faith-based organizations to help provide
the care.
On obtaining
federal Homeland Security funds for high-risk nonprofits:
Rossi: There would
be money available. "We have to make sure all citizens are
safe."
Sims: "They must be
protected."
On prosecuting
anti-Semitic acts
in the state:
Sims: He would do
so "aggressively. I know what hate looks like. I will attack
it with the same vengeance that I’ve fought it."
Rossi: "It will not
be tolerated."
Other issues
affecting Jewish voters:
Sims: "The state of
Washington has reduced commitment to education for 13 years,"
and as a result has dropped from 19th to 43rd in the nation
for teacher salaries.
Rossi: When
crafting the state’s budget, he said senior citizens were a
priority, which was acknowledged by the American Association
for Retired Persons. "I’m going to be that way when I’m
governor, folks," he said.
Joel Magalnick