U.S. Senate Candidate Al Franken Talks Aging and Long-Term Care
Al Franken has lived a fascinating life. Many know him from his Saturday Night Live days. But he’s put comedy aside (hopefully not for good - we all need some humor) to run for the United States Senate in Minnesota. He is the Democratic-endorsed candidate.Changing Aging recently sat down with Senate Candidate Al Franken to discuss his views on aging and aging services. Thank you for taking time from the campaign trail to talk with our readers Al: [NOTE TO READERS: We’ve also sought an interview with current U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and hope to hear back from him soon. We will post that interview as soon as it’s done.]How do you see life for you in your 90s? What’s your vision for growing old?I hope to be healthy and active when I am in my 90’s. I think my 100’s will be more of a problem. I want my wife Franni and I to be able to stay at home and spend time with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. My parents each lived to be 85. I am planning on Franni and I surpassing that. Just a few months ago, my uncle Erwin passed away. When my cousin called to tell me the news, he said, 'He died of being 97, that’s it.' I want it to be that way for Franni and me.Your mother, I believe, lived in assisted living or a nursing home … how was that experience from your perspective?My mother lived out her days at Jones Harrison--near where I grew up in St. Louis Park, Minn. She received wonderful care. The skilled nurses and doctors at Jones Harrison were able to meet her needs, something that Franni and I were not able to do. We came to visit often, but we were not able to care for her on our own. My brother and I were glad that she could be taken care of so close to home and that her friends could easily visit her. It also meant a lot to her to be close to places she was familiar with and her friends. Ideally she would have been able to be at home, like my father was when he passed away, but she needed more specialized care. Most Minnesotans and Americans say they want to live at home when they grow old, yet in this country most government dollars go to institutional based services, would you work on changing that?Our Minnesota seniors deserve to live out their lives where they are most comfortable. In most cases this means finding ways for them to stay in their own homes and in the communities they have lived for years - where their friends and family are. Right now, a large portion of our federal dollars spent on health care for seniors is through Medicare or Medicaid - the latter of which goes to pay for nursing home care when a person no longer can pay with his or her own dollars. Numerous studies show that institutional care is more expensive and less efficient than home care.Strengthening home care options will also address the concerns of rural Minnesotans who struggle to find access to providers. Rural Minnesotans are less likely to find nursing homes in their communities, and those that exist are struggling financially. Our seniors deserve to live out their days where they choose - and most often that would be remaining at or close to home, with family and friends.Minnesota congressional members have supported on a bi-partisan basis legislation that would bring more technology into aging services and enhance seniors' life quality and independence. It’s connecting American technology to aging. If you were to be elected to Congress, would aging and enhancing the future of aging be a large priority for you?When we invest in developing technologies, health care quality improves. Every senior will benefit when we’re able to implement interoperable electronic medical records and tele-health technologies. With these tools, we’ll improve the quality of care our seniors receive, making it more efficient and more cost effective. As a nation, we are making progress on many 21st century fronts. Technology that already exists can be adapted to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities to improve not only their quality of care, but also their quality of life. And we can make sure that these exciting new innovations also address the privacy and security concerns that Minnesotans have about protecting private health and treatment information. It’s absolutely crucial that we invest in research to find treatments and cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which our seniors face with increasing numbers. I am a strong supporter of the National Institutes of Health and their in-depth research capabilities. I want change in Washington - and that means leaders who don’t shy away from science and scientific breakthroughs.America has long been the world leader in health and treatment capabilities. I want that to continue, not only for the benefit of our seniors, but for the American economy as well. We should be a leader in the global market when it comes to health technology, just like Minnesota leads the national market with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Many people save nothing for long-term care expenses. It ends up costing the country billions in Medicaid costs. This issue seems tailor-made for bi-partisanship (we’re all aging). One idea non-profit senior service providers, including Ecumen, have put forth, is a framework for a national insurance trust Disability in old age (or young age) should be an insurable event. What’s your reaction to this framework? Every Minnesotan deserves access to long-term care. For most of us, this isn’t a concern until we are much older; but for some, an accident or an illness causes us to need long- term care starting at a younger age. I strongly support the goal of Medicare to provide for the basic health care needs of our seniors. Medicaid needs to be strong to step in to provide asafety net when someone younger is disabled or unable to provide for themselves due to economic hardship.Federal programs must provide the basic services, however not all needs can be met this way. I am intrigued by the framework put together by non-profit aging service providers around the country. We have to ensure that seniors can live where they most want to live while preserving safety nets for those most in need. I do not support the privatization of programs that provide for the basic needs of Minnesotans. Government has pledged to be there for seniors. We need to ensure that government programs are strong for Minnesotans and Americans in need of long-term care.Another issue that the country and Minnesota is wrestling with is family caregiving. Most people over age 65 rely on family caregivers, most of whom already have full-time jobs. Do you have any ideas for supporting family caregivers?Minnesotans take tremendous pride in their families - I know I do. And we take pride in the sense of community that comes from being able to take care of those we love. The 65 and over population is currently the fastest growing age group in this state. Between 2000 and 2030, the 65 and over population will roughly double from 12 percent to 24 percent of the total state population. In addition, the group most likely to need long-term care - Minnesotans 85 and older - will nearly triple statewide from 90,000 in 2000 to 250,000 in 2050. More and more Minnesotans are providing long-term care for elderly family members. As we get older we lean on our family members more. And that’s the way it should be - we are happy to help family. But the aging of the state’s population has created a 'sandwich generation' of Minnesotans who are caring for both their parents and their children. More than ninety percent of all long-term care in Minnesota is provided informally, usually by spouses or adult children. The average out-of-pocket costs facing family caregivers amount to roughly $5,500 per year - more than most families spend on health care.As Senator, I’ll create a $2,000 Caregiver Credit for any individual with substantial long-term needs - that would cover more than a third of the average costs to caregivers. To insure that those most pressed for time and resources would be able to access the credit, I would not require families to engage in any complicated accounting of their out-of-pocket costs. The credit would simply be phased out for families earning more than $150,000. This new credit would help more than 100,000 Minnesota residents and families do what they do best - take care of eachother.Soon we’re going to see something in this country we haven’t seen: Millions of people over age 85, and the fewest amount of people under 50 to care for them. Any ideas? Baby boomers are not only patients, but doctors and nurses as well. As a result, we are already facing a workforce shortage of providers and caregivers. Currently there are not nearly enough doctors are willing to see Medicare patients. In addition to an aging workforce that isn’t being replaced, there are insufficient numbers of primary care physicians as well as those who specialize in geriatrics. I propose providing financial and academic resources, as well as incentives, for doctors and nurses who pledge to dedicate their skills to our aging Minnesotans.I believe that all seniors should be guaranteed health care coverage-and not just seniors, all Americans. We need to go to universal health care. A single-payer system would be the most effective in terms of reducing administrative costs, and I would be thrilled to support such a system. However, I believe that today’s political environment requires a creative and flexible approach to covering every American. Under my plan for universal healthcare, I would require every state to cover every one of its citizens, and the federal government to provide funding to fulfill that requirement. Each individual state would be free to offer a variety of options, as long as they add up to universal coverage, giving us 51 laboratories (if you count DC) to develop a system which works best.Additionally, as the baby-boomer generation ages, the needs of our communities change. Beyond healthcare, many retirees want to be active participants in their communities. I support community organizations who are dedicated to engaging seniors in a myriad of ways. Community centers are a common gathering place for seniors. Many of these facilities provide hot lunches in addition to classes, peer level support and basic healthcare such as providing flu shots to those most in need. I will work to make sure these kinds of organizations remain viable.
Ecumen Leader Discusses Presidential Candidates and Long-Term Care Financing With New York Times
Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend. Welcome back to Changing Aging!
The New York Times' 'New Old Age' blog last Thursday had Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts provide analysis on why long-term care hasn’t thus far been a big topic with the Presidential candidates thus far. She answers the question:Why are the candidates (mostly) silent on long-term care?' Please add your thoughts.Also, download a new Ecumen white paper by Kathryn:“Long Term Care Financing Reform: An Incredible Opportunity for Candidates Who Desire Positive Change in America'
Changing Aging on Vacation Next Week
Changing Aging is taking a break next week to enjoy the end of a Minnesota summer … We’ll see you next week … Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
Ecumen Recognized as Best Place To Work for 4th Straight Year
For the fourth straight year Ecumen has been named one of Minnesota’s Best Places to Work by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. In fact, this year Ecumen garnered its best performance ever by gaining 5th place in the Top 10 of the Large Business category. The top-five in order were LarsonAllen, C.H. Robinson, Comcast, HealthEast and Ecumen, followed by Wells Fargo, Capella Education, Ecolab, Securian Financial and Lakeview Hospital.Nearly 250 companies from around the region made the initial cut to be considered for this honor. Only 10 companies with 1,000 or more employees made the final list. All results are based on employee surveys. Building Home and Building a Legacy
So many people throughout Ecumen see what they do as more than a job. They feel in-tune with the Ecumen values of people, service, innovation, spirituality, wellness, collaboration and stewardship. They see their work contributing to a mission larger than themselves. And they gain energy from Ecumen’s vision for 'Changing Aging:' We envision a world in which aging is viewed and understood in radically different ways.We are creating home at Ecumen … we are creating great places to live and work … we are creating a legacy. And by continually improving and building upon our efforts to make Ecumen a great place to live and work, we will empower future team members to build upon our collective contributions.
Our Mission:
We create home for older adults wherever they choose to live.
Age Wave Takes Center Stage at Minnesota State Fair - And You’re Invited
The Future of Aging is going to take 'Center Stage' next week at the Minnesota State Fair in the Big Top Tent, and you’re invited to participate: The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is holding a series of community conversations over several days next week. The discussions are called:
Minnesota, Real & Imagined: What Minnesotans Need to Know for the Next 50 Years.
Partners in the project are the Bush Foundation, Twin Cities Public Television/Minnesota Channel, and the Citizens League.Discussion moderators will include: Mary Lahammer, political reporter for Twin Cities Public Television; Lori Sturdevant, editorial writer and columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Peter Hutchinson, president of the Bush Foundation.
The Age Wave Discussion:
The Age Wave will be the topic of the Health and Wellness Panel on Wed., Aug. 28, which will include three 25-minute conversations (from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) (this is based on the old Chautauqua Lyceum models in which citizens accepted a bit of education with their entertainment [or a bit of entertainment with their education]). The Age Wave discussion, the third conversation, will feature:- Kathy Bakkenist, Ecumen’s chief operating officer and senior vice president of strategy and operations- Jan Hively, Ph.D., former deputy mayor of Minneapolis and founder and advisor to the Vital Aging Network- Jim Scheibel, former mayor of St. Paul and former director of the Corporation for National and Community Service- Sean Kershaw, executive director of the Citizens League
Democrats See Light, Put Long-Term Financing on Platform
Long-term care financing is like a long dormant volcano that is starting to fizz again.The last time long-term care financing was a serious national topic of discussion was in the late 1980s into 1990 when The Pepper Commission, a bi-partisan commission led by the late Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.) made long-term care financnig part of a national health care reform blueprint. In fact, in 1990, then Presidential candidate George H.W. Bush said he’d give long-term care 'the attention it deserves.' Then … THUD.The issue is getting new life.For the first time Democrats have put long-term care financing in their draft platform 'Renewing America’s Promise' that will be approved in the upcoming convention. As first reported by Future of Aging, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging blog, here is the draft language:Empowerment and Support of Older Americans and People with Disabilities.Seniors and people with disabilities should have access to quality affordable long-term care services, and those services should be readily available at home and in the community. Americans should not be forced to choose between getting care and living independent and productive lives.Seniors We will take steps to ensure that our seniors have meaningful long-term care options that are consistent with their individual needs, including the option of home care. We believe that we must pay caregivers a fair wage and train more nurses and health care workers so as to improve the availability and quality of long-term care. We must reform the financing of long-term care to ease the burden on seniors and their families. We will safeguard social security. We will develop new retirement plans and pension protections that will give Americans a secure, portable way to save for retirement. We will ensure a safe and dignified retirement.
Give Input on the Republican Platform
The Republicans will soon announce their platform, but you can still urge them to include long-term care financing it. Here’s how:
- Visit GOP Platform 2008.
- Click “create platform account.”
- Create an account.
- Click on “submit text entry” and enter your own version of the following platform statement:
“Any effort at health care reform must also include long-term care financing reform. The responsibility of care giving will only increase as the baby boom generation ages and needs additional services. America needs a fiscally responsible approach for long-term care financing based on the principles developed in the successful state-based Cash & Counseling programs. These principles, including a cash benefit, offer the maximum choice, independence, and personal responsibility for seniors and persons with disabilities, while ensuring fiscal integrity.”
A Long-Term Care Financing Idea From Nebraska
We had a fabulous day last week with Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn and Trent Fellers, director of their new Long-Term Care Savings Plan last week. Thanks to the many people who came to the morning event. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has an editorial on the Nebraska plan today, which we’ve posted below.After meeting with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce health care policy committee, they for the first time in their history voted to develop a Chamber policy statement on long-term care. Treasurer Osborn did a great job of outlining that long-term care impacts us all.
Editorial: A pioneering idea from Nebraska
Madonna, Prince, Mick and The Change Wave
Madonna finds her lucky star when she hits the big 50 tomorrow. Mick Jagger’s is finding lots of satisfaction at 65. And Prince got a hip replacement, so he can still get crazy and live fully after 50.This is an interesting part of the Age Wave. In the 1950s, 60s, 70s, we didn’t have the mass media that brings us every part of a person’s life. It was mass media that made people such as Madonna, Mick and Prince icons for a lifetime. They’re not going away. But what will increasingly become part of their story and other icons' story are growing into old age, hip replacements, new technologies that help them stay independent as possible, caregiving, dementia, and home care.Think of other iconic people who make news and love being news - who are growing older - Katie Couric, Cher, Bono, Howard Stern, Charles Barkley, Bill Clinton, etc. Aging is becoming part of their story. And I doubt they’re going to leave the stage quietly. For a look ahead, look back …Pre-mass media screen legend and stroke survivor Kirk Douglas sure isn’t exiting quietly. His column in this week’s Newsweek, was entitled 'What Old Age Taught Me.'The Change Wave is here … . will you ride it?
Aging Begins When We Are Young, Financial Literacy Should Too
Most Americans think that Medicare will pay for long-term care … It won’t. In 2005 the national savings rate fell below zero percent … the first time since the Great Depression. Most people have no clue what aging services cost.Aging begins when we’re young and financial literacy should, too. That’s the premise of this Ecumen article that appeared in today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune. What are your thoughts?
Financial sense must be taught early
All Genes or You? Take the Ecumen Poll on Aging
Can you impact how you age?We recently featured two Ecumen centenarians - Hardy Rickbeil and Marion Davidson. They live different lifestyles. For example, one is a fitness buff, one is not. We’re all different, so this raises a question below. Please take our poll. If you have any comments to add, please click on the 'comments' section below.Have a great weekend.[poll id='3']