Ecumen Talks Future of Aging on Almanac
On Friday night, Ecumen participated in a panel discussion with the Vital Aging Network and Minnesota’s first state demographer Hazel Reinhardt on the future of aging in Minnesota on Twin Cities Public Television’s popular public affairs show Almanac. The show aired on Friday. You can watch the 10-minute clip here by clicking on the Sept. 12th show and The Future of Aging link.
Senate Candidate Al Franken Announces Long-Term Care Financing Initiatives
On Friday, Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken talked long-term care, announcing several proposals at Lyngblomsten senior community in Saint Paul. Here are ideas he raised:
- Give families or caregivers a $2,000 tax credit to help pay for long-term care needs.
- A $1,200 tax credit for businesses to offset costs of providing long-term care.
- Make federal long-term care reimbursements more flexible so seniors' costs could be equally paid whether they live in senior housing, nursing home or their homes. The campaign estimates that would save $25 billion every year, in part because home care is less expensive than nursing home care.
(Smart move to focus on people’s desire to live at home and have choice and the ability for government to save money by doing it.)Q&A With CandidateWe’re seeking insignts from all of the major party U.S. Senate candidates on aging and long-term care. Al Franken responses to Changing Aging’s questions are here.
Riding into the Weekend
Here’s a photo to put you in a frame of mind for the weekend. Earlier this year Ecumen customer Evelyn Bonnes of New Richmond, Wis., celebrated her 93rd birthday by going motorcycle riding in Mesa, Az. through the red rock foundations. Here’s to riding into the weekend and Living Fully After 90! Have a good one!P.S. I heard from a number of readers that the link to Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts' long-term care financing paper wasn’t working. Thanks for the heads up. And my apologies. It’s been fixed and you can download it and other articles here.
New Long-Term Care Financing White Paper Provides Candidates Ingredients for Change
Long Term Care Financing Reform: An Incredible Opportunity for Candidates Who Desire Positive Change in America' is the latest white paper written by Ecumen’s CEO Kathryn Roberts, PhD. It’s a must-read for people and candidates for public office who desire innovation in Federal and State public policy.Want to learn more? Here are 10 Reasons Long-Term Care Financing Reform Must Occur.
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Long Term Care Financing Reform: An Incredible Opportunity for Candidates Who Desire Positive Change in America' is the latest white paper written by Ecumen’s CEO Kathryn Roberts, PhD. It’s a must-read for people and candidates for public office who desire innovation in Federal and State public policy.Want to learn more? Here are 10 Reasons Long-Term Care Financing Reform Must Occur.
Alva Wellington: Life on a Day That Will Live in Infamy
One of the great joys of working in our profession is we get access to first-person accounts of our country’s and communities' history. I’d like to share with you a perspective written by Alva Wellington, an Ecumen customer who lives in St. Peter, Minnesota.Thanks, Alva, for your post at Changing Aging and taking us back to the day that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said 'will live in infamy.'
Sunday, December 7, 1941 was a beautiful day in San Pedro, California so we decided to go to Los Angeles to an organ concert. We were a new bride and groom and my husband was just beginning his job as a Lutheran pastor in San Pedro. The concert was inspiring but its beauty was suddenly shattered with the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We all left Los Angeles wonderingwhat was going to happen next. But it wasn’t long before we realized theseriousness of this news . When we came to the outskirts of San Pedro, the road was barricaded and all drivers stopped. No one was allowed into the city except those who lived there. We told the police that we lived there but they questioned us because we still had Minnesota license plates on thecar and no other identification. My husband said he had a church service here to conduct this evening. But this didn’t impress the police either. Then I found a letter from my mother with our address on it. This finally convinced the police that we really did live in San Pedro so he let us go by the barricade and to our home.It is rather interesting that the city could get prepared so quickly. But they were fearful that San Pedro might be on the list to be bombed also. So barricades, barrage balloons and blacked out windows were put into place . We lived with ration books, siren warnings, and trying to drive home at night without using any lights. That was hazardous. Many times we walkedhome in the dark and interestingly, as we walked, we could hear people talking on their porches but only in whispers.My husband’s regular church job changed from the traditional. He was busy saying good bye to men who immediately signed up for the armed services or comforting families when blue stars in the windows were changed to gold when someone was killed.But this was a time when everyone did their part to win the war. Women became part of the workforce too, either in the factories, ship yards or in banks, schools or business because the men were gone. No one complained. We all did what we could for the war effort- even something as small as saving bacon greece or gum wrappers.
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.