 Dignity In Aging Act Introduced in House Legislation
Arlington, VA (September 17, 2019) ─ The National Council on Aging (NCOA) commends the leadership of the House Committee on Education and Labor for introducing H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act.
“Aging with dignity is not an aspiration, it’s a human right and we applaud the Democratic and Republican lawmakers who are joining us in defending this principle,” said NCOA President and CEO James Firman. “On behalf of tens of millions of aging adults, their families, and caregivers, NCOA thanks these forward-thinking lawmakers for the Dignity in Aging Act, which not only reauthorizes the Older Americans Act but creates a path for a future where all adults can age well in their communities, with health and economic security.”
Over 11 million older adults and their caregivers benefit from OAA programs administered by the nationwide Aging Services Network, including senior centers, healthy aging programs, nutrition, in-home services, transportation, caregiver support, and elder abuse protections. Many of the individuals served are at risk of hunger, poverty, chronic and fatal health conditions, isolation, and losing their ability to live with health, dignity, and independence.
Reauthorization is a crucial opportunity for Congress to modernize and improve services by supporting efficiencies and innovations, reassessing the Act’s successes and limitations, and addressing the ability to effectively serve older adults in need. The Committee’s bipartisan commitment to the efforts of the Aging Services Network to empower seniors to remain healthy and independent in their own homes and communities is to be applauded.
Several priorities for reauthorization are reflected in H.R. 4334. These provisions include:
- Creating an Innovation Center that can lead a robust aging services research and development authority to evaluate and support scaling of evidence-based interventions and innovations that can improve wellness and quality of life, reduce Medicare or Medicaid costs, and promote independence and healthy aging.
- Strengthening the OAA’s focus on healthy aging, particularly regarding falls prevention and chronic disease self-management.
- Enhancing the efforts of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) to provide crucial workforce development opportunities to low-income older workers with significant barriers to employment and economic security.
- Protecting the crucial services of the OAA and providing a path for future investments.
The legislation also addresses a number of priorities endorsed by the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO). These include social determinants of health, social isolation, caregiver support, elder justice and legal services, multigenerational collaboration, and services for Native Americans and other underserved populations.
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 Helping Community-Based Organizations Be Prepared for Emergencies
By Rhonda Schwartz, Regional Administrator (Region III), ACL
More than one third of community-dwelling adults age 65 and older live alone. Many of these older adults have complex health needs and physical limitations. Additionally, many depend upon others for assistance and support—and their loved ones may not live nearby. These circumstances contribute to the disproportionate effect that disasters have been shown to have on older adults. The majority of the victims of the 2018 California wildfires were reported to be over age 70.
People with disabilities also experience greater impacts from disasters. For example, people with disabilities were disproportionately represented in the CA fire areas (around double compared to state averages) with area residents 7.2% having a hearing disability, 11.4% a cognitive disability, 11.8% ambulatory disability, and 10.2% independent living challenges. Reports on Hurricane Katrina similarly found that older adults and people with disabilities were disproportionately harmed by the storm.
The impact on older adults and people with disabilities from disasters is exacerbated when the services and supports normally provided to them also are interrupted. It is important for community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve these individuals to be able to re-open as soon as possible after an emergency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made several tools and resources available on its website to assist with continuity of operations planning. Having a continuity of operations plan is key so that, in the event of an emergency, an organization can resume essential functions quickly.
In addition to ensuring their ability to continue their own operations following an emergency, another way that CBOs can assist people with disabilities and older adults in an emergency situation is to partner with other organizations within a defined geographic area in order to develop an organized network of agencies and businesses that will coordinate their actions to assist these populations during and while recovering from a disaster. Resources are available to assist with these efforts, such as:
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Capacity-Building Toolkit for including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning. This toolkit was developed by the National Association of County & City Health Officials and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, in partnership with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the Administration for Community Living. This toolkit contains information about planning for emergencies, developing relationships with other organizations for responding to emergencies, and reaching and assisting older adults and people with disabilities.
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HHS emPOWER Map 3.0. This resource, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, can be used to find the monthly total of Medicare beneficiaries, as well as Medicare beneficiaries with electricity-dependent equipment claims, at the U.S. state, territory, county, and zip code level. This tool also includes severe weather tracking information that can be used to identify areas and populations that may be impacted and are at risk for prolonged power outages.
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National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) Disaster Planning Toolkit for People Living with Dementia. A disaster situation can be particularly unsettling for individuals with dementia. This toolkit was created by NADRC to address the special needs of this population with respect to disaster planning.
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Health Care Coalitions. Various organizations within a particular geographic area that provide health-related services (e.g. hospitals, emergency management organizations, EMS providers) form these coalitions in order to devise a coordinated response to emergency situations. ASPR has made a tool available to locate health care coalitions in your area. Additionally, search for local CBOs by zip code using the Elder Care Locator website.
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Rx Open helps patients find nearby open pharmacies in areas impacted by disaster. Combining multiple data feeds from the pharmaceutical industry, Rx Open displays the precise location on Google Maps of open pharmacies, closed pharmacies, and those whose status is unknown. This critical information assists government officials in assessing an emergency's impact on public health in a disaster area.
The response to an emergency can be more effective when community organizations work together. By planning ahead and partnering with other local organizations during non-emergency times, CBOs can help their communities, as well as the older adults and people with disabilities who reside in their communities, to be better prepared for, and better able to respond to, emergencies.
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 Automated system now open to schedule appointments in advance
Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) is offering pre-registration for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Subsidy Component. The pre-registration will begin on Wednesday, October 2, and end on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
Pre-registration is for Jefferson County residents who are elderly (60 years or older) or disabled and receive a fixed income (Social Security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits).
This pre-registration phase is for the LIHEAP Subsidy Program, meaning eligible residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills. Applicants must provide the following documentation:
- Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Award letter, pay stubs, etc. or proof of $0 income). Note: Zero Income forms are available at the Resilience and Community Services office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 as well as the six LIHEAP locations listed below or by clicking here.
- Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.
- Most current heating bill; or statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent; or statement from your utility company if you participate in a pre-pay electric program. Please bring the account number and name on the account for all heating fuel sources and electric.
Eligible residents who wish to apply during LHEAP Early Registration must schedule an appointment in advance. Starting today, Sept. 25, the toll-free automated appointment system is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The caller can follow the prompts to get the information needed and/or to schedule an appointment if available. The system provides a confirmation number indicating that an appointment was successfully scheduled.
Scheduling an appointment by phone:
Call 502-991-8391
- Choose the desired location for your appointment (the six LIHEAP office locations are listed below.)
- Choose a date/time for your appointment
- Record your name – say and spell your first and last names slowly and clearly
- Enter a contact phone number
- Enter your 12-digit LGE account number (if applicable)
- Enter the last four digits of your Social Security number and date of birth
- Receive your appointment confirmation number (have pen/paper ready)
- Appointment details (location, date and time) will be repeated
- List of documents to bring to the appointment will be given
Scheduling an Appointment On-line:
Appointments can also be made quickly and easily online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment at one of the six locations listed below.
- Neighborhood Place Ujima/Duvalle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., 40211
- Neighborhood Place/Bridges of Hope, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy., 40210
- Northwest Neighborhood Place/Academy at Shawnee, 4018 W Market St., 40212
- South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 40215
- Newburg Community Center/East, 4810 Exeter Ave, 40218
- Southwest Government Center/Dixie Highway location. 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258
Benefits provided by this program are paid directly to the applicant’s heating vendor. Benefits for this program will not be applied until on or after Nov. 4, 2019.
For more information about this process on how to apply for LIHEAP pre-registration, please contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or 574-5000, email metro.call@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On Line Customer Service or Live Chat at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro311, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website.
Income-eligible residents who do not meet the requirements for pre-registration (who are not elderly or disabled and on a fixed income) may still apply for LIHEAP benefits beginning Nov. 4. Appointments will be taken in advance starting Nov. 1 utilizing the phone and on-line appointment system. Visit louisvilleky.gov and search for “LIHEAP” or call 502/574-1157 for periodic updates.
Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf. Simply provide the representative with the documentation listed above as well as a hand-written note, dated and signed from the applicant, giving them permission to handle their application for services. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502/780-7937.
LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. For more information about Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services -- visit our website at www.louisvilleky.gov/RCS or call 574-1157 or Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452.
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