Senior advocacy group gives priorities to legislators

A presentation Friday by the Silver Haired Legislature drew lawmakers from across the region to discuss priorities for senior citizens.

About 15 members of the advocacy group, made of people age 60 and older from an area that covers Southeast Missouri, met with U.S. Rep. Jason Smith and Republican state representatives Steve Cookson of Poplar Bluff, Paul Fitzwater of Potosi, Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson, Holly Rehder of Sikeston, Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff and Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau at the Jackson Oaks Senior Center. Cape Girardeau County Public Administrator Lisa Reitzel also joined the group.

"They have come up with some good ideas that have turned into laws," said Ruth Dockins, public information director for Aging Matters, formerly the SEMO Area Agency on Aging, who explained the group's priorities.

The group has influenced issues such as creation of the Missouri Senior Rx Program and allowance of division of assets so spouses of people who enter nursing-home care do not become impoverished. The districts of the group each represent one of the state's 10 area agencies on aging. Members hold a mock legislative session in addition to their advocacy efforts, electing senators and representatives of their own for each district.

An October meeting helped the group determine five priorities for seniors in 2014 they are working to share with lawmakers. Priorities include: restoring and increasing funding of meals for seniors provided through Medicaid, home delivery and congregated settings such as senior centers; increasing access to transportation for seniors by increasing AAA funding; increasing allowable asset level requirements for Medicaid recipients; forming an alert system for seniors similar to the Amber Alert system for children; and easing the process for grandparents to take over guardianship of grandchildren.

Several of the group's members, including Minnie May of Piedmont, Mo., spoke about the priorities. May asked the state legislature consider helping to form a "Silver Alert" system that would organize search-and-rescue teams and send widespread communication if a senior goes missing. As an Alzheimer's disease sufferer, May said she has concerns that people such as herself can become vulnerable to finding themselves in such a situation.

"I think right now our police and others do a pretty good job of getting the word out, but there is still no system to look for them," she said. "They are not a throwaway society, and we need to start caring for them."

Other priorities for the group include "creating relief" for seniors from rising property taxes; starting a "Yellow Dot" program where emergency responders could see a sticker on a senior's vehicle and know medical information about the driver in the case of a crash or other incident; reducing the amount lenders can charge on payday and other loans; banning hand-held cellphone use while driving; allowing some property tax retainment or refunds for seniors; and reauthorizing funding for the Missouri Rx program.

Group member Doug Austin of Cape Girardeau said he wants to see the legislators address the group's priorities during their sessions, though the legislators can at the same time count on the group for help.

"We've just planted 11 ideas," Austin said. "Ring our phone, and we can help you, too, with testimony in committees, whatever you need."

eragan@semissourian.com

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