Forum highlights seniors' health service needs
By Angela Hill
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 11/20/2009 03:58:37 PM PST
Updated: 11/21/2009 07:59:26 AM PST
Read actual article HERE or read re-formatted copy below.
Marie Fisher, a member of the United Seniors of Oakland group, attends a senior health care policy forum held at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. Attendees discuss various issues about housing, care and service options for seniors. Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.
Nate Miley, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, speaks at a senior health care policy forum held at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. The forum examined various issues about housing, care and service options for seniors.
Ruth Gay, left, Daniel Sawislak, Louis Vismara and Martin Lynch are doctors and community advocates on a discussion panel discussing senior health care held at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. The panel discussed various issues about housing, care and service options for seniors.
OAKLAND — Helen Chen, chief medical officer at the Center for Elders' Independence, has news for the upcoming generation: You're gonna get old.
"They'll be in shock," Chen said. "They'll say, 'I ate right, I exercised right, I did everything right. How come I'm old?' But no matter what you do, you're gonna get older and you have to plan for that."
But that's easier said than done.
"If you have money, fine. You can get any services that you want, at home or in an assisted living facility," Chen said. "But if you don't have money, your options are getting increasingly limited as more and more resources are cut from state budgets and assistance programs. That's why we're here today, to try to figure out what to do about that."
Chen was one of nearly 200 people from various elder-service agencies who attended the annual Bay Area Senior Healthcare Policy Forum Friday, held in the conference center at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in downtown Oakland. The event, sponsored by CEI and On Lok Lifeways, was also attended by several state and local elected officials, such as keynote speaker state Sen. Loni Hancock and assemblywomen Nancy Skinner and Joan Buchanan.
Even those at the forum looking to proposed federal health care reform for hope admitted there's no magic bullet. And no matter what comes down the pike from the federal government, it will still take collaborations on the ground level to meet the growing need as the state's over-65 population doubles in the next 25 years, said Peter Szutu, CEI president. "How many of you have seen programs cut in the last state budget cycle?" he asked the audience. Nearly everyone raised a hand. "Now is the time to start building the infrastructure and strengthening the safety net for our seniors," he said. "Yet we're all experiencing funding cuts and dwindling resources. All senior housing development has come to a screeching halt. County-administered programs are being eliminated. We need to work together, strengthen our relationships across programs and geography."
Joanne Handy, president and CEO of Aging Services of California, attempted to shed some light on the possible impacts — good and bad — that federal health care legislation, in its current form, might have on local senior services.
"For people on Medicare, it could mean greater assistance with the cost of prescription drugs," Handy said. "It could increase the coverage of preventive health care services under Medicare without co-pays. Screenings for older people can be covered. Another item proposed in a companion bill would increase the access of people on Medicare to primary physicians."
Some less positive effects might be that, "If you are over 65 and in a Medicare HMO, you can stay in it, but there will be changes," she said. "They'll have to readjust the benefit structure."
The forum concluded with afternoon workshops on planning for the growing need for care of dementia and Alzheimer's patients, as well as discussing housing and service options for seniors.