Restoring funds is quality of life issue

On the Senior Agenda by William F. Flynn, Jr.



This year the Senior Agenda Coalition and its partner group, the Rhode Island Organizing Project, have been arranging meetings of seniors with their legislators to ask for restoration of $1.8 million cut from senior services since 2008. During our meetings, we share stories with state senators and representatives about “aging in the community.” One of the best stories came from a senior I’ll call Jane.  
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Coalition starts conversation on finances

On the Senior Agenda by William F. Flynn, Jr.



Someone once said that truly wise persons are better known for their questions than for their answers. During the recent American Society on Aging Conference in Chicago, Debra Whitman, an economist who is executive vice president for policy at the national office of AARP, raised provocative questions about the economics of aging and said we have to find some answers. The questions follow.   
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Coalition: Restore funding to vital grants

On the Senior Agenda by William F. Flynn, Jr.



Since 2007, Rhode Island legislators have cut community grants for senior services by $1.8 million, or 68 percent. That was done even though the state’s population of senior citizens increased during that period. During the 2012 General Assembly session, the Senior Agenda Coalition led a campaign that prevented an additional $248,000 cut to those grants proposed by the governor.  
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Invite politicians to community meetings

On the Senior AGenda by William F. Flynn, Jr.



Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a meeting with about 15 seniors from the Newport area. Slightly more than half of the folks around the table were residents of Donovan Manor, a senior high-rise where we met. The remainder came from around the city. We shared our stories about aging in the community -- what worked well and what didn’t. It was a terrific session, and I believe we all learned a lot.
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Coalition calls for creating safety net

On the Senior Agenda by William F. Flynn, Jr.



My friend Linda (not her real name) is who former “Boston Globe” columnist Ellen Goodman calls the designated daughter -- the family member primarily responsible for planning and providing care for her aging parents. (It’s most often a daughter, if there is one.) Linda had relocated her elderly mom and dad to Rhode Island four years ago, and had put her career on hold while she and her sister helped care for them. 
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