Silver Haired Assembly Discusses Issues for Seniors
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| Amanda Tetlak |
| 7/30/2010 |
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| As North Dakota`s aging population grows, so does the importance of issues facing seniors. The Silver Haired Assembly met in Bismarck this week to hammer out proposals it would like the legislature to consider in January. The assembly voted on a number of proposals it believes are crucial for the well-being of North Dakota`s seniors. Thirty-one delegates all 60 and older and representing the seniors in their counties came to Bismarck to discuss changes they`d like to see happen in North Dakota through the next legislative session. "The population in North Dakota is aging, and so, there are going to be more of us. It`s important that we have this opportunity to zero in and take some time to talk about issues," said Burleigh County Delegate Robert Johnson. "Which ones seem to be more important that others." The assembly voted on a number of bills and resolutions that will be passed on to lawmakers for the next session. One of the issues important to the assembly is expanding the Amber Alert system to cover seniors as well. "North Dakota of course we`re real sensitive, of course, to a senior with alzheimers, gets out in the cold weather, he can`t last long. So, we need that notification early on," said Pierce County Delegate Warner Knudson. But the biggest issue facing seniors is funding social welfare programs. The Silver Haired Assembly is asking the legislation to approve $1.3 million in funding for two years to reimburse senior service providers for things like home care, meal delivery and transportation. Silver Haired Assembly President Ray Siver said, "Reimbursements are insufficient, so we wind up at the end of the year saying, `Can we continue to do this?` And it`s a problem here." In addition to asking for state funding, the assembly also supports a resolution asking the national Congress to increase funding in the Older Americans Act, which supports social welfare programs for seniors. A couple other bills supported by the assembly this week are creating a pilot program to reimburse guardians for taking care of seniors and requiring background checks for all caregivers, not just Certified Nursing Assistants. |
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