OCTOBER 29, 2009 ISSUE
North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature Wraps Up a Busy Year
The Senior Tar Heel Legislature (STHL) concluded their third of three annual meetings on Wednesday, October 7. Elections were held during the last day of the meeting and new officers were sworn in for their two-year tenure. The incoming officers are: Speaker Betty Hunt from Randolph County; Speaker Pro-Tem John Thompson from Carteret County; Deputy Speaker Pro-Tem Herb Harris from Person County; and Secretary Marge Zima from Onslow County.
“
The STHL is very important and as governor, I want to have an opportunity to work with you on aging issues and on getting our seniors healthier. Volunteerism is also very important to me and I want to thank all of you for the time you give.
” —Gov. Bev Purdue
Outgoing Speaker Charles Dickens from Buncombe County shared what the last two years as speaker meant to him. “I ran for speaker to bring constructive changes that would strengthen our effectiveness. To me, that meant giving greater attention to advocacy, keeping our issues committee active all year, encouraging more local and regional actions by our members and generally increasing the visibility of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature.” He went on to say that as the new leadership takes its place, “I hope to help younger seniors to assume their place in the leadership of older North Carolinians. The Boomers are here and have much to offer, if they choose to get involved.”
While Gov. Bev Perdue could not attend this meeting, she held a telephone conference call to the STHL body saying, “The STHL is very important and as governor, I want to have an opportunity to work with you on aging issues and on getting our seniors healthier. Volunteerism is also very important to me and I want to thank all of you for the time you give.”
Charles Perusse, state budget director, was a guest speaker and commented about how the many state agencies took big budget reductions and how the state is looking at “tax modernization and revamping of our tax system. In order to lower state tax, a tax on services may have to be implemented; this is called broadening the base, lowering the rate. This could include, for example, taxes on services related to car repairs, haircuts and pet care.” He went on to say that “unemployment in North Carolina is currently at 10.8 percent, times are still tough, but it’s going to get better.”
Dennis Streets, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services, wrapped up the afternoon session nothing that “with the budget cuts, senior centers are seeing an 81 percent increase in services and that more than one-third of the providers may run out of Home and Community Care Block Grant funds before the end of the fiscal year.” Streets also pointed out that “Adult Protective Services (APS) needs to get more attention; a number of recent cases have been family members neglecting and financially exploiting a disabled adult due to their own lack of income, directly caused by the higher unemployment rate.”
After wrapping up the scheduled last day of events, members of the STHL joined up for a walking relay event in downtown Raleigh to show support for a program titled “Relay for Extra Help.” The relay is about getting the word out that effective January 1, 2010, “people with limited income and assets may qualify for help to pay for healthcare and prescription costs through the ‘Extra Help’ low income subsidy and Medicare savings program. Depending on income and asset levels, the premium and deductible may be covered or lowered, prescription co-payments will be minimal and the coverage gap will be eliminated.”
The North Carolina Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program can help with the application process to apply for “Extra Help” or Medicare savings programs by calling 1-800-443-9354 or by clicking to www.ncshiip.com.
The STHL promotes citizen involvement and advocacy concerning aging issues before the N.C. General Assembly and assesses the legislative needs of older adults by convening a forum modeled after the General Assembly. It is during these forums that the STHL establishes priorities for the upcoming years.
During the last session of the year, a new priority was added: “A mandate for pre-employment and random drug testing for employees of nursing and assisted living facilities. Skilled nursing facilities and adult care homes provide specialized care for frail adults with chronic health problems and disabled persons. The safety of residents is compromised when employees abuse drugs, resulting in decreased productivity, increased liability to the facility and its staff and increased potential crimes, such as theft and patient abuse. While some companies require pre-employment and random drug testing for their employees, all companies should have this policy in place.”
One delegate and one alternate represent every older adult in the state’s 100 counties. Citizens should feel free to contact their local STHL delegate or the regional Area Agency on Aging. In Watauga County, call delegate Bunk Spann at 828-264-4331. The next STHL meeting will take place in March 2010.
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