On October 29, Pennsylvania’s House Majority Policy Committee convened a field hearing in Avoca, PA entitled – “Boosting State Support of Seniors.”  Reps. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna, Luzerne) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne) were the hosts.  Several other committee members were also in attendance, including the current Chairperson of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe).

David Johnson, CARIE LINE Manager, provided testimony on behalf of CARIE that describes issues CARIE hears about when talking with our clients and makes various recommendations on how to support older Pennsylvanians.  The testimony highlights the importance of programs and services funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and the need to adequately fund home and community-based services along with expanding the eligibility of the PACE pharmaceutical benefit program so more older Pennsylvanians can access affordable medication.  These programs have demonstrated significant impact on helping older adults make ends meet as well as helping to avoid or delay more costly Medicaid funded long term services and supports.  CARIE’s testimony also makes recommendations to increase the Personal Needs Allowance for people living in nursing homes who rely upon Medicaid as well as people living on SSI in personal care homes so they may live a dignified life. 

The testimony reflects CARIE’s support in advancing the actionable ideas in Pennsylvania’s multisector ten-year plan, Aging Our Way, PA and for “Keystone Saves” legislation so Pennsylvania can join other states that allow businesses without an employer-provided retirement plan to offer a no-cost, voluntary retirement benefit for their workers.  Finally, CARIE expressed gratitude to the legislature and Governor Shapiro for appropriating $1.9 million to create an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Office in the Department of Aging and passing bipartisan legislation that also requires the Department to hire a full-time dementia director.  These actions will go a long way in helping Pennsylvanians living with dementia and their caregivers, and helping Pennsylvania become a dementia capable state.

In addition to David, the following also testified at the hearing: Jason Kavulich, the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging; Mary Schell, Deputy Director of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties; and Teresa Osborne, State Advocacy Director for AARP Pennsylvania. The hearing can be viewed here and submitted testimony can be viewed here. 

CARIE is honored to receive a General Operating Support Grant from The Sarah Ralston Foundation in the Foundation’s inaugural grant cycle. We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for its significant support of CARIE’s work to ensure that all Philadelphia elders are able to live with dignity, well-being and quality of life.

The Sarah Ralston Foundation supports and enhances the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved older adults residing in Philadelphia County. Born from the Ralston Center, an organization with a long history, The Sarah Ralston Foundation seeks to continue that impact by using its resources to give grants and to serve as a community partner to organizations serving older adults in Philadelphia.

PETER FITZPATRICK TO RECEIVE 2023 JACQUELINE R. JEFFERSON OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD AT BE THE VOICE! ON MAY 24TH

As a volunteer in CARIE’s SMP health care fraud and abuse prevention program, Peter is passionate about improving the well-being of older adults within Venango and the surrounding northwestPennsylvania counties. A tenacious advocate, Peter is also a trustworthy source of information for Medicare fraud prevention, tax preparation, health insurance counseling, and connecting community leaders more closely to the causes they work toward advancing. 

As a representative on every SMP Advisory Council session since its inception in 2019, Peter’s expertise and passion have resulted in the creation of the PA-SMP Personal Health Care Journals, expanded partnerships in rural communities, aligning of messaging for particular audiences, coordinating the SMP message with that of PA-MEDI, recruiting and networking for the SMP, and advising on Medicare education best practices.

One of the most significant factors of working with Peter is his calm and respectful demeanor that makes him extremely approachable. When combined with his extensive knowledge of Medicare, community resources, hospice, Community Health Choices, and other related elements, Peter is the hallmark of connecting case to cause, a model replicated elsewhere throughout CARIE.

CARIE is grateful to Peter for his exemplary service and pleased to honor him with the 2023 Jacqueline R. Jefferson Outstanding Volunteer Award. 

In 2022 CARIE’s Board established the Jacqueline R. Jefferson Outstanding Volunteer Award to honor Mrs. Jefferson for the many ways over many years she has contributed to CARIE. For over two decades, Mrs. Jefferson’s tireless commitment to CARIE as a volunteer in the Pennsylvania SMP has helped this statewide initiative become a model for the national SMP community. With genuine concern for her peers and a special ability to engage her audiences, Mrs. Jefferson has helped thousands of Pennsylvania  Medicare beneficiaries protect themselves from fraud and abusive scams.

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by the
Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time for us to acknowledge the
contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen
our commitment to honoring our older citizens.
This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging
experiences and to promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving
our own paths as we age.
This May, join us as we recognize the 60th anniversary of OAM and challenge the narrative on
aging. Here are some ways we can all participate in Aging Unbound:

• Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, go on an adventure, and push
  boundaries by not letting age define your limits. Invite creativity and purpose into your
  life by trying new activities in your community to bring in more growth, joy, and energy.
• Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides
  insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. Continue to
  grow that knowledge through reading, listening, classes, and creative activities.
• Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when everyone is connected and
  involved. Stay active by volunteering, working, mentoring, participating in social clubs,
  and taking part in activities at your local senior center or elsewhere in the community.
• Form relationships. As an essential ingredient of well-being, relationships can enhance
  your quality of life by introducing new ideas and unique perspectives. Invest time with
  people to discover deeper connections with family, friends, and community members.
  For more information, contact CARIE at 215.545-5728 or 800-356-3606; www.carie.org;
  Instagram: @carieadvocates; Twitter: @CARIEadvocates
  Visit the official OAM website, follow ACL on Twitter and Facebook, and join the conversation
  using #OlderAmericansMonth.