>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THIS IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
4th.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING OF
OUR FINANCE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
I'M SALLY BAGSHAW, CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE AND I AM
DELIGHTED THAT TODAY WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS HAVING A LUNCH AND
LEARN WITH SOME OF MY FAVORITE
PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON ALL
AGES AND ABILITIES AND HOW CAN
CARE FOR OUR SENIORS AND PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.
TODAY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM
CARE TRUST ACT AND I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER, IF YOU WANT TO
START, KATHY, WITH
INTRODUCTIONS.
IRENE, DID YOU WANT TO JOIN US
UP HERE AT THE TABLE?
ANYBODY ELSE?
VERY GOOD
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING
THIS EVENT TODAY FOR THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
I'M KATHY KNIGHT, I'M WITH THE
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
DIVISION OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> I'M G. DE CASTRO.
I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF
AGING AND ADULT SERVICES
ATATIONEN COUNSELLING AND
REFERRAL SERVICE.
>> I'M KATHY MacCAUL, THE
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR AAR P
HERE IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE
STATE WE HAVE A LITTLE UNDER 1
MILLION MEMBERS.
>> KATHY KNIGHT, DO YOU WANT TO
START THIS OFF AND TELL US WHY
THIS IS IMPORTANT?
>> YES, WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OF LONG-
TERM CARE.
IT'S AN EXPENSE THAT MOST
FAMILIES ENCOUNTER, BUT FEW ARE
PREPARED FOR SO LET'S START OFF
RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITH WHAT IS
LONG-TERM CARE.
AND I WILL USE THE TERM LONG-
TERM CARE AND LONG-TERM
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
INTERCHANGEABLY BECAUSE THAT'S
A MOUTHFUL.
A LOT OF TIME YOU'LL HEAR
PEOPLE SAY LTSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE REFERRING TO A VARIETY
OF SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED
TO MEET AN ADULT'S HEALTH OR
PERSONAL CARE NEEDS SO THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO LIVE AS
INDEPENDENTLY AND SAFELY AS
POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES HERE OF
SERVICES THAT ARE CONSIDERED
PART OF THE LONG-TERM CARE
SYSTEM.
AND WHO NEEDS LONG-TERM CARE?
WELL, PROBABLY OVER HALF OF THE
INDIVIDUALS TURNING 65 WILL
NEED SOME TYPE OF OF LONG-TERM
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
THOSE STATISTICS ARE EVEN
HIGHER AS PEOPLE GET OLDER.
WE EXPECT THAT A GOOD 14% WILL
NEED THOSE SERVICES FOR FIVE
YEARS OR MORE AND YOU CAN SEE
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, IT IS NOT
CHEAP.
15% IN EXCESS OF $266,000
DURING THEIR LIFETIME.
IF YOU'RE OVER AGE 85, THERE'S
A GOOD CHANCE ONE IN THREE OF
US WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.
COULD BE ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER
DEMENTIA.
THE LIFETIME COST OF CARE FOR
DEMENTIA IS EVEN HIGHER,
$340,000.
THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF
THE AVERAGE COSTS OF CARE AT
THIS TIME AND YOU CAN SEE IT
GOES FROM LOWER COST SERVICES
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO STAY
IN THE COMMUNITY AND USE
SERVICES LIKE A ADULT DAY CARE
PROGRAM UP TO ASSISTING LIVING.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST OF
THOSE DIFFERENT SETTINGS AND
SERVICES.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY
IS TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM
SERVICES AND SUPPORT, WHAT
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, HOW
THEY ARE FUNDED, SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY LEAVES HERE TODAY
KNOWING WHERE YOU CAN GO TO FOR
HELP.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF AUDREY
BUEHRING WHO HAD HOPED TO BE
HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER
PRESENTERS.
I'M THRILLED TO HAVE CATHY WITH
ME.
THEY'RE BOTH PARTNERS IN THIS
WORK AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
PERSPECTIVES THEY HAVE ON THE
ISSUES.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT AGING
AND DISABILITY SERVICES, SO
WE'LL SET THE FRAMEWORK FOR
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
AS A DIVISION OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ALSO PLAYS ANOTHER
IMPORTANT ROLE.
IT'S THE AREA ON AGING IN KING
COUNTY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS OVER 40
YEARS.
REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY TO MAKE LIVES
BETTER FOR OLDER ADULTS AND FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THIS SLIDE IS NOT THE EASIEST
TO READ BUT IT DOES SHOW YOU
HOW THE NATIONAL NETWORK WAS
ESTABLISHED AND ITS CONNECTION
WITH AREA AGENCIES.
IF YOU GO BACK TO 1965,
REMEMBER THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS?
A LOT HAPPENED.
WE HAD A VERY PROGRESSIVE
CONGRESS.
WE HAD MEDICARE FOR OLDER
ADULTS WHO NEEDED HEALTH
INSURANCE, MEDICAID FOR LOW
INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PASSED THE
VOTING RIGHTS BEING A. WE ALSO
HAD THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
RECOGNITION THAT MANY OLDER
ADULTS NEEDED SOME KIND OF
EXTRA SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THEIR
INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT ESTABLISHED THE
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING AND
STATE UNITS ON AGING AND BY
1973, WE HAD THE AREA AGENCIES
ON AGING.
THAT'S WHEN THE LOCAL FOCUS
CAME IN.
THAT'S WHEN THE RECOGNITION WAS
IT'S AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WE KNOW
WHAT THE GREATEST NEEDS ARE AND
WE NEED TO TAILOR THE SERVICES
TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO BE DOING
THAT WORK.
I HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE
WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY, SO I WILL HAVE
TO SAY IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO
THAT SLIDE, IT IS HARD TO SEE.
>> YES.
>> THE ONE I HAVE IN MY BOOK,
THE FONT IS ABOUT 0.1, I CAN'T
READ IT THERE, EITHER.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS IMPROVED
BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT?
>> WHAT HAS IMPROVED?
>> IT'S SORT OF A PROGRESSION.
WE HAVE A CLEAR RELATIONSHIP TO
THE STATE AND TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES IN SERVING
OLDER ADULTS.
THE INITIAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE
NATIONAL NETWORK WAS JUST A
RECOGNITION THAT RESOURCES
NEEDED TO BE ALLOCATED.
AND IT WAS GRANTS DIRECTLY TO
STATES.
I THINK A BIG IMPROVEMENT WAS
THE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND
THAT LOCAL FOCUS.
THAT ABILITY, WHAT WE NEED IN
KING COUNTY IS DIFFERENT WHAT
PEOPLE MIGHT NEED IN SPOKANE
COUNTY AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO ADAPT OUR SERVICES TO MEET
THOSE NEEDS.
SO IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES WE
PROVIDE, WE HAVE A BUDGET OF
$48 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES OUR EARLY OLDER
AMERICAN ACT DOLLARS.
WE ARE ALSO WE HAVE A LARGE
MEDICAID CONTRACT.
FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT QUALIFY
FOR MEDICAID, LONG-TERM SPORTS
AND WANT TO STAY AT HOME.
THEY'RE NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL
SETTING OR A NURSING HOME.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
HELP THOSE FOLKS STAY SAFE AND
LIVE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE STATE FUNDS, SENIOR
SERVICES ACT, GREAT DOLLARS TO
SUPPLEMENT OUR WORK AND WE HAVE
LOCAL FUNDS AND CITY DOLLARS
WHICH WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE
OF HAVING.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IN TERMS
OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE SERVED AS CONTRASTED TO
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY IN
THEIR HOME?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO
KEEP EVERYBODY AT HOME WITH
WHAT THEY NEED OR ARE WE
LACKING AND IF SO, HOW DO WE
BRIDGE THE GAP?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A WAITING LIST
RIGHT NOW F A PERSON APPLIES
AND QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID AND
QUALIFY FOR LONG-TERM SERVICES
AND SUPPORT, SO THEY FUNCTIONAL
FUNCTIONALLY MEET THE
DEFINITION, THEY HAVE A CHOICE.
NOT IN EVERY STATE BUT IN THIS
STATE, THEY HAVE TO CHOICE OF
LIVING AT HOME AND SUPPORT
BEING BROUGHT TO THEM.
THAT'S AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE POINTS I WANTED TO
MAKE, AREA AGENCIES, WE'VE
ADAPTED OVER THE YEARS.
WE ARE NOW SERVING FOLKS WHO
ARE CLOSE TO HOMELESSNESS, MAY
BE HOMELESS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NEEDS
EXPANDING TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF
THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY BUT
WE DO NOT HAVE A WAITING LIST
FOR THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE DO OUR SERVICES THROUGH
OVER 150 CONTRACTS WITH 75
COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ONE OF
THEM IS G'S.
HE IS ONE OF OUR CASE
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTORS SO WE
HAVE BOTH FOLKS AT THE CITY
THAT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AS
WELL AS CONTRACTED PROVIDERS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
TOTAL PROGRAMS OVERALL BETWEEN
OUR OLDER AMERICAN ACT DOLLARS
AND ALL OUR FUNDS, WE SERVE
OVER 46,000 PEOPLE IN 2018.
IN KING COUNTY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, WE
DO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGHOUT
KING COUNTY.
AND I MENTIONED THE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
OUR TITLE 19 MEDICAID PROGRAM.
WE'RE SERVING ABOUT IS A,000
PEOPLE AND KEEPING THOSE FOLKS
SAFE AT HOME FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO STEP BACK FOR A
MINUTE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO THINK OF LONG-TERM
SUPPORTS IN A BROAD CONTINUUM
AND STARTING AT THE POINT OF,
IF WE THINK ABOUT WHERE HEALTH
HAPPENS AND LOOK AT REALLY, YOU
KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THE FORMAL
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS ABOUT 20%
OF IT, AND SO MUCH HAPPENS IN
OUR -- IN TERMS OF OUR OWN
BEHAVIORS, THE RESPONSIBILITY
WE TAKE IN OUR LIFESTYLE
CHOICES AND HABITS,
SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ARE A
MAJOR FACTOR, AS WELL AS THE
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT'S THOSE 80%, THOSE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT
HAVE A GREAT DEAL WITH HOW
SOMEBODY DOES WHEN THEY AGE AND
WE KNOW YOUR ZIP CODE, WE
ALREADY KNOW YOUR ZIP CODE DOES
PLAY A FACTOR IN THAT.
>> ALSO, THINGS LIKE YOU SAID,
HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AT THEIR --
WE HAVE CHOICES ON HOW MUCH
ALCOHOL WE USE, HOW MUCH
CIGARETTES WE SMOKE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE
EXERCISING.
THE DIET IS AN ISSUE WHEN YOU
COME DOWN TO THE ZIP CODES.
>> YES.
>> AND WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE
HEALTHY FOODS AVAILABLE IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> PART OF OUR WORK IS TO STAY
REALLY AWARE OF THAT IN TERMS
OF SERVING THE NEEDS IN KING
COUNTY.
SO JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE
AGING AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE SO
SOME OF OUR CORE SERVICES THAT
WE PROVIDE THROUGH AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES, THROUGH
OUR OLDER AMERICAN ACT DOLLARS,
WE HAVE -- AND ALSO, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING SUCH A
CHAMPION FOR AGE-FRIENDLY
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE NOW THAT
SEATTLE IS AN AGE-FRIENDLY
COMMUNITY, WE'RE DOING A NUMBER
OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE REALLY
PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT AND
INVOLVEMENT FOR PEOPLE.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY
AGING.
THAT ISOLATION IS SO
DETRIMENTAL TO A PERSON'S
HEALTH.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY.
IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC DISEASE,
WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE
MANAGE THAT.
FALLS PREVENTION.
WHERE HE KNOW A FALL CAN MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY
OF A PERSON'S LIFE.
IT'S OFTEN WHAT PUTS A PERSON
IN A LONG-TERM CARE SETTING,
POSSIBLY INDEFINITELY.
NUTRITION, ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
IT'S ONE OF THE COURSE SERVICES
UNDER THE OLDER AMERICAN ACT
DOLLARS AND WE INVEST LOTS IN
NUTRITION, INTO MANY ETHNIC
COMMUNITIES TO TRY TO PROMOTE
POSITIVE HEALTH THERE.
ORAL HEALTH.
WE'RE LEARNING SO MUCH MORE
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF ORAL
HEALTH, IT'S NOW BEING TIED TO
DEMENTIA AND TO -- AND
ALZHEIMER'S, SO IT'S IMPORTANT
-- AND MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER
DENTAL, SO THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE OFTEN STRUGGLE WITH
WHEN THEY ARE RETIRED AND THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL
INSURANCE ANY LONGER.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE
STATE WITH THAT -- CAN PEOPLE
ACCESS AN INSURANCE POOL FOR
DENTAL CARE?
>> YOU KNOW, CATHY MIGHT KNOW
THAT BETTER THAN I DO.
>> RIGHT NOW THERE REALLY ISN'T
BUT THERE HAS BEEN WORK DONE IN
THE LEGISLATURE TO LOOK AT HOW
DENTAL CAN BE INCLUDED UNDER
MEDICAID.
>> BUT THAT REQUIRES US TO GET
A FEDERAL CHANGE, NOT JUST A
STATE LAW CHANGE, CORRECT?
>> WE CAN DO IT IN THE STATE,
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> OH, GREAT.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST PUT A BOOK
MARK IN THIS, LET'S TALK TO OUR
OFFICE OF AND OUR GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS THIS FALL AND LET
THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS
IS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THERE
WAS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO
DEMENTIA, BUT I HAVE HEARD OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, IF YOUR DENTAL
HEALTH IS POOR, YOUR OVERALL
PHYSICAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE
WORSENED, SO STRIKES ME THAT IF
WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO REALLY HELP
IMPROVE OR HAVE -- ALLOW PEOPLE
TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
DENTAL INSURANCE, IT WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT STEP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE -- WE'RE ALMOST
FINISHING OUR FOUR-YEAR AREA
PLAN.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
MANDATED TO DO AS AN AREA
AGENCY ON AGING.
ORAL HEALTH IS IDENTIFIED IN
THAT PLAN.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOME
SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT THEY
WOULD WANT TO BE ADDRESSING IN
THAT AREA IN THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS.
>> GOOD.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE
IF WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD.
>> GREAT.
SO IN TERMS OF HEALTHY AGING,
IT'S JUST GREAT TO THINK ABOUT
ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP
WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND THE
LIFELONG RECREATION PROGRAM.
THERE'S DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY
ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE MOMENTIA SEATTLE.
THERE'S MANY ACTIVITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED, TRY TO
STAY AS HEALTHY AS YOU CAN.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A PLACE WHERE
FOLKS CAN GO WHEN THEY NEED
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE KIND OF
RESOURCES OR ANY OTHER.
AND WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL OUR
COMMUNITY LIVING CONNECTIONS
NETWORK.
ONE OF THE CORE SERVICES UNDER
THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT WHEN IT
WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED WAS
CALLED SENIOR INFORMATION
ASSISTANCE.
SO THAT HAS EVOLVED OVER THE
YEARS TO MEET THE NEEDS AND
IT'S SXANTED ITS ROLE, FOCUS
NOT ONLY ON COLDER ADULTS BUT
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES,
CAREGIVERS, ANYONE WHO IS
DEALING WITH CHALLENGES RELATED
TO THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM.
WE'RE JUST PLANNING AHEAD FOR
MEETING THOSE NEEDS, SO PEOPLE,
YOU CAN GET A FREE
CONSULTATION, IT'S INDIVIDUAL.
THERE'S WHATEVER SUPPORT AND
ASSISTANCE YOU NEED IN TERMS OF
ACCESSING SERVICES.
IT'S PROFESSIONAL AND
CONFIDENTIAL.
THERE'S NO WRONG DOOR.
>> WHERE DO PEOPLE GO FOR FREE
CONSULTATION.
>> WELL --
>> ODD THAT I SHOULD ASK?
>> WE HAVE 22 AGENCIES IN THE
NETWORK.
WE JUST JUST FINISHED A
COLLABORATIVE FUNDING PROCESS
AND WORKING WITH THOSE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO THAT WE
CAN -- WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO
MAKE AS SEAMLESS A NETWORK AS
POSSIBLE IN KING COUNTY SO
FOLKS CAN EITHER CALL THAT
CENTRAL NUMBER.
IF THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH A
LOCAL AGENCIES THAT'S PART OF
THE NETWORK, THEY MAY GO TO
THEM BECAUSE THEY FEEL MORE
COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO
SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT SPEAK THEIR
LANGUAGE OR REPRESENT THEIR
COMMUNITY.
WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO REFLECT
THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY IN
TERMS OF EXPANDING OUR COMMENT
LIVING CONNECTIONS NETWORK.
AND THERE'S A FOCUS ON
COLLABORATION FOR EQUITY AND A
REAL PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH
TO MEETING THE INDIVIDUAL'S
NEEDS.
>> SO MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION
ABOUT COLLABORATING WITH THE
COUNTY.
LAST YEAR THEY HAD -- OR TWO
YEARS AGO, HAD A VERY EFFECTIVE
LEVY COUNTYWIDE SUCCESS FOR
VETERANS, AND SENIORS THEY
ADDED.
IS THERE COORDINATION AMONG THE
PROGRAMS AND COULDN'TING FROM
THE COUNTY FOR THOSE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
MY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE COUNTY STAFF TO REALLY
COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS BECAUSE
WE DO HAVE CONNECTIONS IN THE
SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT
DUPLICATING.
WE'RE COORDINATING, FILLING
GAPS.
FOR INSTANCE, IN OUR LIVING
CONNECTIONS NETWORK, THE NEED
WAS GRETER THAN THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE.
WE COULDN'T FUND EVERYTHING.
BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH COUNTY
STAFF WHO DO HAVE SOME DOLLARS
FOR SIMILAR SERVICES AND WE'RE
HOPING THAT IN COOPERATION WITH
THEM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FILL
SOME OF THOSE GAPS AND THAT
GOES FOR SOME OF THE OTHER
SERVICES THAT ARE BEING
PROVIDED THROUGH THE VETERANS,
SERVICE AND HUMAN SERVICES
LEVY.
SO YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO THE
NO WRONG DOOR OR CALL THE
NUMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ALL KIND
OF SERVICES.
WE TALK ABOUT AREA AGENCIESES
AS THE TRIPLE A. WE'RE NOT THE
TRIPLE A YOU CALL WHEN YOU NEED
YOUR TIRE CHANGED BUT WE MIGHT
BE THE TRIPLE A YOU CALL WHEN
YOU NEED TRANSPORTATION TO A
MEAL SITE OR YOU NEED TO SEND
MEALS TO YOUR MOM.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE
OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR
PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S THE -- SO WE'VE SORT
OF GOING THROUGH THE CONTINUUM
AND THERE COMES A TIME WHERE
SOME FOLKS NEED EXTRA SUPPORT.
THEY JUST DO.
WE'VE SORT OF HAD A VERY
PREDICTABLE PATH TO THE
MEDICAID LONG-TERM SERVICES AND
SUPPORT SYSTEM IN THE STATE.
THAT IS YOU HAVE A NEED FOR
HELP, FOR CARE, YOU HAVE FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO HELP AS LONG AS
THEY CAN.
THEY'RE BECOMING EXHAUSTED.
YOU'RE EXHAUSTING YOUR
RESOURCES AND THAT'S THE WHOLE
SPEND-DOWN AND YOU NEED TO TURN
TO THE FORMAL MEDICAID SYSTEM
TO GET YOUR SERVICES.
THOSE ARE MANY OF THE FOLKS
THAT WE'RE SERVING NOW THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER THROUGH OUR
CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE COMPARED TO
THE AVERAGE LIFETIME SAVINGS
FOR RETIREMENT VERSUS THE COST,
THERE'S A DEFINITE GAP BUT
CATHY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT
ONE OF THE -- I'M GOING BACK TO
LOOK AT THE CONTINUUM AND THE
LEVEL WITH FOLKS NEED MORE
SUPPORT.
I'VE ALREADY TALKED A LOT ABOUT
OUR CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT
THE IMPORTANT WORK CASE
MANAGERS DO.
THEY REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES AND DEAL WITH
ALL KINDS OF ISSUES IN HELPING
FOLKS TO STAY AT HOME AND GET
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY ROBUST
CAREGIVER SUPPORT SYSTEM IN
THIS STATE.
ONCE AGAIN, WASHINGTON LED THE
WAY, NOT ONLY DO WE LEAD THE
WAY WITH OUR HOME AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT SYSTEM BUT WE HAVE DONE
A LOT SINCE THE LATE '80s TO
SERVE CAREGIVERS AND NOW WE'RE
PART OF A MEDICAID
TRANSFORMATION WAIVER.
REALLY EXCITED TO BE PART OF AN
EFFORT TO EXPAND SERVICES TO
CAREGIVERS, AND ACTUALLY BE
ABLE TO ACCESS MEDICAID DOLLARS
TO DO THAT, WHICH ALLOWS US TO
PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO MORE
PEOPLE.
AND BECAUSE OF ALL THAT, WE'RE
SO PROUD THAT WE'RE NO.
1. AND THAT'S, AGAIN, I THINK
THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAD VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP IN THE MID-'90s WHEN
WE DELIBERATELY REBALANCED OUR
SYSTEM.
WE WENT FROM 85% OF THE
MEDICAID BUDGET GOING TO
NURSING HOMES TO NOW OVER 50%
OF THE BUDGET GOING TO HOME AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES, ALLOWING
PEOPLE MORE CHOICES.
AND IT'S SOFT OF FLIPPED.
NOW 85% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
SYSTEM ARE SERVED IN THE
COMMUNITY VERSUS NURSING HOME
SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD THAT WE
HAVE ACHIEVED A NO.
1 RANKING, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE
WE'RE SUCH A COST-EFFECTIVE
SYSTEM WITH THE CHOICES WE'VE
MADE AND NOW WITH OUR FAMILY
CAREGIVER, OUR MEDICAID
TRANSFORMATION, WE FEEL LIKE
WE'RE LEADING THE WAY AGAIN IN
THE NATION SHOWING OTHER FOLKS
HOW TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.
>> IN THAT LAST SENTENCE WHERE
YOU SAID SUPPORTING FAMILIES,
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE BEING GRADED
ON THERE, CONSISTENTLY LEADING
THE PACK?
>> WELL, WE WERE SECOND FOR A
LONG TIME TO MINNESOTA, BUT
THAT'S BECAUSE MINNESOTA HAD A
MUCH MORE COSTLY SYSTEM, SO WE
ALWAYS THOUGHT WE'RE BEING AS
COST EFFECTIVE AS WE WERE, WE
WERE NO.
2, BUT WE GAME NO.
1 IN 2017, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD
OF THAT.
>> I'M SORRY, CATHY, MAYBE MY
QUESTION WASN'T CLEAR.
WHAT ARE WE GRADED ON?
WE'RE THE NO.
1 SYSTEM, WHAT ARE THEY --
>> LOTS OF CRITERIA AND CATHY,
I SHOULD JUST TURN THIS OVER TO
CLETE.
CATHY.
>> OKAY.
>> BECAUSE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY DIFFERENT CRITERIA THERE
ARE FOR RANKING US.
>> WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 17 TO
20 TO 30 -- I CAN'T REMEMBER.
>> WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE AS AN
EXAMPLE?
>> FAMILY CAREGIVERS, SUPPORT
FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS, THE USE
--
>> CHOICE WAS A BIG ONE.
>> CHOICE PROGRAM.
THE ABILITY TO ACCESS MEDICAID,
THE DEMONSTRATION WAIVER OR
MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THE
STATE.
THE NUMBER OF READMISSIONS OUT
OF NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES.
AGAIN, A VARIETY OF ISSUES WERE
ALL FACTORED INTO THAT SCORE
CARD.
AND AARP AND THE SCAN
FOUNDATION WORKED ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCORE CARD.
WE DO IT EVERY TWO YEARS, AND
ONE OF MY PRIORITIES WORKING
FOR ARK ARP IS MAKE SURE WE
MAINTAIN THAT NO.
1 STATUS AND REALLY LOOKING AT
CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE WAYS WE
CAN ADDRESS LONG-TERM CARE AND
SUPPORT OUR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.
WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY
CAREGIVERS FOR AARP, FAMILY
CAREGIVERS ARE THE BACK BONE.
WE KNOW THAT 80% OF CARE IS
PROVIDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY
AND THEY REALLY DO THE HEROIC
WORK WITHOUT PAY IN MOST CASES.
AND THEY LOSE -- THEY LOSE
BENEFITS.
THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO SAVE
FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT AND
FOR THEIR OWN LONG-TERM CARE
NEEDS.
THEY ALSO ARE, AGAIN, PULLING
MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS
AND ON AVERAGE ARE SPENDING
ABOUT 25% OF THEIR INCOME, SO
AGAIN, THAT'S FROM AN ECONOMIC
CHALLENGE THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS EQUALLY BURDENSOME FOR
FAMILIES, SO NOT ONLY THE CARE
BUT THE FINANCIAL COST.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO ADDITIONAL
CHALLENGES, CATHY HAD MENTIONED
THAT, YOU KNOW, ON AVERAGE,
PEOPLE HAVE SAVED ABOUT
$148,000 FOR RETIREMENT, AND IF
YOU THINK ABOUT THAT FOR
SAVINGS FOR RETIREMENT AND THE
ACTUAL COST OF $266,000, THE
GAP IS PRETTY APPARENT WHEN IT
COMES TO PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO
FUND THEIR RETIREMENT AND ALSO
FUND LONG-TERM CARE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
STRIKES ME IS WE'VE OPPORTUNE A
LOT OF DATA AND A LOT OF
POLLING AND IT'S QUITE
INTERESTING.
A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DO NOT
THINK THEY'RE EVER GOING TO
AGE.
>> OF COURSE.
>> THEY WILL NOT BE OLD.
>> WE'RE ALL --
>> WE'RE ALL INVINCIBLE AND
WHEN WE AGE, THAT WE'RE NEVER
GOING TO GET SICK.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO NEED
SURGERY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO
NEED CARE AND ASSISTANCE AND
IT'S THAT DENIAL THAT IS THE
CONCERNING PART FOR US WHEN IT
COMES TO THINKING ABOUT LONG-
TERM CARE AND LOOKING FOR THOSE
REALLY INNOVATIVE APPROACHES
WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT
MORE.
SO AGAIN, WE KNOW, WE HAVE
ABOUT 800,000 CAREGIVERS IN THE
STATE.
WE HAVE A WOMAN WHO'S SITTING
IN THE AUDIENCE, RUTH EDGAR,
WHO IS A FANTASTIC CAREGIVER
AND WORKED WITH US IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IN DEVELOPING THE
LONG-TERM CARE TRUST ACT.
IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE THINKING
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AGE,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NEED ANY
KIND OF CARE, EVERYONE THINKS
THAT MEDICARE PAYS FOR LONG-
TERM CARE.
IT DOES NOT.
MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY FOR LONG-
TERM CARE.
THERE'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF
DAYS THAT MEDICARE WILL PAY
AFTER YOU GET OUT OF A HOSPITAL
FOR A SURGERY OR ANOTHER
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE RESPECT
REHABILITATIVE CARE BUT IT WILL
NOT TAKE CARE OF LONG-TERM
CARE.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE
MISPERCEPTION AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT'S CREATING A
REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE FACTOR
IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND THEN
LAYER ON THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
DO NOT HAVE LONG-TERM CARE
INSURANCE, THE LONG-TERM CARE
INSURANCE MARKET IS BROKEN.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 PROVIDERS,
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, THAT WERE
PROVIDING LONG-TERM CARE
INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND NOW
THAT'S DOWN TO MAYBE SEVEN
PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.
LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE IS
PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE FOR A
LO OF FAMILIES TO PAY THE
PREMIUMS AND OFTENTIMES THEY
INVEST IN THE PRODUCT EARLY ON
IN THEIR 40s AND 50s AS THEY
SHOULD BUT THE PREMIUMS GO UP
AND THEY OFTEN HAVE TO WALK
AWAY FROM THE BENEFITS OF THE
LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
MARKET.
SO IF YOU FACTOR IN ALL OF
THOSE ISSUES, PEOPLE DON'T
THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET OLD,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NEED CARE,
WE HAVE A BROKEN INSURANCE
MARKET, PEOPLE UNDER THE FALSE
ASSUMPTION THAT MEDICARE WILL
PAY FOR IT, THAT'S REALLY LED
AND BUILT THE FRAMEWORK FOR
WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IN THIS
STATE IN DEVELOPING THE LONG-
TERM CARE TRUST ACT.
IT'S A BIG, BOLD, AMBITIOUS
SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES THAT FAMILY
CAREGIVERS FACE.
THE ACT CREATES A $36,000 500
LIFETIME BENEFIT AND IT CAN BE
USED FOR A VARIETY OF CARE
OPTIONS.
IT'S GOING TO BE COLLECTED
THROUGH A 0.58% PREMIUM ON
WAGES SO THAT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT
$290 FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S MAKING
$50,000 ANNUALLY.
YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF
THE STATE.
YOU HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS OLD OR
OLDER.
THE PAYMENT FOR THE BENEFIT
STARTS IN 2022.
THE FIRST BENEFITS WILL BE PAID
OUT IN 2025 AND YOU HAVE TO
HAVE THREE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING AS YOUR CHALLENGES FOR
ACCESSING THIS BENEFIT.
WASHINGTON STATE WAS THE FIRST
IN THE NATION TO ACTUALLY ENACT
THIS TYPE OF BIG, BOLD VERY
EXCITING REALLY REVOLUTIONARY
IN A LOT OF WAYS SOLUTION.
AND WE'RE EXCITED.
AARP WAS EXCITED TO SUPPORT
WITH OUR PARTNERS SEIU, THE
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION,
LEADING AGE, WE HAD ABOUT 36
COALITION PARTNERS, AND WE HAD
NO ORGANIZED OPPOSITION.
BECAUSE THERE WAS REAL
RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A
COMPLEX ISSUE AND EVERYBODY
AGES.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
AND SO IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL
WHEN IT MADE IT TO THE FLOOR.
SOME PARTISAN POLITICS DID STEP
IN BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY
PEOPLE RECOGNIZED THAT, YES, AS
CATHY EXPLAINED, WE DO HAVE --
WE DON'T HAVE A WAITING LIST
FOR MEDICAID NOW BUT WITH THE
POPULATION AGING AND WITHIN THE
NEXT 30 YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE THE THREE TIMES THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE 85 AND OLDER, THAT IS
ALSO THE CHALLENGE THAT THE
STATE NEEDS TO FACE AND WE NEED
TO BUILD A SOLUTION NOW AND GET
IT IN PLACE FOR A SYSTEM TO BE
ABLE TO FUND AND SUPPORT
PEOPLE.
FOR THEIR LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS
AS THEY AGE SO THEY CAN AGE
WITH PURPOSE AND DIGNITY.
>> CATHY MacCAUL SINCE YOU'RE
ON A ROLL, THIS PAST IN 2019
AND YOU SAID IT WAS A
BIPARTISAN BILL, HAD THE
SUPPORT, CAN EVERYBODY WHO IS
OVER 65 AND AS YOU SAID, HAVE
THREE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING THAT'S IMPACTING, CAN
EVERYBODY APPLY FOR THIS OR DO
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PAID IN?
>> EVERYONE WILL START PAYING
WHO IS WORKING IN 2022.
SO IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED, YOU
WILL START PAYING INTO THIS
BENEFIT AND IT WILL BE A
BENEFIT THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AT
ANY POINT, SO YOU COULD BE 22
YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD A
TERRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT AND NEED
TO ACCESS LONG-TERM CARE.
>> SO WHAT IF SOMEBODY WHO IS
RETIRED NOW, THE 75-YEAR-OLD
WHO IS STILL VIBRANT AND TAKES
A LOOK AT THIS AND GOES, I WANT
TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, CAN YOU
BU BACK IN?
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT
OPTION FOR 2022 LEGISLATION OR
2021 POTENTIALLY AS WELL.
BECAUSE WORKING FOR AARP, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE A LOT
OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET
FAILED.
THEY DON'T HAVE RECOURSE, IS
THERE A WAY POTENTIALLY FOR
THEM TO BUY IN.
THE CHALLENGE IS IT MIGHT STILL
BE PRETTY PROHIBITIVELY
EXPENSIVE TO MAKE THE BENEFIT
WORK AND HOW DOES IT ACTUARILY
WORK IN THE STATE BUDGET BUT
IT'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY ON
OUR RADAR IN TERMS OF
IMPORTANCE IN MAKING SURE THAT
CURRENT SENIORS HAVE ACCESS TO
CARE AS WELL.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE
TO GO BACK TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, YOU
KNOW, WHAT IS IT THAT THE TRUST
ACT WILL PAY FOR?
AND A $36,500 BENEFIT DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE VERY MUCH MONEY BUT
THAT'S WHEN YOU CONSIDER AND
YOU ONLY THINK ABOUT CARE AS IN
A FACILITY IN A NURSING HOME OR
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY BUT
AGAIN, FROM AARP'S PERSPECTIVE,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND
HAVE THE ABILITY TO AGE IN
PLACE.
THAT MEANS THE $36,500 BENEFIT,
PEOPLE COULD HAVE 25 HOURS A
WEEK OF IN-HOME CARE.
THEY COULD HAVE 9 TO 18 MONTHS
OF RESIDENTIAL CARE IN AN ADULT
FAMILY HOME OR 5 TO 6 MONTHS
CARE IN A NURSING HOME OR THEY
COULD USE THEIR BENEFIT TO PAY
THEIR FAMILY MEMBER TO HELP
CARE FOR THEM.
AND/OR PAY FOR RESPITE CARE FOR
THAT FAMILY CAREGIVER SO THEY
CAN GO ON WITH THEIR LIFE.
THE GOAL IN WHY AARP SUPPORTED
THIS AND PUSHED HARD TO MAKE
SURE FAMILY CAREGIVERS WERE
INVOLVED AND COULD BENEFIT FROM
THIS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
FAMILIES WERE NOT PUT IN
FURTHER JEOPARDY OR RISK
BECAUSE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE
CRISIS AND THE NEED TO FIND
FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND
SUPPORTIVE NETWORK OF CARE
PROVIDERS.
AND SO WHAT'S GREAT IS THE LONG-
TERM CARE BENEFIT CAN BE USED
FOR THOSE VARIETY OF SERVICES
THAT SUPPOT A FAMILY CAREGIVER
FROM RESPITE CARE TO ACTUALLY
PAYING AN IF FAMILY CAREGIVER
TO CARE FOR YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> THE OTHER WORK THAT WE'RE
DOING AND AARP HAS BEEN
INVOLVED WITH ALSO A BROAD
ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS IS THE
DEMENTIA ACTION COLLABORATIVE.
THIS WAS LED BY THE ALZHEIMER'S
ASSOCIATION.
THE REAL CHALLENGE AGAIN, AS WE
HAVE AN AGING POPULATION AND
ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER FORMS OF
DEMENTIA ARE BECOMING MORE
PROMINENT AND BECOMING A BURDEN
ON FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN IT COMES
TO PROVIDING CARE, THAT THERE
WAS THE ALZHEIMER'S STATE PLAN
THAT WAS CREATED AND THERE WAS
THE DEMENTIA ACTION
COLLABORATIVE WHICH WAS THE
COLLABORATION OF ABOUT 30
ORGANIZATIONS TO ACTUALLY LOOK
AT HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE PLAN.
AND AARP WAS PART OF THAT
DEMENTIA ACTION COLLABORATIVE
AND HOW TO YOU RAISE PUBLIC
AWARENESS.
HOW DO YOU REMOVE THE STIGMA
ASSOCIATED WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND
DEMENTIA.
HOW DO YOU EDUCATE YOUNGER
PEOPLE HOW TO INTERACT WITH
PEOPLE AND NOT PASS JUDGMENT.
OR HOW TO INTERACT WITH THEIR
GRANDPARENT.
>> REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANSWERS?
>> WE DO.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME
REALLY GREAT ORGANIZATIONS
CALLED DEMENTIA FRIENDS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
LIBRARIES.
WE'VE BEEN DOING ART EXHIBITS.
THERE'S MEMORY CAFES IN
COMMUNITIES NOW WHERE PEOPLE
CAN GO AND IT'S A SAFE PLACE
FOR EITHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
ALZHEIMER'S OR DEMENTIA OR
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CAN GO
TALK AND SHARE, AND INTERACT
AND BUILD A NETWORK OF SUPPORT
WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A WHOLE
ENTIRE TRACK THAT'S LOOKING AT
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND
HEALTH PROVIDERS AND MAKING
SURE THEY HAVE INFORMATION.
MAKING SURE THAT OUR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS, IF THEY HAVE TO
GIVE A DIAGNOSIS TO SOMEBODY
THAT THEY HAVE ALZHEIMER'S OR
DEMENTIA, THAT THEY ALSO HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO GIVE TO THEM
TO POINT THEM TO RESOURCES IN
THEIR COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT.
THERE IS -- I WANT TO SAY THE
BOOK IS ABOUT THREE INCHES
THICK OF ALL THE TACTICS AND
WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND
IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW BEING DONE
VERY MUCH VOLUNTARY BUT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE ALSO REALLY
MADE A HUGE DECISION AND PUT I
BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT $5 MILLION
INTO THE AFLZ STATE PLAN AND
IMPLEMENTATION IN THE STATE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS TAKING
THE LEAD IN THE LEGISLATURE ON
THAT?
>> UNDER THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING
AND DISABILITY IS WHERE THIS --
THE DEMENTIA ACTION
COLLABORATIVE BUBBLED UP FROM
IN TERMS OF A RECOMMENDATION.
SO THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
HAS BEEN VERY MUCH THE LEAD.
SENATOR KAISER, WHO IS ON THE
DEEM ACTION COLLABORATIVE AND
THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE FOR AGING AND
DISABILITY, REPRESENTATIVE
STEVE THERENGER.
AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE
BARCUS AND I'M MISSING TWO
OTHERS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MAKE SURE THAT WE GET SOME
THANK YOU NOTES TO THEM.
>> I THINK THEY HAVE THEIR
FIRST MEETING NEXT WEEK THE NEW
-- I THINK THEY CALL IT THE J-
LEC.
>> DO YOU ALL GO?
>> YES.
>> DO YOU PARTICIPATE?
>> WE'RE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ON
THE COMMITTEE, AND DAVID LORD
REPRESENTING DISABILITY RIGHTS
WASHINGTON.
AND THEN THEY HAVE STAFF FROM
DSHS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
AND THE OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER.
ALSO ON THAT COMMITTEE.
AND THAT COMMITTEE WAS BORN OUT
OF THE GOVERNOR'S SUMMIT ON
AGING BACK IN 2015.
'13.
>> WOW.
>> SIX YEARS AGO.
AT LEAST WE GOT THERE.
WELL IF YOU'RE ATTENDING I
WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED ON
THIS AS WE WERE DISCUSSING
EARLIER, IS THERE SOME WAY FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO BUY INTO THIS
$36,500 OR IS THERE A POOL
WHERE WE CAN BEGIN TO FIGURE
OUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
RETIRED.
BECAUSE IT COULD BE 20, 25
YEARS FOR THEM AND IF THERE'S
SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP
CARE FOR PEOPLE, THAT WOULD BE
-- IT WOULD BE A VERY NOBLE
THING TO COME OUT OF THIS
CONVERSATION.
>> I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
POINT.
I'LL MAKE SURE TO BRING THAT
UP.
>> I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO G
NOW SO HE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT
THE WORK THAT HIS AGENCY IS
DOING.
HE'S BEEN ONE OF OUR GREAT
PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> THANK YOU, CATHY.
SO ACRS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 46
YEARS NOW.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS CHAMBER FOR
MANY OF THE BILLS THAT WE'VE
SUPPORTED OR DIRECTION THAT THE
CITY IS TAKING SO, WE'RE
GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE VARIOUS SERVICES, AN
ARRAY OF SERVICES, SOCIAL
SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH OUR
AGENCY FROM SERVING THE AGING
POPULATION, CHILDREN YOUTH
FAMILY PROGRAMS, EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE ARRAY OF SERVICES
THAT ACRS CURRENTLY OFFERS.
THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON THE
ASIAN AMERICAN OR ISLAND
COMMUNITY, BUT ANYBODY THAT --
SO MY DEPARTMENT AGING AND
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SEVERAL
PROGRAMS WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION AND
AGING SERVICES.
WE HAVE THE CONGREGATE MEAL
PROGRAMS.
OUR TITLE 19 CASE MANAGEMENT IS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
AND THE COMMUNITY LIVING
CONNECTIONS PROGRAM THAT CATHY
HAD MENTIONED EARLIER.
I WANTED TO MAYBE SHARE A
COUPLE OF -- QUICK STORIES OF
OUR CLIENTS, MAYBE THAT WE
SERVE AND HOW THESE PROGRAMS
HELP THEM.
WE HAVE AN 80 SOMETHING YEAR
OLD WOMAN WHO CALLED COMMUNITY
LIVING CONNECTIONS WANTING TO
KNOW A WAY TO BE OUTSIDE OF HER
HOME.
SHE LIVES ALONE.
WANTED TO BE ACTIVE, WANTED TO
BE SOCIAL AND CONTINUE LIVING A
HEALTHY LIFE SO SHE STARTED --
WE REFERRED HER TO OUR SENIOR
CENTER.
SHE STARTED COME REGULARLY.
IN A PARTICULAR WEEK OUR STAFF
NOTICED SHE HADN'T BEEN IN FOR
A FUSE DAYS, WHICH WAS UNUSUAL
FOR HER.
SO WE HAD A WELFARE CHECK DONE.
WHEN THE POLICE GOT THERE, THEY
FOUND -- WE HAD TO ASK THE
LANDLORD TO LET US IN TO HER
UNIT.
SHE HAD FALLEN.
SHE WAS ON THE FLOOR FOR THOSE
--
>> THREE DAYS.
>> THREE DAYS OR SO.
WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO GET UP.
SO SHE SUFFERED SOME
DEHYDRATION.
WE -- THEY FOUND HER JUST IN
TIME AND IF NOT FOR THE
ATTENTIVE STAFF OF THE SENIOR
CENTER, THAT WE MAY HAVE MISSED
THAT.
AND SO THAT'S JUST A STORY, ONE
OF THE STORIES THAT WE HAVE,
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE
DEDICATED STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
ANOTHER STORY IS ANOTHER
ELDERLY GENTLEMAN LIVING ALONE,
STARTED EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF
DEMENTIA AND HAD TO BE ASKED
THE APARTMENT HE WAS LIVING IN.
AND SO HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF
BEING HOMELESS THROUGH THE
TITLE 19 CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM AND THE HELP OF BACK
THEN AND HOPEFULLY COMING SOON
BE THE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT
TEAM, WE WERE ABLE TO
TEMPORARILY HAVE HIM PLACED AT
THE GERI PSYCH UNIT AND
EVENTUALLY PLACED IN A NURSING
HOME WHERE HE SPENT THE REST OF
HIS DAYS.
THESE SERVICES ARE CRITICAL TO
THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
IT'S GREAT THAT WE PROVIDE THEM
BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES AS
PROVIDERS IN PROVIDING THESE
SERVICES AND MAYBE THIS WON'T
COME AS A SURPRISE, ONE IS A
MATTER OF RESOURCE AND THE
OTHER PIECE IS A MATTER OF WORK
FORCE CHALLENGE, SO THEY'RE
SOMEWHAT SXELTED TO EACH OTHER.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORK
FORCE CHALLENGES, FOR WORK
FORCE AND THIS IS, YOU PROBABLY
HEARD IT IN THE SAME CHAMBER
WHEN YOU'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH
VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS, BEING ABLE TO
PROVIDE COMPETITIVE WAGES,
LIVING WAGES FOR OUR SOCIAL
SERVICE WORKERS.
SEATTLE, THE COUNTY IN GENERAL,
THE COST OF LIVING HAS BEEN
GOING UP FASTER THAN OUR WAGES
HAVE BEEN, AND THIS IS NOT
NEWS.
AND SO FOR US TO ATTRACT AND
RETAIN QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS
HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE WORK FORCE-
RELATED, WE TALKED ABOUT THE
CAREGIVERS AND THE IMPORTANT
ROLE THEY PLAY IN LONG-TERM
CARE, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF
CAREGIVERS IN GENERAL AND FOR
THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE,
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS,
LIMITED ENGLISH, PROFICIENCY
SENIOR, THAT'S EVEN MORE
BECAUSE THERE'S LESS, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEPALY
COMMUNITY, THAT WOULD PREFER TO
HAVE CAREGIVERS WHO SHARE THEIR
LANGUAGE AND THEIR CULTURE,
THAT'S EVEN A SMALLER POOL.
TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THOSE
WORKERS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
I THINK THIS IS A STATEWIDE
ISSUE IF NOT A NATIONAL ISSUE.
AND THE RESOURCES THAT I
MENTIONED BEFORE, THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING
GREATER AND THE RESOURCES HAVE
NOT KEPT UP TO PACE WITH THAT.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PASSING
THE ANNUAL INFLATIONARY
JUDGMENT BILL WHICH ADDRESSES
SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT
WAGES.
UNFORTUNATELY, TITLE 19 IS NOT
ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT IT
COVERS SO THE MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT WE GET FROM CASE
MANAGEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH TO
COVER THE COST, LET ALONE THE
WAGES OF OUR WORKERS.
THE LANDSCAPE OF LONG-TERM CARE
IS CHANGING.
PROVIDERS TRY TORAGE I WILL AND
-- TO BEAGE I WILL AND ADAPT TO
THAT BUT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO
DO MORE WITH LESS RESOURCES AND
I THINK AS WE'VE HEARD, YOU
KNOW, WASHINGTON STATE, OUR
COUNTY, OUR CITY HAS DONE GREAT
IN MAKING THIS FOUNDATIONAL
INVESTMENTS AND WE HOPE TO
CONTINUE THAT THE GOVERNMENT
AND THE CITY, THE STATE, THE
COUNTY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT
THOSE INVESTMENTS, SO THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE HEALTHY
CITIZENS LIVING IN OUR AREA.
>> CAN I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT.
G, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE'RE SENSITIVE MAYBE BEYOND
WHAT I CAN BEGIN TO ARTICULATE
HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS THAT
YOU'RE DOING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M ALSO KEENLY AWARE THAT
$15 PLUS A 2% RAISE, PLUS A 2%
RAISE DOESN'T GET YOU MUCH AND
I'M -- I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS, AND
YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE
WITH LESS.
WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME, SO
PLEASE KNOW WE APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
THE STORIES YOU TALKED ABOUT,
THE WOMAN THAT HAD FALLEN AND
WAS ALONE FOR THREE DAYS, WE DO
KNOW THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION IS
ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT
CAN HAPPEN TO OUR SENIORS SO
THANK GOODNESS FOR YOUR PEOPLE
THAT WERE KEEPING AN EYE ON
THAT INDIVIDUAL AND I'M
GRATEFUL TO YOU AND I WISH I
HAD A CHECKBOOK BIG ENOUGH JUST
TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE WOES
AND YOUR CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO G'S
COMMENTS, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED
FROM CATHY, YOU ALWAYS NEED TO
END WITH AN ASK.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE
WANT TO SORT OF SOUND THE ALARM
ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL SYSTEM
THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT'S
FRAYING, THAT'S UNDER STRESS.
MEDICAID RATES HAVE NOT KEPT
UP.
WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE
LEGISLATURE EVERY YEAR WITH
MINIMAL SUCCESS.
SOMETIMES WE GET SMALL
INCREASES.
IN TERMS OF PARTICULARLY THE
COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS IN KING
COUNTY, SO WE'RE ALL TOGETHER
AS A TEAM, WE'RE GOING TO BE
ADVOCATING WITH THE LEGISLATURE
TO PROVIDE AND I FEEL IT'S NOT
ONLY FOR OUR CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, IT'S FOR OUR ENTIRE
CONTINUUM.
I KNOW YOU RECORD HEARD ABOUT
THE ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE
NURSING HOME CLOSURES.
THERE'S A WHOLE CONTINUUM OF
SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED AND
WE'VE INVESTED SO MUCH IN THIS
SYSTEM AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND WHAT
A SHAME IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO
MAKE PROGRESS, ESPECIALLY AS
THE NEEDS CONTINUE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALLIES AND
ADVOCATES WHEREVER WE CAN FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT NEED.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT
UP.
WE WERE KEENLY AWARE ABOUT A
NUMBER OF THE NURSING HOMES AND
SENIOR CARE CENTERS CLOSING.
A PERSON IN MY OFFICE HAD A
RELATIVE SHE WAS KEEPING TRACK
OF.
THIS WAS REALLY BAD NEWS
BECAUSE THEY WERE -- AT THE
SAME TIME.
IF YOU HAD SOMEONE IN A
COMMUNITY WHERE THERE WAS ONLY
ONE FACILITY, THEN SUDDENLY
THAT FACILITY CLOSES BUT TWO
OTHERS HAPPEN TO AT THE SAME
TIME, WE'RE NOW DEALING NOT
WITH 100 PEOPLE, BUT 300 PEOPLE
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND QUALITY
SPACE FOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AGAIN.
I'M JUST -- I'M STUNNED BY HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS AND CHALLENGING
THIS IS.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE THREE OF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP?
>> I THINK IT'S AS CATHY KNIGHT
MENTIONED, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
WHO ARE VIEWING THIS AND
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO
INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE IT IS EASY
TO KIND OF THROW UP YOUR HANDS
AND SAY, THERE'S HOMELESSNESS,
WE HAVE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS, BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK TO
THE FACT THAT WE ALL AGE AND
THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND
CARE FOR OUR SENIORS NOW AND IN
THE FUTURE.
TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATOR.
TALK TO INDIVIDUALS.
THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM THEIR
STWINTSCONSTITUENTS IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
>> PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT
THEY SAY IF THEY CALL.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC
OR YOU HAVE A BILL AS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE FOR LONG-
TERM CARE, IF THERE'S WAYS,
THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT
YOU WOULD LIKE US TO EMPHASIZE,
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BLOG ABOUT THIS
TO SUPPORT YOU WITH SOME
WRITING, BUT IT'S HELPFUL IF WE
CAN -- BACK TO YOUR CALL TO
ACTION, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR AND THE
LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES SAY I
HEARD FROM A HUNDRED PEOPLE
SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS -- BECAUSE
AARP, WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE
FINANCIAL FIGHT.
WE ARE THERE TO ADVOCATE.
AND WE HAVE A VERY BROAD GROUP
OF ABOUT 75,000 INDIVIDUALS.
WE ALWAYS WANT MORE PEOPLE.
AND WE TAKE ON THESE ISSUES.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A BILL WHEN
IT COMES TO BUDGET, AND WE WANT
THE LEGISLATURES TO HEAR THAT
AND THEY CAN JOIN AARP.
THEY HAVE DON'T HAVE TO BE A
MEMBER, BUT THEY CAN GET ON TO
THE LIST, THERE IS CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR ME BUT THEY CAN
CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND HERE IN
WASHINGTON STATE, AARP.ORG/WA
WILL GET YOU THERE AND USE YOUR
VOICE.
ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A
NEW ADVOCATE THAT'S GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH ME.
I HAVE A SMALLER CORE GROUP OF
ABOUT 40, 50 PEOPLE, HE'S 35
YEARS OLD AND HE WANTS TO MAKE
HIS LIFE BETTER FOR HIMSELF BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR HIS
GRANDPARENTS AND HIS MOTHER AND
DAD.
>> YEAH.
>> SO IT'S -- I'M LIKE, IT'S
VERY RARE TO FIND A 35-YEAR-OLD
--
>> I'M IMPRESSED FOR THE REASON
SHE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
AT 35 YOU'RE STILL IMMORTAL,
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET OLD
AND PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO GET
SICK.
JOKING.
FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST TUNED IN
RIGHT THERE.
WE WERE GOING BACK HARKENING TO
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID, HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET PEOPLE
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND
RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL
GETTING OLDER.
WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION.
THANK YOU TO AAR P. YOU'RE AN
AMAZING ORGANIZATION AND I'M
ALSO VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT
YOU ARE CHANGING HOW THE
ORGANIZATION IS PERCEIVED.
IT USED TO BE OH, I GOT MY AARP
CARD WHEN I TURNED 50, WHATEVER
THE AGE WAS BUT NOW YOU GUYS
ARE -- YOU'RE FIERCE ADVOCATES
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE.
>> WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
AARP ON MANY OF THE ISSUES AND
ONE OF THE -- BEING AN AREA
AGENCY ON AGING, THERE ARE
ADVOCATES AND VERY ACTIVE AT
STAYING ENGAGED AND INVOLVED
AND WE KEEP THEM BUSY DURING
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR
NETWORK, ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHARE
THAT WITH YOU.
>> GOOD.
>> WE'LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER
OUR PRIORITIES, WHICH WILL
INCLUDE THESE TO GET READY FOR
THE NEXT SESSION.
>> GREAT.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN
DO IN MY OFFICE, LENA IS AS
MUCH -- IS DEEPLY DEDICATED TO
ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND THE
KIND OF AGING WORK YOU'RE DOING
AS I HAVE BEEN.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO OVER
THE NEXT MONTH BEFORE BUDGET
GETS STARTED, IF THERE'S
SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO FOCUS
ON FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
AND THEN IT'S BUDGET AND THEN
THE END OF THE YEAR COMES FAST.
>> IT DOES.
>> SO DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE THAT
WANTS TO SPEAK?
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL
YOUR WORK.
>> OF COURSE.
>> THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
BUT YOU'VE BEEN A TIRELESS,
PASSIONATE ADVOCATE WHEN IT
COMES TO SENIOR ISSUES AND
CREATING AGE-FRIENDLY
COMMUNITIES AND LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> DO APPRECIATE IT.
>> SO IF THE THREE OF YOU HAVE
NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ADD, I THINK WE MADE
SOME PUBLIC COMMENT TIME.
DO I HAVE ANYBODY THAT WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND GIVE
US YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I DON'T SEE ANYBODY RUSHING
FOR THE MICROPHONE.
>> OKAY.
WELL WITH THAT, THEN, WE ARE
GOING TO ADJOURN A LITTLE BIT
EARLY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE IT.
AND FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL
THOUGHTS, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
YOUR TIME.
LENA, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
ORGANIZE IT.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.