The Senior Scene

This winter, the Washington state legislature convened for their annual session in Olympia and for the first time in several years, adjourned on time. The 60-day session was short in length and also short on achievement.
Legislators postponed tough decisions on tax policy and education funding. They could not agree on a transportation revenue package or a capitol budget. And they made only modest adjustments to the biennial budget agreed to last session.
While few major policy bills passed, legislators did take time to consider how to prepare our state for the age wave on the horizon. They are absorbing the demographic reality that by 2020, one of five Washingtonians will be 65+. And they are realizing that this has big implications for our society and state government.
The State House passed two bills on this front, including a bill sponsored by Representative Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) to study alternative long term care financing options and a bill by Representative Larry Springer (D-Kirkland) and Senator Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) to make it easier for people to save for retirement. Both bills received bi-partisan support in the House but stalled in the Senate.
Failing to act in these areas will cause budget challenges for legislators in the future. An estimated one million Washingtonians are working but not saving for retirement. If they retire without necessary resources, the state will be forced to pick up the tab with increased costs for social services like Meals on Wheels and housing assistance.
Likewise, if we do not help people protect themselves from the catastrophic cost of long term care, more and more will turn to our state Medicaid program for assistance. Medicaid is already consuming a large and growing slice of the state budget. It’s in everyone interests, including state budget writers, to find better long term care financing solutions.
In other areas of concern to seniors, legislators were able to agree:
They passed a bill to develop an Alzheimer’s State Plan, sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines).
They passed the Pension Poachers Prevention Act to stop scams on veterans, at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson and sponsored by Senator Andy Hill (R-Redmond) and Representative Kevin Parker (R-Spokane).
And they passed a bill to improve our health care system and create more transparency around health care cost and quality, requested by Governor Inslee and sponsored by Representative Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle).
Finally, legislators agreed to a budget that makes small but meaningful new investments in the Long Term Care Ombudsman program and the Office of Public Guardianship, programs that are the guard at the gate for some of our state’s most vulnerable elders.
Increasingly, Governor Jay Inslee and state legislators from both parties are aware that action is needed now to prepare for the age wave. They want people to be successful in preparing for retirement and stay healthy, engaged and mobile as they age. But competing priorities and political disagreements sometimes make for slow progress. It’s our job to ask them to put their differences aside and embrace win-win solutions for all generations.

Ingrid McDonald, who wrote this article, is AARP’s Washington advocacy director.

Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources will host free showings of two films that explore the dynamic of families coping with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
“Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch” tells the true store of Iris Murdoch. After decades of marriage, she begins experiencing forgetfulness and dementia, while her husband struggles with his own hopelessness and frustration to become her caretaker. The movie, which stars Kate Winslet, Judy Dench and Jim Broadbent. will be shown May 12 at 6:15 p.m. at Grand Cinema, located 606 S. Fawcett in Tacoma.
Grand Cinema also is where “A Song for Martin” will be screened May 19 at 6:15 p.m. The film focuses on Martin, a conductor and composer, and Barbara, a concert violinist. They meet in middle-age and marry, but soon after find out that Martin as Alzheimer’s.
“A Song for Martin” is a Swedish film with English subtitles.
Before and after the films, local service providers will be available to answer questions about the resources available to families in the area. RSVPs are requested by calling (253) 798-8787.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the only cause of death among the top 10 that can’t be prevented.
“These films are two of the most notable productions that focus on Alzheimer’s,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources.“Our goal is to provide hope and information that will enable people to better understand and appreciate all that goes into caring for people with this disease.”

Jane Allen celebrated her 100th birthday in March in probably the same community-loving way she’s led her life.

She was born on March 12, 1914 in Tacoma. She was an only child. She graduated from Stadium High school and still recites the school’s “Fight Song.” She worked as a ticket taker at Liberty Theater.

A socialite and a community volunteer, Jane was recognized by the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees for her creative tree entry in 1998, was a member of the volunteer guild of Tacoma General Hospital, and often hosted her friends and others in her home.

Jane’s late husband was in the steel business and provided the steel that was used in the construction of the Doric Hotel in Tacoma 1960. The hotel is now Cascade Park Vista Assisted Living and, ironically, where Jane has lived since 2007.

Jane, who often says that “children are our future,” didn’t have children of her own and lights up when they come into the building.

She loves socializing with the staff and other residents “and is loved by all,” said Joan Engle, director of marketing for Cascade Park Communities.

If you fall victim to fraud, it can really stress you out, not to mention damage your credit score and wallet.  We encourage you to be cautious of suspicious email, letters, and phone calls or any time someone asks for your personal information.

Generally, Social Security will not call or e-mail you and ask for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or banking information.  If someone contacts you and asks for this kind of information and claims to be from Social Security, do not give out your personal information without first contacting us to verify the validity of the request.  It could be an identity thief phishing for your personal information.  Contact our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Report suspicious calls to our Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or online at http://oig.ssa.gov using the “Fraud, Waste, and Abuse” link.  When making a report, please include as many of the following details as possible:

•             The alleged suspect(s) and victim(s) names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers;

•             Description of the fraud and the location where the fraud took place;

•             When and how the fraud was committed;

•             Why the person committed the fraud (if known); and

•             Who else has knowledge of the potential violation?

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America.  If you or anyone you know has been the victim of identity theft, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.idtheft.gov, or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY 1-866-653-4261.

Misleading advertisers may victimize people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  Such companies offer Social Security services for a fee, even though the same services are available directly from us free of charge.  Especially upsetting are ads that make it appear as though they came directly from us.  By law, such advertisements must indicate that the company is not affiliated with Social Security.

If you see, what you believe is misleading advertising for Social Security services from a company that fails to say it is not affiliated with Social Security, report it to us at: Office of the Inspector General, Fraud Hotline, Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235.  This goes for advertisements in print, online, or on television or radio.  Also, advise your state’s attorney general or consumer affairs office and the Better Business Bureau.  You can visit the Office of the Inspector General online at http://oig.ssa.gov and select the “Fraud, Waste, or Abuse” link.  Learn more about identity theft and misleading advertising by reading our publications on the subjects at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.  You may have enough stress already.  Do not get stressed over fraud.

Kirk Larson, who wrote this article, is a public affairs specialist for Social Security in western Washington.