Montana Sets Elder Action Agenda

By Erika Voss Hickey, Kerri Schneider, Nicole Sanborn

During May, 2003, the Western Montana Chapter for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (WMC-PEA) conducted seventeen community meetings across the state of Montana. The “Action Agenda Symposiums” were held to generate input and encourage discussion regarding issues facing the elderly population in Montana’s communities. In all, approximately 175 participants, from a variety of disciplines, attended the meetings.

The Montana Action Agenda Symposiums were modeled after the National Center on Elder Abuse’s (NCEA) Policy Summit on Elder Abuse that was held in 2001. AmeriCorps *VISTA workers Erika Voss, Nicole Sanborn, and Kerri Schneider facilitated the discussions in each community and recorded the ideas that were generated. The top ten needs and concerns were determined based on the most reoccurring themes that were common to nearly all of the discussions. The following are the top ten most pertinent issues facing elders in Montana:

• More Medicaid waiver slots are needed.
  > Individuals who are in the middle-income category fall into a gap without access to important services such as home health care. They make too much money to qualify for assistance and too little to pay for quality care.
  > It is less expensive to serve people in the community than it is to pay for nursing home care.
  > A less restrictive, more home-like environment allows people to remain at home longer.
• Education for County Attorneys, judges, law enforcement members, community members, the elderly, children, and health care workers about elder abuse is greatly needed.
  > County Attorneys, attorneys, judges and law enforcement must be educated about the crimes of elder abuse and their prosecution.
  > Community members, the elderly, adult children, members of the media, and health care workers need education about elder abuse and elder abuse prevention.
  > Education for elders through media, senior centers, community organizations, and newsletters about the resources and services available to them is needed.
• Background checks for all health-care workers (i.e. nursing homes, home health, assisted living, volunteers) should be required.
  > A coordinated state and national registry is needed to enable thorough background checks to be conducted.
• Specialized mental health services are needed for elderly individuals.
  > Specified services geared toward seniors and workers who can specialize in these areas are lacking in communities across Montana.
  > Lack of beds in mental health facilities is becoming an increasingly severe problem as well.
  > The discharge of mental health clients into communities that are not prepared to provide appropriate services is a problem.
• Higher wages and better benefits for certified nursing assistants and personal care attendants are crucial in the effort to recruit and retain quality nursing staff and health care workers.
  > Across Montana, communities are experiencing the migration of qualified health care professionals out of state in search of higher paying jobs with better benefits.
  > People who choose to remain in Montana’s communities seek out the highest paying jobs, and unfortunately, nursing and health care assistants are paid low wages.
• Simplification of Medicaid and prescription drug programs is necessary.
  > The current process is confusing, complicated, and often discouraging for individuals.
  > In some cases, this process discourages people from attempting to qualify for the programs.
• Reliable transportation services are greatly needed.
  > Affordable, accessible, and reliable transit services are desperately needed, especially in rural areas.
  > Senior companion services could help with the development and implementation of these programs.
• ONE particular source where seniors and vulnerable adults can go to inquire about resources or services available to them would be tremendously valuable.
  > A clearinghouse or a 1-800 number is needed to provide adequate information about resources and services available.
  > Such a source could also provide advice and resources for caregivers who have questions or concerns.
  (A toll free abuse information line does exist, 1-800-551-3191, however, it needs to be more publicized.)
• More affordable/congregate housing for the elderly is greatly needed.
• More non-profit organizations such as the WMC-PEA, Lifecycles, or Billings Chapter-PEA to take on guardianships are needed.
  > Transference of guardianships from APS to non-profit organizations dedicated to assisting seniors and vulnerable adults should occur.

The WMC-PEA plans to present the results of the Action Agenda at the Governor’s Conference on Aging in September.

In addition, the Chapter plans to utilize the Action Agenda results to educate community members, legislators, and members of the media. The information that was gathered will also be used as a tool to chart the WMC-PEA’s course of action for the future. The WMC-PEA encourages other groups and individuals to use the results for both educational and grant writing purposes.

The Action Agenda Symposium results are available on the web at www.westernmontanachapter.org.