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News:
Stand Up for Seniors: An Advocacy
Forum
 With
the economic crisis so much in the news, the Oklahoma aging
network fears that the economic downturn will adversely
affect the elderly. Along with over 80 co-sponsors, the
State Council on Aging, a statewide group established to
champion the needs of and issues confronting older
Oklahomans, hosted an event to garner support for issues of
the elderly on January 8, 2009 at the Kerr McGee Auditorium,
Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University.
The
theme of the educational forum was Stand Up for Seniors.
The forum highlighted the pressing issues facing the
elderly from different perspectives. The "Empty Chair"
metaphor was used as an opening introduction to the issues,
symbolizing the potential losses seniors may experience with
the looming economic crisis.
The empty chairs served as poignant reminders to
participants of the enormity of those losses for older
Oklahomans.
 Leaders
of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma
Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services presented short talks on the needs
of the elderly related to their agencies and how they see
any shortfalls affecting the elderly population. Featured
speakers for the event included Cassell Lawson, Director,
Opportunities for Living Life, Oklahoma Health Care
Authority; Terri White, Commissioner, Oklahoma Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Dr. Hank
Hartsell, Deputy Commissioner, Oklahoma State Department of
Health; and Howard Hendrick, Director, Oklahoma Department
of Human Services.
Organizers note that the
original idea for the event came from members of the State
Council on Aging. They hope the Stand Up for Seniors
forum will empower the aging network and others to become
active, to advocate earnestly for the needs of seniors, and
to make their voices heard around the state. Legislators,
advocates, members of the aging network, service providers,
agencies, consumers, caregivers, and the general public
participated in pledging support to address the critical
needs of the elderly. Mary Brinkley, OKAHSA, served as
coordinator for the event.
Homecoming Week
AAHSA's Homecoming Week is your chance to celebrate what
makes your organization special.
From May 26-30, join thousands
of your peers by opening your doors and inviting your
neighbors and your elected officials to learn about your
work and meet your community's treasures: the people you
serve. Host an open house, introduce them to your residents
over a meal or coordinate a staff community service project.
Whatever you do, this is your chance to showcase how you
make your community a better place to live.
Download the Homecoming Week Toolkit
for program ideas, media outreach tips and sample materials.
Access these
resources to get started:
2008 Award Winners
Click here to view Awards
Brochure (PDF)
Making
Our Communities More Liveable for Older Oklahomans
OKAHSA is leading an advocacy initiative to ensure that
programs and services for the elderly are adequately funded.
Organizations across the state are encouraged to join this
effort on behalf of the "Greatest Generation".
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"Every
year when the legislature convenes, there is one
population that is noticeably absent... I am speaking
of the frail elderly population in
Oklahoma
.
They have fought our wars, nursed our sick, taught in
our schools, built our roads, and have contributed so
much to our state. We needed them. Now they need us...
They need us to advocate for adequate funding for
programs and services such as nutrition programs,
transportation, adult day services and quality nursing
home care."
-- Mary Brinkley, Oklahoma Association of Homes
and Services for the Aging Executive Director |
 OKAHSA's request bill, SB 1622, was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry on May 11, 2004.
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"This measure proposes a new funding methodology that will reward nursing homes that place emphasis on the use of revenues for direct resident care."
-- Mary Brinkley, Oklahoma Association of Homes
and Services for the Aging Executive Director |
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