Silver Haired Legislature Chooses Priorities for 2027

The 53rd Annual Conference of the Silver Haired Legislature took place at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Columbia on October 13, 14, and 15. The 54 delegates in attendance chose their Top Five Priorities and formulated plans to advocate for senior issues during the coming legislative session.

After spirited debates in the Legislative chambers, the delegates chose these issues as their Top Five Priorities for the 2027 legislative session:

1. Increase the Medicaid PNA (Personal Needs Allowance) with an Inflation Rider

2. Missouri Senior Preventative Foot Care and Medicaid Access Act

3. Limit the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Prior Authorization of Health Care

4. Real Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with a 100% Service-Connected

Disability

5. Liability of Long-Term Care Facilities for Harm to Residents

Anyone interested in learning further details about the priorities of the Silver Haired Legislature is encouraged to call or e-mail Deena McCallon, SHL Coordinator at dmccallon@yahresources.org 660-240-9400 ext. 111.

Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The SHL is composed of fifteen volunteers from each of the ten statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates, elected by their peers, identify and advocate for issues critical to older Missourians.

Young at Heart to Offer Healthy Aging Classes

Young at Heart Resources is bringing healthy aging classes online, so seniors can learn from home this winter.  For many older adults, being stuck at home means limiting overall activity, which can negatively impact health and longevity.  Learn safe ways to exercise in evidence-based programs designed to reduce chronic diseases and prevent falls, while meeting new people and building friendships.  The classes are fun, free, and available to adults over age 60 living in Northwest Missouri.  

Build strength, flexibility, and balance in the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program.  This program is made for adults living with arthritis, but anyone can participate and benefit.  Arthritis classes will be held January 17th – March 27th, Mondays & Wednesdays, 2 – 3 PM, via ZOOM.

Develop healthy lifestyle habits and learn from a registered dietician in, “Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less.”  This 15-week weight management program meets once a week online with day/evening times available.  Enrollment is on-going with new sessions starting each month.

For more information and to discover other exciting programs coming to the communities of Northwest Missouri, contact Young at Heart Resources at 660-240-9400 or jlagoutaris@yahresources.org.

Letter to the Editor -- Lockdown Caused Hardships for Nursing Home Residents

During the first several months of the Covid-19 pandemic, area long term care facilities denied visitation for their residents. You can imagine the sense of isolation and loneliness, as well as familial disconnect, this has caused.

Fortunately, on September 17, 2020, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) released new visitation guidelines that have greatly eased those upsetting restrictions, effective immediately. This is encouraging news for Young at Heart Resources, because we serve 84 licensed long term care facilities by advocating for those same residents. It’s our purpose to support them as they strive to live healthy, happy lives, which includes sharing time with their loved ones.

Our Northwest Missouri service area of 18 counties covers 9,274 square miles. The Young at Heart Resources Ombudsman Program is in need of new volunteers who will help educate residents in long term care facilities about their rights, and advocate for those rights, especially as their facilities open up again.

An Ombudsman volunteer may serve as an investigator, mediator, liaison and educator for residents and their families, communities, or the facility; wherever they are needed. An Ombudsman (meaning “citizen representative” in Swedish) works to resolve individual problems and provide immediate assistance to residents.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an Ombudsman volunteer, please contact myself or Robin Williams, Regional Ombudsman, at 660-749-0034 or toll free, 855-205-7520. You can also email me at bcaldwell@yahresources.org. Thank you.    

 

Becky Caldwell

Regional Ombudsman Manager

Young at Heart

Young at Heart Resources to Hold Elections

Every year Young at Heart Resources (formerly the Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging) holds regional elections to its Board of Directors. The board is comprised of 9 members representing 18 counties in Northwest Missouri, and each member term is 3 years.

Current members Kathy Roach, Ruth Rother, and Johnnie Herndon are up for reelection, which means there are 3 member seats open to new candidates who reside in the following counties: Andrew, Buchanan, Caldwell, DeKalb, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Putnam, Sullivan, or Worth. 

If you are interested in running, you can obtain a candidate packet by visiting yahresourcses.org/news, contacting Janna at jleadbetter@yahresources.org, or by calling 660-240-9400. Candidate packets must be turned in by July 17, 2020.

“Young at Heart Resources Board of Directors plays a vital role in the mission of the organization. I encourage those individuals with a desire to give back to run for the board,” says Sherry Golden, Board Chair.

Residents 60 and above residing in our Northwest Missouri service area will be able to cast a ballot at a polling site located in their county. Each county will have at least one polling site, which will be announced closer to the election date.

Young at Heart Resources is one of 10 planning and service agencies in Missouri. Its primary client groups are adults who are at least 60 years of age and their caregivers. The organization targets low income people but serves all income levels, asking only for voluntary contributions to expand services. It is unbiased in helping clients make informed choices. Young at Heart Resources promotes systems that maintain and enhance the quality of life for older adults, wherever they may live. It is funded by federal, state, and local resources, as well as contributions, and has served older adults in its 18-county public service area since 1973.