Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Dibble Senior Center News - Holidays 2009

Dibble Senior Citizens News

Greetings to the Seniors of the Dibble Community!!!

It’s almost time for Santa and I’m being good!!! I’ve chosen not to torment our esteemed Vice President, Dale McAskill, this week, in hopes of getting a better present from Santa. We’ll see!!

At this time of year, we need to recognize the people who actually make possible our ongoing effort of senior advocacy in this ever-increasing negative environment for seniors in Oklahoma. We hope the next 10 years will be better for senior issues than the last 10 have been, being mindful of our common mission here at Dibble Senior Citizens. Without our volunteers, our work could not have happened this last year. Listed below are people who have volunteered since starting the Dibble Senior Citizen Center in October, 2007. Some are having health problems and can come work on a limited basis. “I” is unable to work at this time; “M” moved from our area; and as far as we know, only on death. Included in our list are a few who are under 55, but are regular in their volunteer hours. We thank them all. If we have missed anyone, or misspelled your names, please forgive us.

Charlene Allison, Charlotte Offholter, Betty Jean Martin “M”, Pat and Roy Welchel, Dottie Glendenning, Eddie and Linda Cantrell, Lenora Walkup, Bill Harmon, Hub and Diana Roath, Ermalene and James Godwin, Garland and Johnnie Clark, Patty Crandall, Phil Dewbre “I”, Roberta and Leon Calhoun, Vicki Ricks, Hattie Bright, Arthur and Mary Evett, Charlotte Hackney, Jerry Vance, Pat Burton, Dale and Beth McAskill, Bettye Vaughn, Mark Clark, Bill and Frances Unruh, Jeanette Blackmore, Clint Williams, Mary, Mike and Andy Elam, Alma Elam, Robert Noisey, Sid Hill “I”, Dorothy Garrett ”M”, Doug Stafford, Gary D. Coley “I”, Ray and Vera Browning, Renee Epperly, Harold and Dennis Schweitzer, Carol Brown, Billye and Leroy “D” Nipper, Zeega Wilson, Pat Lawson “I”, Betty Doyle, Lavelle Knox, J.B. and Kaye Newsom “I”, Don and Carolyn Hedrick, Jean McDaniel, Linda Weese, Don and Lou Ellen McGaha, David Wade “I”, Phyllis Hobbs, Virginia Keeble, Louise and Lonnie Montgomery, Catherine and Roy Dennis, Betty Sue and Glen Staggs, Betty Gardenhire, Trisha Greca, Patsy Koerner, Jeanne Doan, Bo and Beth Turner, Rosa Maria and Ignacio Munoz, Charles Whinery, Rena George, Jerry and Faye Watkins, Donnie Minick, Mary K. and Frankie Thompson, Addie King, Charles Merrill, Betty Cockerhan, Kathy Seymore, Vera Ann Bristol, Leveda Nickels, Lavern Rodgers, Clifford Higgins, Gloria Valdez, Maria Lopez, Nicole Lanham, Juanita Facio, Marcella Valdez, James Coughlin, Faye Bass, Pat Murphy, Walter and Betty Mote, Terry Clement, Don Smith, Jess and Judy James, Sandy and Bobby Newman, Billye Hales and Lanesia Speaks.

Total Volunteer hours since inception, through September, 2009 - 29,741

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Dibble Senior Citizens Center and it’s Board of Directors shall be to serve as advocates for and promoters of the Senior Community of Dibble, Oklahoma. It shall strive to support and improve the quality of life for Seniors through it’s programs and activities and to enhance their general well being.

CLOSED THROUGH CHRISTMAS WEEK

##

Written by Eddie Cantrell

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Budget Cuts at ASCOG AAA

Some facts I am sharing with our board tonight about our budget future:
Oklahoma is currently over $988 Million behind in revenues compared to this date last year.
The State Treasurer has compared the current economy to the economies of 1980 and 1929.
The top priorities for the state government continue to be education, transportation, and public safety.
Churches and local communities are coming out in droves to support the local senior centers.
The senior services program is still the most likely target for DHS to cut because our match is less contigent on federal dollars than other DHS programs.
Further cuts will result in a reduction in meals served, but we will not close any nutrition sites.
We will be more dependent on volunteers and community support than we ever have been.
We will likely have to cut several jobs.
No one is going to starve to death on our watch.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Dibble Senior Citizens News for December 15th

Friday, December 11, 2009

Nursing home in Walters to close

Nursing home in Walters to close

BY SCOTT RAINS
STAFF WRITER SRAINS@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM

WALTERS — A nearly half-century old Cotton County nursing home is closing due to inspection deficiencies, leaving more than three dozen people facing a new year as the newly unemployed.
Parkview Manor Nursing Home, 600 E. California Ave. in Walters, is in the process of shutting down after losing the ability to file for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement due to failure to pass its last two inspections. Doors are expected to be shuttered for good by January and the facilities put on the market.
“We had to close, we could no longer file for Medicaid reimbursement due to the deficiencies; our last resident left Nov. 29,” Loretta Miller, office manager said. “Right now, we’re just finishing closing out books, breaking down charts and getting things ready to store and to sell.”
The nursing home, owned by Eva Fryer, has been a familyowned private facility in Walters since 1966. Twenty-eight residents had called Parkview home.
Troubles for the 54-bed facility began in May when state inspectors found 35 total health deficiencies during an inspection — the state average is 12, and, in the nation, 8. According to the Department of Health’s inspection report, corrective action was taken for the majority of deficiencies found during the initial inspection. A follow-up inspection on Sept. 23 found action lacking for accurate record keeping, adequate staffing, attaining needed lab tests/results for patients, providing clean bed and bath linens in good condition, maintenance of adequate emergency medication and procedure for distribution, keeping the rate of medication errors below 5 percent, food storage and proper temperature during preparation, assessment of patient health changes, and the development of a complete care plan to meet all of a resident’s needs.
Miller said the nursing home’s September inspection was to check progress with the deficiencies and to check out some complaints — food temperature regulations and some minor medication errors were noted, she said. A third inspection was scheduled for Oct. 13, a day before the 6-month allowance for the facility to correct deficiencies noted in May; however, inspectors were unable to make the trip.
“Basically, they said they were short-staffed and couldn’t keep sending staff down here to check the deficiencies,” Miller said.
An 30-day extension application was filed and granted Oct. 13 — the extra time allowed for application for Medicare reimbursements and to find new homes for the residents, Miller said. The residents were easily placed though the move has taken its toll on everyone involved, she said.
“There were a lot of sad goodbyes,” Miller said. “Our longest-staying resident moved here in 1987 — that’s 22 years. She has since passed away at another facility.”
The 38 employees also are finding the sudden unemployment a shock. Miller said that two employees have found other positions elsewhere, but the rest are struggling to find work in an already weighted job market.
“For a small town, that’s a lot of jobs that were lost,” Miller said.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Dibble Senior Center News December 7 2009

Dibble Senior Citizens News

Greetings to the Seniors of the Dibble Community!!!

Last week was a zinger, as everyone tries to get a head start on Christmas. Our Christmas Dinner will be on Friday, December 18th, so plan to be there for fun and food.

Big thanks to Loving Care Home Health for their services on Friday!

Remember Jerry Vance as he progresses in the west side of Norman Regional. Also, glad to see Lenora Walkup back on Friday, along with Leon and Roberta Calhoun. As of this writing, no new body parts are pending, as we give Medicare a little break!!!

We have decided our next field trip will be to Guthrie for lunch and a matinee at the Pollard Theater on Saturday, Dec. 19th. The show is called “A Territorial Christmas”, which starts at 2:00 p.m. We will leave the center at 10:30 on Saturday morning, in order to have lunch at Granny’s Territorial Restaurant in downtown Guthrie, then go across the street to the theater. Please sign up by Friday, Dec. 11th, as we have to make reservations.
Come have fun!!! Live on the wild side!!!

Speaking of Medicare, according to the Oklahoma Observer, the federal census experts project a 66.1% increase in Oklahoma’s senior population by 2030. The Baby Boomers are here to stay!! They also say that 1 in 8 Americans are now on Food Stamps and 60% of them have jobs. My dog and cat have even applied for them, as things are getting tough at my house. The times, they are a changin’.

Seems our esteemed potentate Vice President, Dale McAskill, is at it again. Seems he’s come up with a plan to save money on postage by direct mailing his bills, etc., by trained carrier pigeon. He says he’s taught these pigeons to read, thus enabling them to deliver his mail anywhere he wants, thus saving time and postage. This worked fine until recently. Dale won a large sum of money at the casino and, Dale being Dale, just had to brag about it to his brother-in-law, Ira Ray Smith. The problem came when Dale wrote a letter, espousing his good fortune, and sent the news by pigeon. Naturally, Dale picked the dumbest piton in the loft, as this pigeon could only read the first letter of each word in the address. You guessed it…I.R.S. He ain’t right!!!

All for now……………

Menu
Monday Chicken and Rice
Tuesday Country Breakfast
Wednesday Goulash
Thursday Cook’s Choice
Friday Christmas Dinner

##

by Eddie Cantrell

Friday, December 4, 2009

ASCOG AAA Advisory Council Meeting Agenda 15 December 2009

AGENDA
ASCOG AAA ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2009
JERRY D. MORRIS BUSINESS & INDUSTRY SERVICES CENTER
3300 W. BOIS D’ARC DUNCAN, OK.

I. Call to Order and Welcome- Rowena-Scott Johnson, AAAAC Chairperson
II. Review, Consider and Act on Minutes of ASCOG AAA Council meeting September 16, 2009
III. ADRC Presentation- Gayle Semtner
IV. Old Business- Rowena Scott Johnson and Ken Jones
1. CENA Update – Small amount left over after cuts- recommend assigning to Tuttle ISC.
2. Fund Raisers
3. Monthly AAA Conference Call
V. Committee Reports- Full Council
VI. Reports and Updates
1. Evidenced Based Disease Prevention and Health Promotion-Elizabeth Dillingham
2. ASCOG Title III Staff Training Day-Elizabeth Dillingham
3. Aging and Disability Resource Centers- Ken Jones ASCOG AAA Director
4. State Health Insurance Counseling Program- Melissa Colin, ASCOG AAA Information and Referral
VII. New Business- Full Council
1. Review and Comment on Draft Policy changes
2. OAALA-Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy
3. SFY 11 Area Plan
4. SFY 11 Emergency Management Plan
5. SFY 11 Crisis/continuity of services plan
6. Minority in Aging Focus Group
7. Impact of Budget Cuts
VIII. Staff Report
1. ASCOG AAA Planner-Elizabeth Dillingham
2. ASCOG AAA Information and Referral- Melissa Colin
3. ASCOG AAA Ombudsman Supervisor- Ruben Sotelo & Vonn Saltzman
4. ASCOG Managed Care Coordinator- Marsha Bess
5. ASCOG AAA Accountant- Joe Stuckey
IX. Lunch – presentation on reverse mortgages.
X. Committees Meet Individually
XI. Adjournment

Ten Good Reasons to Call the Oklahoma Poison Control Center

10 Good Reasons to Call the Oklahoma Poison Control Center
People may wonder what sort of calls we take at the Poison Control Center. While we hope you never need to call us, there are times when you may need some advice from our highly trained staff of pharmacists, physician assistants and nurses. Here are some reasons why you may need to call:

1. Your grand-child has been chewing on a plug-in air freshener and is now crying.
Some of these products can cause a lot of irritation. Call us and we’ll tell you what to do.
2. You took an extra dose of your medication by mistake.
Sometimes this can be a problem. Give us a call and we’ll tell you what to watch out for.
3. You splashed a chemical in your eye and don’t know what to do next. This can be very dangerous in some cases. We’ll tell you what to do and if you need a doctor’s attention.
4. You found your dog eating rat poison. Dogs can easily eat a toxic amount of a substance. We’ll tell you what to do next.
5. You heard about a recall for a food product and you remember that you ate some of it. We’ll help you identify the recalled product and let you know what signs and symptoms to look for.
6. You mixed some cleaning products and the combination formed an irritating gas. Call us and we’ll help you clear the air. Please remember to read the label first before using any product!
7. You drank something in a glass that wasn’t water but you are not sure what it was.
8. You sprayed pesticide and now you are itching all over. Pesticides can be very dangerous. Call us and we can tell you what to do. When using any pesticide, follow the instructions carefully.
9. You took the dog’s heart worm pill by mistake. Don’t feel silly, sometimes these things happen. We will tell you if it is going to be a problem.
10. Your grand-child got into your pill box and you think there are some pills missing. This can be extremely dangerous! Don’t take any chances. Call us right away and we will tell you what to do next.
Of course there are hundreds of other reasons to call us. Maybe you just want a magnet with our phone number on it to put on your refrigerator. Give us a call and we will help out in any way we can.The Poison Help-line is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and your call is always free and confidential. Pharmacists, nurses and physician assistants answer the Poison Help-line. They are the experts in poison information.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Dibble Senior Citizens News

Dibble Senior Citizens News

Greetings to the Seniors of the Dibble Community!!!

Last week was a big hit, with two major events taking place!! On Tuesday, 17 folks loaded up from the Center and went to Regional Food Bank for our quarterly Pay Back Day. I never want to see cauliflower again in my life!! I don’t like cauliflower and I don’t like anyone who does. We suited up and bagged almost 3,000 pounds of the frozen vegetables, representing 2,954 plate portions. It was all fun in the end, but we did miss “Happy Hour” at Sonic afterwards. We’ll get ‘em next time!

Later, on Thursday, 20 folks journeyed to Chickasha for Roy’s Barbeque and the Plummer Family show from Branson, Missouri. All had fun, although Melba Cash was inspired to take up yodeling. Please!!! Also, we got enough of Betty Vaughn singing “Stand By Your Man”!!

Remember our sick list and those in poor health. Remember next Friday is our Thanksgiving dinner and that we will be closed the whole next week.

I would hate to be in the shoes of our national leaders right now, considering the momentous decisions they are facing, especially concerning seniors. It is hard for seniors to determine who is right and who is wrong on such weighty issues. Some say our president is a hot dog and should do what folks with more experience tell him to do. We got that last time!!! As a senior, I think I would tell him not to be afraid to try something new. After all, it was a rank amateur that built the Ark. A group of professionals built the Titanic!! As a senior, I would also tell him at this pivotal point in history, do not under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and Ex-Lax on the same night…you have enough problems!!!

All for now………………….

Menu – Closed all of Thanksgiving Week

Written by Eddie Cantrell

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Senior says he may do without meal

BY ROBERT FOX
STAFF WRITER
RFOX @LAWTON -CONSTITUTION .COM

So far, the effects of the 25 percent budget cut to the Comanche County Nutrition Project haven’t been felt by those who use it.
Bob Burger, 77, still isn’t happy that the nutrition project received such a deep budget cut. He said so far it hasn’t hit the people who use the program, but it’s coming. He said Julie Justice, Comanche County project director, has done a “tremendous job” of minimizing the impact of the budget cut on the people who use the nutrition project.
“As usual they (legislators) are balancing the budget on the backs of seniors,” he said, and he’s confident there is another solution to the budget shortfall without cutting the nutrition project.
Burger eats at Pleasent Valley Nutrition Center every day it’s open. He said if a second round of budget cuts forces Justice to close the centers for one day a week, it may mean that he has to do without a meal that day.
“I’ll deal with that when the time comes,” he said.
Burger said he’s been using the nutrition program for about 11 years because it helps supplement his diet.
“It’s more than just a feeding site,” he said, “I think that’s something the lawmakers have lost sight of.”
The centers provide many seniors with a chance to socialize that they otherwise wouldn’t have, he said.
“With seniors, that socialization with other people is very important,” he said.
Lettie Davis, on the other hand, says while she may not agree with the budget cuts, she understands that with the shortfall, budgets were going to be reduced.
Davis, who eats at the Patterson Community Center, said she would rather see the centers open on a reduced budget than see the program scrapped all together.
“I say they gotta do what they gotta do,” she said.
Davis said if other centers closed even one day a week, it would be a hardship for the seniors who count on the nutrition project for a meal.
She said she attended a question-and-answer session with Ken Jones, who oversees administration of 32 nutrition sites in eight counties including Comanche County, and she is confident that Patterson Center won’t be closing any time soon.

JEFF DIXON/STAFF
Harvey Reid, volunteer site manager, serves lunch to Vernice Stuart, front, and Kathy Elam at the Paradise Valley Nutrition Center Friday.

Program takes 25 percent cut in state funding; may face more

County nutrition sites face cuts

Program takes 25 percent cut in state funding; may face more

BY ROBERT FOX
STAFF WRITER RFOX @LAWTON -CONSTITUTION .COM

The Comanche County Nutrition Project is maintaining all of its seven sites despite a 25 percent budget cut, although it’s had to trim some service and cut back on personnel expenses.
Julie Justice, Comanche County project director, said there is no hint of the budget being restored in the near future.
“What we’ve been told, it may get worse,” Justice said; there has been no word on how much worse or when it might happen.
She said the decision to cut the project’s budget stemmed from the state’s revenue shortfall and was made by the head of Oklahoma Department of Human Services and approved by Gov. Brad Henry.
“I hope when the dust settles with the revenue that we’re not forgotten,” Justice said.
She said the cut took about $11,000 of the Comanche County Nutrition Project’s $42,000 a month operational budget. If more reductions bring the total cuts to 35-40 percent, it would force Justice to close the centers and not deliver meals one day a week, she said.
So far, Justice said, the seven sites haven’t had to reduce the number of meals they serve each day. Combined, the sites serve and deliver 450 meals every day to senior citizens, she said.
But the budget cut has forced some difficult decisions.
One employee who left one of the sites has not and will not be replaced. Justice said she has had to eliminate retirement benefits for employees, and a waiting list has started for people to receive delivered meals, though those who have been receiving delivered meals will continue to do so.
Residents on waiting list
“We get referrals every day for people who are unable to prepare their own meals and have no one to prepare meals for them,” she said. Since the end of October, 17 people have been added to the list, and they would have been added to the delivery schedule if not for the budget cut.
She said she is trying to avoid having to deliver frozen meals instead of fresh meals, but she has to wait and see if the sacrifices made will be enough to offset the budget cut.
Trying to cut costs
In addition, Justice said she is trying to reduce the cost of preparing meals by looking for less expensive ingredients, using the food bank, cutting dessert from the menu or offering fruit instead and, in the course of normal operation, wasted food is kept to a minimum.
“We do have a pretty good handle on the count from day to day,” she said.
Those who dine onsite donate for coffee and tea and are asked to donate for the meal, though many can’t give anything, Justice said. Recently the Project Advisory Council raised the recommended donation from $1.50 to $2.
Ken Jones, who oversees 32 nutrition sites in eight counties for the Area Agency on Aging, said the Comanche County program is in better shape than many others, especially rural programs. The county’s sites attract a large number of diners, which makes them more efficient. In some of the counties that he oversees, sites have eliminated a meal each week, providing a take-home meal instead of having staff man the center that day.
More reductions, he said, could lead to more layoffs of staff. If that happens, programs would attempt to have volunteers take over instead of closing sites.
More cuts could come
Jones isn’t optimistic that the cuts made so far will be rescinded, and more cuts may be coming. He’s making tentative plans to deal with them, primarily be reducing administrative expenses.
Justice said she is planning a fundraiser in January but doesn’t yet what it will be. The nutrition project will start selling cookbooks for $10 on Dec. 1. After the publishing costs, the cookbook brings the project enough for two meals.
For information, to volunteer or to purchase a cookbook, call 357-7764 or visit the Lawton Nutrition Project, 920 S. Sheridan, in the Great Plains Coliseum Prairie Building.

JEFF DIXON/STAFF
Lettie Davis, right front, Lourena Oatis, Jimmy Rogers, left front, and Barbara Rogers enjoy a meal and good conversation at the Patterson Center on Friday.

Friday, November 13, 2009

DHS director: Cuts affect vulnerable Oklahomans

DHS director: Cuts affect vulnerable Oklahomans
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The director of the state Department of Human Services warned lawmakers Thursday that additional budget cuts will force his agency to scale back more services to vulnerable Oklahomans like a nutrition program for frail and isolated senior citizens that has already been cut by more than $7 million. “You’re going to see services cut to people who are more vulnerable than you appreciate,” DHS Secretary Howard Hendricks told members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. “We probably serve one million Oklahomans in the course of a year. It’s an enormous undertaking,” Hendricks said of his agency, which provides services to the elderly, abused and neglected children and people with developmental disabilities. The department has asked that its current state appropriation of about $479 million be maintained for the fiscal year that begins July 1. But lawmakers said another round of budget cuts is likely as state revenue continues to decline. “There’s going to be cuts, and they’re going to be painful,” said Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City. “We are cutting deep,” said Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, the subcommittee’s chairman. Hendricks said any reduction in services would likely occur in programs in which little or no federal matching funds would be lost. Including federal dollars, the agency’s budget totals more than $2 billion. State Treasurer Scott Meacham’s office reported Tuesday that state revenue came in below expectations in October for the 10th straight month due to low oil and natural gas prices and the economic downturn. Collections by the state’s general revenue fund in October were $374.4 million. That was $116.1 million, or 24 percent, below the previous year, and $83.3 million, or 18 percent, below the state’s budget estimate. For the first four months of the fiscal year that began on July 1, collections are $578.1 million, or 28.1 percent, below the prior year and $471.7 million, or 24.2 percent, below the estimate.

** From November 13 Lawton Constitution.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

FW: Legislative Update: House Passes Historic Health Care Bill

November 10, 2009

House Passes Historic Health Care Bill

Late Saturday, the House of Representatives passed the first major health care reform bill (H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act) in 40 years, by a vote of 220-215. The razor-thin margin of only two votes beyond a majority of 218 was only possible after Democratic leaders negotiated with anti–abortion rights members of their party to amend the bill to restrict women from purchasing coverage for abortion care with their own funds in the health insurance exchanges and public plan that the legislation created.

With one lone exception, House Republicans opposed the health care bill and were joined by 39 Democrats who also voted against it. (To find out how your Representative voted on the bill, visit: THOMAS.) The rule setting the parameters for the debate allowed for just two amendments, a Republican alternative measure and the previously mentioned abortion-related amendment. As a result, Members of both parties were unable to offer floor amendments to the bill to add or change specific provisions.

n4a signed on to a number of coalition letters in support of specific provisions in the bill that would benefit older adults. The provisions of Project 2020 were not included in the House bill that went to the floor, and Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), the House sponsor of Project 2020, was unable to offer a planned floor amendment to add its provisions due to the “closed” rule process. Although n4a was glad to see that a robust CLASS Act insurance plan was included in the House bill.

We are hopeful that the House bill will be improved in the area of long-term services and supports during conference with the Senate as the process continues. We are interested in hearing what you think about the House bill as we continue to push for our priorities focusing on the core elements of the Project 2020 bill in health reform legislation. To share your feedback, visit n4a’s Advocacy Feedback web page.

Key Provisions of the House Bill

The bill would require most individuals to buy health insurance if they do not get it through their jobs, beginning in 2013. Families with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level could qualify for financial assistance.
Employers with annual payrolls over $500,000 would be required to provide coverage or contribute to a fund for such coverage. It would create an “exchange” in each state where individuals and certain small businesses could shop for insurance policies, and it would create a public insurance plan to compete with offerings from private companies.
Insurance companies could no longer refuse to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions, impose annual or lifetime benefit limits or cancel a policy when someone files expensive claims.
The measure also would expand eligibility for Medicaid to individuals and families with incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level.
Payments under the Medicare Advantage program would be reduced and the Medicare prescription drug program would be enhanced by phasing out the gap in coverage or “doughnut hole.”
The bill contains the provisions of the Community Living Assistance Supports and Services (CLASS) Act to establish a voluntary national long-term care insurance program to help adults who have or develop functional impairments to remain independent, employed, and stay a part of their community.
The bill would impose a tax surcharge of 5.4 percent on couples with gross incomes of more than $1 million and individuals with incomes of more than $500,000, and a 2.5 percent excise tax on the sale or lease of medical devices.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the gross cost of the bill would be almost $1.1 trillion through fiscal 2019, but the net cost, after taxes, fees and penalties are taken into account, would be $894 billion. CBO estimates the bill would actually reduce the deficit by $104 billion, as a result of tax provisions and spending reductions.
The House rule adopted for health care reform also sets up an upcoming debate on a separate measure to change the way Medicare reimburses physicians. The physicians’ pay bill would block a 21 percent reduction in the Medicare payment rates for physician services scheduled for January 2010, and would instead provide for an increase in those payments based on the Medicare economic index. The measure is expected to be considered on the House floor starting next week.

Next Step, the Senate

Action now turns to the Senate, which has been in a bit of a holding pattern on its version of health care reform. Behind the scenes, Democratic leaders are combining the bills passed earlier this year by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee (S. 1679) and the Senate Finance Committee (S. 1796).

While the committees have different jurisdictions, there are points of overlap that will require negotiation before being merged into one Senate bill. Also holding up the process is the wait for the “score” by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) requested a score from CBO in late October, but has not yet received those cost estimates.

The process for Senate passage will differ markedly from the House. Unlike the House’s tightly managed vote with virtually no ability to amend the bill on the floor, the Senate is expected to consider dozens of floor amendments. n4a is working to develop amendments to improve the bill’s prevention and wellness language, as well as incorporate S. 1257, Senator Cantwell’s Project 2020 bill. We will keep you posted as advocacy opportunities arise.

While timing predictions are very difficult to make, it seems that the Senate bill may come to the floor as early as next week, but it is just as likely that it will be early December before debate begins. The White House would like to keep up the momentum and have Congress pass a final bill before the end of the calendar year, but a more reasonable timeline would have a House-Senate compromise brokered over the holidays in order to send a bill to President Obama before his State of the Union address in late January.

à If you have questions or concerns, please contact n4a’s public policy and legislative affairs staff, Amy Gotwals and K.J. Hertz, at 202.872.0888 or agotwals@n4a.org, khertz@n4a.org.

Nutrition Center Saves Lives

Yesterday I had the privelege of traveling to the Carnegie Nutrition Site and giving a budget cut Q&A presentation. I reassured the seniors that their site was not going to be cut anytime soon, but they are still very concerned.

The Greatest Generation (WWII Generation) keeps a stiff upper lip when it comes to hearing about budget cuts and the falling state revenues. They have been there before and have overcome. I will paraphrase the words of one participant, "This center means the world to us, but we will not end if it does. Life goes on."

Still others who have been participating in the senior center for only a few years. But when they come in the doors site the site manager is quick to tell them, "Welcome home."

For participants like Loyd and Stella Davis, the importance of the center is much more dramatic:

"This center has saved our lives." Stella Davis exclaimed. She and her husband were both forced to retire when Loyd's health failed him on the farm. Stella quit her job to become his caregiver. "We thought our lives were over and then we found this place. Loyd died three times in that hospital room, but he pulled through. And now we have a wonderful place to call home. This center saved both of our lives."

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Dibble News November 4 2009

November 2009 Edition

Board of Directors
Eddie Cantrell, Pres. Dale McAskill, V.P.
Arthur Evett Mary Evett
Garland Clark Shirley Rush

Greetings to the Seniors of the Dibble Community!!!

Friday was packed for steak and baked potatoes, as Bill Harmon and Robert Noisy provided music and fun. Lots of stuff in the silent auction and door prizes. Come take a look at the two nearly new lawnmowers!! You need one!!

Remember, our next field trip is Thursday, Nov. 12, as we go have supper and see the Plummer Family Band in Chickasha. Get your name on the list so we can know how many tickets to buy!! Deadline is Friday, Nov. 5th.

During the month of October, we had 70 volunteers donating 2,122 hours. Our food pantry saw 98 families on Friday morning, in need of assistance. Due to increased demand, Regional Food Bank in OKC has changed our food deliveries from 4 to 2 per month, as more people across the state are in need. The times, they are a changin’!! Remember Tuesday, Nov. 19th is Payback Time at Regional Food Bank in OKC. The van will leave the center at 12:30, after lunch. We need young muscles!! We will hopefully be done in time for “Happy Hour” at Sonic on the way back.

Big thanks to Professional Home Care for blood pressure and sugar test on Friday! Our sick list is getting better. Lenora Walkup is recovering from busted ribs and breathing problems. Get well, Lenora!! We are saving the Windex bottle for you!! Also, Leon Calhoun is having issues again. Get well, Leon!! Jerry Vance is OK after surgery on his hand. No new plastic parts, this time! Robert Noisy is better, along with Louise Montgomery. Get well, everyone!!

Eureka!! Lots going on around the country as it appears California is about to legalize marijuana!! I guess the old Baby Boomer hippies are free at last! Their story is that it is for medical use and it really isn’t all that bad if you only use it a little bit. Maybe we should legalize child abuse or nursing home abuse, if you only do it a little bit!!

Sara Palin’s ex-son-in-law to be says he is going to pose in Playgirl Magazine. People will do anything for money!! I wouldn’t pose naked because I wouldn’t want to show the boy up, but for $100, I’ll model my Speedo bathing suit on my John Deere Lawnmower and send you a signed 8X10!!

That being said, I’m regrettably reporting that tragedy has struck me personally. Last month, I had to get some new pants, as mine seem to have shrunk. I’m sad to report that it appears I’m now ½ again around as I am long. Yep, my Levi’s are now size 44 X 30. I did find solace in the fact that my new pants were made in Mexico. Everybody knows those folks are on some metric deal and that’s not the same as American numbers. There again, it proves that if we had card check and repealed NAFTA, we would have American made Levi’s and I would surely be back to my 32 X 30 Levi’s!! I asked our esteemed Vice President, Dale McAskill, if he was with me on this and he said….NO! He said if I would quit eating like a hog, I wouldn’t get fat! Now, there’s a rude individual!! Dale is the only person I have ever known who uses an electric tooth brush to clean his nose!! He ain’t right!!

All for now………………….

Menu
Monday
Tuesday Country Breakfast
Wednesday
Thursday Cook’s Choice
Friday

##
Written by Eddie Cantrell

Dibble Senior Citizens
12219 Fireman’s Road
Dibble, OK 73031

Dates to Remember:
November 11th Veteran’s Day
November 26th Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Duncan North nutrition site budget cut Q&A

Q: How long will this (the budget cuts) last?

A: The current cut was effective November 1 2009 and will last through October 31 2010. ASCOG is working on a plan to return to pre-cut service levels by July 1, 2010. However, DHS has only cut 3% and the Governor has announced that all state agencies will have to cut 5% so DHS will have to cut an addition 2% this fiscal year.

Q: Hasn’t the state recovered from the recession?

A: That is what some economists might be saying. The price of natural gas has gone back up to a more manageable level. But the unemployment is still too high resulting in sales tax and income tax declines in revenue. The state is more than 19% behind funding levels compared to last year. We are continuing to decline in revenues compared to last year.

Q: If the Federal Healthcare Reform passes taxes will go up.

A: Yes they will, but it will vary based on your current income. It is difficult to comment on a bill that changes every day.

Q: I checked into assistance on prescriptions and I could not get assistance if I have savings or property – I do not qualify.

A: Some programs are income and resource based. Title III nutrition programs are not.

Q: Who qualifies for the nutrition program?

A: People aged 60 and older, their spouses, and in special cases disabled people may be eligible. There is no income or resource qualification.

Q: How does the Natural Gas production tax work?

A: Gas...
The Gross Production Tax rate on gas is as follows:

If the average price of Oklahoma gas equals or exceeds Two Dollars and Ten Cents ($2.10) per mcf, the tax shall be seven percent (7%).
If the average price of Oklahoma gas is less than Two Dollars and Ten Cents ($2.10) but is equal to or exceeds One Dollar and Seventy Five Cents ($1.75) per mcf, then the tax shall be four percent (4%).
If the average price of Oklahoma gas is less than One Dollar and Seventy-Five Cents ($1.75) per mcf, then the tax shall be one percent (1%).
http://www.tax.ok.gov/gp2.html

Q: Why did the senior programs get cut at 25.9% while other cuts were much lower?

A: DHS determined that since the senior programs have been “overmatched” with state dollars and they could be cut without losing any federal dollars then they would be cut accordingly. Other programs could not be cut without losing federal dollars. The state still has an overmatch of $1.5 million.

Q: Who made the decision to cut senior programs?

A: DHS Director Howard Hendrick and the DHS commissioners

Monday, November 2, 2009

Letters from Seniors in Purcell area in response to budget cuts

To whom it may concern
Why did you cut senior citizens meal program by 25% ½ of total cut. You could have cut out your mileage and pay your own way to work like have done as long as I worked and I didn’t make any part of the amount as you make.

My wife is in a nursing home and I still have to pay all our utility bills and taxes besides groceries and health insurance.
When election time comes Beware you will be part of the unemployed
John Bourquin

To whom this concerns,
Our senior citizens of Purcell and surrounding communities need our nutrition program. We understand there will be cuts. This would be bad for our seniors because otherwise they would not get a decent meal 5 days a week. I believe there is another way to cut somewhere else besides this program.
We have a good meal each day and wonderful employees who go beyond their duty to make everyone feel welcome and cared about.

Thank you
Douglas and Laura Williams

10-6-09
Wayne, OK 73095
To whom it may concern:
I attend Purcell Senior Citizen Center for lunch. I need this as I am single and do not cook! Please keep us open & at the same rate Please full fund us!

Thanks
Joe Bob Jamro
Retired Teacher
Wanette Schools 1997
Please do not financially cut our senior program. This is a good place for us to eat hot meals and enjoy our friendly get togethers

Thank you
Mildred L Westbrook
10/6/2009

I enjoy the Center because of the Friendly people I meet and the good meals & really enjoy playing games
Pearlie Winthers
10/6/09

I am very unhappy to hear you are cutting our budget. Seem like you could fine someone else to pick on we love our center we old folk enjoy come here every morning

Joyce Sain

Lisa Billy
Legislator
We all enjoy the games and meals at the Purcell Senior Center

Shirley Stark

The center is very important to the people not just for the food but also for getting together for a lot of the people because this is all they might see of people. Also for some this probably the main meal they get.

Mary T Loentor

I enjoy the center because of the friendly people and our very good leader
Bea

To whom it concerns
The senior citizen centers are very Important to our community. If we don’t take care of them who have been here for us now we need to be there for them
Brenda

Dear Sirs,
This Purcell senior center is a very interesting place for me. I live alone & this gives me friends & something to do during the day
Helen Blackstone

To the Legislature
It is very important to the Senior Citizens of Okla. Do not have to suffer through a budget cut. The center are the only place some seniors get a meal for the day. They have put on the back burner long enough. Our children, disabled children & Senior Citizens, should be our first priority
Thank you
Nila & Jimmy Ross

Dear Sir,
I am so thankful for our Purcell senior citizen center, I don’t know what I would do without it. It is such a blessing to me and everyone here. The food the staff that prepares the food are wonderful. They do such a great job not only myself but everyone here needs this place a lot of them would go hungry and end up in nursing homes and they need to be with people we all enjoy each other please keep us coming here each day.
Sincerely Joyce Clinton

Dear Senator
My name is Larry West, and I am righting in hope you will keep our senior citizens centers open. My man is 87 years old. These center help in hard times. This is the only good meal for some seniors for the day. They also help get people out and socialize and meet friends. We owe a lot to our senior citizens and not cut there help in hard times
Larry Lusest

Ref: Senior Citizens
Please keep the senior Program open. Getting together each day means so much to each of us-not only the meal but being together with others of your age means so much and will contribute to our well being. Thanks Kathryn L. Ratliff

To Whom it may Concern
The senior citizen center in Purcell is a very important place for us to meet for various activities and enjoy a great meal. The center would surely be missed for a large number of people.
Please consider leaving this center open we all need it.
Thank you Sincerely
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Thompson 10-6-09

To Whom it may Concern:
Our senior Center here in Purcell is very vital to our community. I have been working(volunteer) here for over a year delivering frozen meals, lunches Etc.
The cooks & Nutrition personal work very hard for us and we need all the help we can get to keep our center going. All the people who we deliver to are very appreciative of our services and believe me, they need their meals. Our seniors should not and do not deserve being cut from any of our benefits.
Hester L. Hughes

I’ve heard about the cut in the nutrition program. It seems like Congress has forgotten about the aging, when they take $ 5,000 raises for themselves
Jacob Cirer Jr

Our aging seniors should not suffer from the state taking our nutrition programs away. Our Purcell Center is vital to our older seniors and we deliver meals to the home bound. Who would suffer greatly
Rudy Crawford

To Whom it may concern:
Please do not cut out the senior meals. Many of us depend on them for our only nutritious meal of the day. Thank you Anita Ballard

I am thrilled to express my thoughts about the senior citizens center and the program for the many activities provided. Most of the time when I get here there are about three tables of card games or dominoes and puzzles in full swing. I deliver lunches to the shut in’s and on what a joy to see and hear the help it is to them.
Mickey

Statewide H1N1 Vaccination Blitz Planned

For Release: November 2, 2009

Contact: Pamela Williams

Office of Communications

405/271-5601

Statewide H1N1 Vaccination Blitz Planned

State Health officials are planning a statewide H1N1 influenza vaccination effort Saturday November 7^th for Oklahomans who fall into one of the priority groups targeted to receive this vaccine.

“We recognize that many Oklahomans are trying to obtain the H1N1 vaccine to protect their children or themselves from this new strain of flu. Although the amount of vaccine that our state has received so far is not enough to meet the demand, our goal is to deliver as many vaccinations as possible November 7^th,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “The H1N1flu virus continues to strike children and pregnant women particularly hard. We encourage people included in the priority groups to continue to seek a vaccination.”

Priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine now include all children ages six months to 18 years, pregnant women, custodial parents of infants less than six months of age, front-line health care workers who have direct patient contact with acutely ill persons, and adults 19 – 64 years of age with chronic disease.

Clinics will be held at multiple locations statewide Saturday, November 7, 2009 for the vaccine priority groups. The time and location of these clinics will be announced later in the week. People seeking vaccinations will be screened to ensure that they meet the priority group definition for H1N1 vaccine.

An additional 93,100 doses of the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine is arriving in the state. The doses include both nasal spray and injectable vaccines. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is projected to receive H1N1 vaccine in weekly shipments through early January 2010.

In addition to providing vaccine through regularly scheduled clinics, county health departments will begin to distribute vaccine to certain private providers with an emphasis on practices that serve children.

For more information about the availability of H1N1 influenza vaccine in your area, call your local county health department or visit www.health.ok.gov, or call the Oklahoma State Department of Health toll-free H1N1 hotline at: 1-866-278-7134. Phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

###

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Nutrition sites come up with plans to serve seniors

Subject: Lawton News Article on Senior Centers Sunday November 1

Nutrition sites come up with plans to serve seniors BY STEVE METZER STAFF WRITERSMETZER @LAWTON -CONSTITUTION .COM Senior nutrition sites in many Southwest Oklahoma communities are coming up with plans to keep senior citizens fed and cared for even as some sites have to furlough employees one day a week because of budget cuts. In some cases, furloughed nutrition site staffers have said they will work at sites without pay. Volunteers also have stepped up, including senior citizens who patronize the sites, along with members of community churches and independent senior centers. Ken Jones, who oversees administration of 32 nutrition sites in Comanche, Caddo, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens and Tillman counties, said the response in communities is a reflection of how much people care about senior nutrition sites and what they provide — not only meals but also valued opportunities for socializing and even welfare checks on shut-ins. "It's incredible," he said. "I've been going around and doing these Q&A sessions, and each site has its own character and they're all remarkable in their own way. In most of these places (nutrition site staffers) are like family." Nose-diving state finances have resulted in millions of dollars being cut from budgets of everything from the Department of Human Services to the state Department of Education. Recently, Jones received notice that the budget of the local Area Agency on Aging would be reduced by more than $500,000. It's quite possible, too, that additional cuts may have to be made in the future. One response has been the organization of a rally planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday on the second floor rotunda of the state Capitol, to raise awareness of cutbacks at nutrition sites. Pot luck replaces meal Another response occurred in Cement, where citizens decided that if no meal would be prepared at the local nutrition site on Fridays, they would replace it with a pot luck meal instead. Another occurred in Frederick, where members of a local independent senior citizens group will provide people to prepare and serve a meal at the nutrition site one day a week. In Carnegie, churches in the town have said they would do whatever it takes to keep the senior nutrition site open. In many local-area communities, like Anadarko and Apache, a portion of county sales tax is dedicated to support senior programs. Jones said money typically goes to pay for rent and utilities at nutrition sites, but it's also spent sometimes on things like decorations or on new appliances. In many of those communities, decisions were made to stretch the tax dollars further to help maintain meal service five days a week. Jones said in his meetings with seniors at the sites, he hasn't met with a lot of anger about cuts; rather, people just want to know what can be done to keep the sites going. Volunteers check on shut-ins "We're going to depend on volunteers," he said. He pointed out that welfare checks are an important part of what nutrition sites do, and even older folks who can't get around well themselves have offered to make phone calls to shut-ins who are neighbors — just doing what they can to help out. At some of the sites, savings will be realized by delivering frozen meals to people or by relying more on canned foods. Though that might not be the most desirable option in all cases, Jones said the important thing is that people will still be fed who need to be fed, and they'll still have people there — whether nutrition site staffers, friends or other neighbors — to check on them.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Volunteer Recruitment Training Announcements: New National Council on Aging (NCOA) Webinar Series!

Engaging Older Volunteers as Leaders in Your Organization

Today's older volunteers have a wealth of knowledge, skills, and professional experience.

Is your organization ready to use them to their fullest potential?

Join NCOA for a new Webinar series on how to engage older volunteers in professional-level roles to help your organization accomplish more. Speakers are grantees from the NCOA RespectAbility Models of Significant Service program. Listen as they share lessons learned on how to recruit and manage older volunteers effectively.

All Webinars are free, but space is limited. You must register for each Webinar separately.

November:

Targeted Marketing & Recruitment of Capacity-Building 55+ Volunteers
Thursday, Nov. 5, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Gajtana Simonovski & Kay Oppenheimer, Community Service Society of New York RSVP
Discover:
•What makes an excellent recruitment ad
•The characteristics of 55+ volunteers
•How to write compelling marketing and recruitment messages
•Where to send your message for maximum impact
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/vbs7zkc8h3iq

How to Grow Your Programs by Engaging Older Professional Leadership Volunteers
Thursday, Nov. 12, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Liesl Slabaugh & Bill James, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
Discover:
•Compelling reasons to engage older professional-level volunteers in leadership roles
•Examples of how older volunteers can significantly increase your nonprofit's capacity
•Keys to successfully implementing a volunteer program at your organization
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yf4ju7cwgdkk

RSVP Capacity Corps Replication Guide
Monday, Nov. 9, 1-2 p.m. EST
Thursday, Nov. 19, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Ken Murray & Paddy Clark, Southern Maine Agency on Aging
Discover:
•How to recruit volunteers with significant management and professional experience to assist
your organization with leadership-level projects
•What these volunteers can bring to your organization—and why it's worthwhile to engage them
•How an RSVP or Volunteer Center can recruit and place these volunteers in its service area
Register now for Nov. 9. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yf4ju7cwgdkk
Register now for Nov. 19. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/e6aanlaqhe36

Successes & Challenges in Implementing a Civic Engagement Program for Older Adults
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST
Speakers: Liz Rottger & Linda Davis, Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin
Discover:
•How one nonprofit created a proactive group of 50+ professionals to collaborate with the
social sector to develop challenging opportunities for older volunteers
•The challenges of establishing a civic engagement program for older adults
•Successful civic engagement strategies for attracting a corps of highly skilled volunteer
professionals
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/i3hc1dgqkzab

December:

How to Create Effective Partnerships
Thursday, Dec. 3, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speaker: Ann Rich, Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative
Discover:
•Why partnerships are important, particularly now
•Types of partnerships—and what to look for in a potential partner
•The "do's and don'ts" of effective partnerships
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/uo7ltnqzhn25

Organizational Culture: Getting Your Nonprofit Ready for Leadership Volunteers
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speaker: Lisa Ferretti, ExcelleShare & Gajtana Simonovski, CSSNY
Discover:
•Strategies for addressing staff resistance to leadership volunteers
•How to choose projects that promote joint volunteer and staff planning and implementation
•How to recognize and celebrate organizational change as a sign of growth and increased
capacity
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/imcs4q6gssd1

Tips for Recruiting & Engaging Leadership-Level Volunteers
Monday, Dec. 7, 1-2 p.m. EST
Friday, Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Ken Murray & Paddy Clark, Southern Maine Agency on Aging
Discover:
•Messages that attract volunteers with significant professional and management experience
•Venues and methods of delivering those messages
•Ways to work with professional-level older volunteers to build success
Register now for Dec. 7. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/osec37587mzk
Register now for Dec. 11. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/b76m2k0j5xrk

January:

How to Put Together a Successful Volunteer Training Curriculum for 50+ Leadership Volunteers
Friday, Jan. 8, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speaker: Ann Rich, Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative
Discover:
•Topics for a volunteer leadership development training program for 50+ adults
•How these topics differ from a traditional volunteer curriculum
•Effective ways to encourage learning, participation, and empowerment among 50+ volunteers
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5ck8c08s5lw3

How to Grow Your Programs by Engaging Older Professional Leadership Volunteers
Thursday, Jan. 21, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Liesl Slabaugh & Bill James, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
Discover:
•Compelling reasons to engage older professional-level volunteers in leadership roles
•Examples of how older volunteers can significantly increase your nonprofit's capacity
•Keys to successfully implementing a volunteer program at your organization
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/hg4b4d82g5pm

Making Your Organization "Boomer-Friendly"
Friday, Jan. 22, 1-2 p.m. EST
Speakers: Liz Rottger & Linda Davis, Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin
Discover:
•How to use your rolodex, social network, and the Internet to recruit highly skilled
potential volunteers
•How to use interviews to explore the skills and background of potential volunteers
•How to develop explicit job descriptions and work plans that measure outcomes and impact
•How to develop trust by involving volunteers in planning their own work
Register now. https://cc.readytalk.com/r/ihske4rjdrtv

Dibble Senior Citizens News October 28

Dibble Senior Citizens News

Greetings to the Seniors of the Dibble Community!!!

We have arranged for May’s Home Health to come on Friday, 10/23, to give flu shots again. Last time, we ran out of vaccine. Be at the center at 10:30 and bring your Medicare card or you will pay $20.00.

Our sick list is improved, with folks on the mend. This is especially a hard time of the year for seniors on Medicare Part D, as some will fall into the doughnut hole on their prescription drugs. For those of you who don’t know, that means seniors have to pay 100% of their medication until January 1, 2010!!! Sometimes, that is more than their entire retirement check!!

Oh, well, everyone has their own sad story to tell. Those Wall Street CEO’s are getting flack over their big bonuses at tax payer’s expense and that Limbaugh fellow can’t buy the Rams football team, so what’s such a big deal about floating seniors down the river on a fast log at the end of the year?

Remember Tuesday, Nov. 10th, is Payback Time at Regional Food Bank. We will leave at 12:00 noon from the center. Be there or be square!! Remember, we will be voting on Friday as to where we will go on our next field trip!! If you want a voice in this decision, get your hand in the air!!!

Our report for September is as follows: 714 Senior meals, including Meals on Wheels; 416 food baskets given out to subsidize food budgets, averaging 104 per week.

All for now…………………….

Menu
Monday Hamburger and French Fries
Tuesday Country Breakfast
Wednesday Beef Pot Pie
Thursday Cook’s Choice
Friday Steak and Baked Potato

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Nutrition sites get cut

Meals reduced from five days a week to four

BY STEVE METZER
STAFF WRITER
SMETZER @LAWTON -CONSTITUTION .COM

Concerns are rising in small towns across Oklahoma and at the state Capitol about funding cuts for local senior nutrition sites.
The sites provide meals for tens of thousands of Oklahomans each day and are considered vital pieces of the social fabric of many communities. They’re administered by Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) with state and federal funds channeled through the Oklahoma Department of HumanServices. A precipitous decline in state revenues over the past year resulted in a recent cut in funding for senior nutrition programs of $7.4 million. The budget hit, due to take effect Nov. 1, for the AAA that administers 32 nutrition sites in Comanche, Caddo, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens and Tillman counties amounted to $502,309, according to its director, Ken Jones.
Jones said more than $53,000 of the cut was absorbed by the staff at the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments, which oversees the local AAA. The remainder of the cut had to be passed on to 10 projects administered by the AAA, including:
n Comanche County Nutrition, cut by $99,584 from $427,555 down to $327,971;
n Tri-County Nutrition, cut by $210,000 from $886,690 down to $677,990; and
n Delta Nutrition, cut by $126,701 from $540,913 down to $414,212.
Smaller cuts affected Lawton’s Center for Creative Living, senior centers in Grandfield, Tuttle, Minco and Tipton, the Great Plains Caregiver program and a Legal Aid program for seniors.
None of the local-area nutrition sites have been closed, but Jones said all 16 of the sites in the Tri-County Nutrition Program area have already reduced meal service from five days a week to four days a week. The Delta Program has reduced staff by one at each of its nine sites.
The decline in state finances, brought on by a severe downturn in oil and gas production taxes and other taxes and revenues affected by the bad economy gripping the nation, has resulted in cuts at every level of state government, impacting everything from spending on education to substance abuse treatment. But perceptions that cuts at nutrition sites may leave some senior citizens going hungry have been especially hard for some to take. State Sen. Patrick Anderson, REnid, called Wednesday for Gov. Brad Henry to use “discretionary funds” that he controls related to the federal stimulus to shore up nutrition program funding.
“I can’t think of a better use for the governor’s discretionary money than to help ensure that our seniors don’t have to go without a meal,” Anderson said in a press release.
Three Lawton-area lawmakers said Friday that they wouldn’t be opposed to exploring such an option to benefit nutrition sites, though some pointed out that applying money tied to the federal stimulus could result in an offset of other federal dollars coming into the programs.
Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon, and Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, said another option might be to tap the state’s Rainy Day Fund, though both said they would favor only very targeted use of the fund. Such an action would require the governor to call a special session of the Legislature, supported by leaders in both the House and Senate.
“If they call a special session, I certainly would be one to advocate for nutrition sites,” Barrington said. He pointed out, though, that with the state’s finances declining by hundreds of millions of dollars the Rainy Day Fund would not be large enough to offset all of the across-the-board cuts at state agencies.
Armes agreed. While he would favor tapping the fund to shore up senior nutrition sites, he would discourage using it in many other areas.
“This economy and this budget situation are very real,” Armes said, “and we don’t know if next year might be worse.”
Added Rep. Corey Holland, R-Marlow: “Every Oklahoman should face the reality that there are some tough days ahead. To be perfectly honest, I fear agencies have more and bigger cuts to make in the future. The Oklahoma Constitution requires a balanced budget. We cannot go into debt like the federal government continues to do. We have to spend only what we have. Revenues are down around 30 percent compared to last year. If that continues, agencies will have to balance the budget by making more cuts or the Legislature would have to dramatically increase taxes. Those are our options.”
Holland said he has received a handful of letters and e-mails and met with “probably a dozen” constituents who don’t want to see nutrition sites cut, and he said spreading cuts out a little more across the DHS may be yet another way of lessening the negative impact on seniors.
“(But) at this point it looks as if the cuts will go into effect,” he said. “The senior nutrition sites should certainly plan for that reality. I am hopeful that a resolution might be developed in the near future, but there is the real possibility that it will not happen as long as our state revenues continue to decline.”

Thursday, October 22, 2009

When the Times Get Hard, Bray Gets Going

Earl Lavey and about 40 volunteers from the Town of Bray work hard to distribute food to over 200 area families in need.

With donations from the Oklahoma Food Bank and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the seniors at Bray Senior Center along with dozens of volunteers from the community, including students from Bray-Doyle School and developmentally delayed students from Marlow work together to make the Bray food bank a success. Thousands of man hours and the cooperation from local businesses make this effort possible.

The Bray Senior Center is a shining example of what can be done during a time of financial crisis. Through volunteerism they are able to make every dollar count.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) advice - Census

From: Cox, Shirley
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:35 AM
Subject: Better Business Bureau (BBB) advice - Census

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice.

Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.
However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.

Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

Shirley A. Cox MSW, JD

Legal Services Developer

Oklahoma Department of Human Services, ASD

2401 N.W. 23rd St. Ste. 40

Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2422

(405) 522-3069

(405) 522-6738 (fax)

Shirley.Cox@okdhs.org

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Democratic Caucus Demands Redress in Senior Nutrition Program Funding « Oklahoma House Democrats

Democratic Caucus Demands Redress in Senior Nutrition Program Funding

2009 October 7

tags: House Democratic Caucus, House surplus, Senior Nutrition Program, tax cuts

by okhousedems

While the din and dismay over cuts to the state's nutrition program budget escalates, the House Democratic Caucus calls attention to priorities under Republican leadership.

"Just a few years ago we enacted the largest tax cuts in Oklahoma history, which provided a windfall for those who needed it least and hampered the state's ability to provide our most basic public services," said Floor Leader Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah. "What we're witnessing with these cuts to our meal-delivery programs and other state functions is the natural evolution of these tax policies." In 2006 the largest tax cuts in state history were enacted, and the state's top marginal income tax rate was greatly reduced. Since the implementation of these tax cuts, state revenue has decreased by almost $1 billion dollars and counting.

"There was absolutely no trickle-down benefit in providing these tax cuts to the wealthiest households – it provided little to no help for most working families," said Democratic Leader-Elect Scott Inman, D-Del City. "And now our elderly are bearing the brunt of these policies as they look for assistance in the most basic of necessities. Many who rely on and survive by meal-delivery services will now be looking at empty plates as we approach the winter months."

Representative Jerry McPeak, D-Warner succinctly summed up his position with the following statement, "Here's the truth – the Republicans cut taxes for the rich; people should know that is why old folks will not be eating."

As senior nutrition programs across the state face a critical lack of funding, House leadership holds a surplus capable of shoring up the nutrition program's deficit of $7.4 million. As these millions sit unused, the Democratic Caucus calls on House Republican leadership for a more responsible and ultimately more ethical use of taxpayer money by funding meal delivery programs.

"We have almost a $7 million surplus in the House, which could be used at this critical time – why isn't it?" said Floor Leader Brown.

from → Press Releases

AARP Indian Elder Honors

AARP Seeks Nominations for Indian Elder Honors;

Deadline October 31^st

AARP Oklahoma continues to seek nominations for its 2009 Indian Elder Honors. The association says it will recognize older American Indians for the impact they have had on their respective tribe and/or Oklahoma at an event in Oklahoma City later this year.

Deadline for nomination is October 31^st.

To make a nomination:

In 250 words or less, describe how the person nominated has made a positive difference on his or her respective tribe and/or the state of Oklahoma. Please include the full contact information (telephone number, e-mail address and mailing address) of both the person nominated and the person making the nomination. Nominations without full contact information will not be considered. E-mail nominations to: cedavis@aarp.org . Regular mail nominations can be sent to: AARP Indian Elder Honors, 126 North Bryant, Edmond, OK 73034.

Rules

AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honorees must be over the age of 50 and must be a member of one of the 37-federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma. Honorees must not be deceased and need not be a member of AARP. Selection of honorees will be determined solely at the discretion of an anonymous selection committee. There is no cash award for this honor.

-30-

October 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Craig E. Davis

Associate State Director

405-715-4473

cedavis@aarp.org

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Dibble Senior Citizens News October 20

Letter to the Governor from James Fullerton

October 8, 2009

Dear Governor Henry
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73150

I was saddened and alarmed after being informed that the Department of Human Services is considering deep and unjustified budget cuts to the Senior Citizen Nutrition Center program.

The Nutrition Program is an essential part of the life style of many of Oklahoma’s Senior Citizens It brings to them healthful and nutritious meals. Many of the clients have no skills in food preparation or have no kitchen equipment to prepare meals let alone money for food stuffs.

The Nutrition Program provides the basic food groups that help senior citizens to maintain healthy bodies and avoid immune deficiencies.

Nutrition Program cutbacks will only lead to additional health and long term care costs for the elderly here in Oklahoma.

Please consider supporting full funding for the Nutrition Center Programs.

Best wishes,

James M. Fullerton
Silver Haired Legislature Senator
Silver Haired Legislature President Pro Tempore (Elect)
Lawton, Oklahoma

Friday, October 16, 2009

Stay Healthy in Retirement With Work

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Stay Healthy in Retirement With Work

People who continue to work after retirement have fewer diseases and fewer functional limitations than people who quit completely, a study shows.

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Legislative Update: The Road Ahead for Health Reform

October 16, 2009

The Road Ahead for Health Reform;

President Proposes Another Round of $250 Social Security Payments

Health Care Reform

A significant step forward for health care reform was made this week by the Senate Finance Committee, which voted 14-9 on Tuesday to approve that committee’s bill. Despite months of negotiations with Republican committee members to enlist their support, Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) ultimately earned just one Republican vote: Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) voted to approve the measure.

Democratic leaders and the White House remain determined to advance a health reform bill this fall, despite the continuing political and timing challenges. Here is a quick overview of what happens next.

What Happens Next, Procedurally?

The just-approved Senate Finance Committee bill is already being merged, painfully but as quickly as possible, with the bill passed by the Senate HELP Committee back in July. The merged bill will then need to be brought to the Senate floor for at least a week or two of debate before coming to a vote.

Meanwhile, the House’s merged bill, based on the work of three different committees earlier this year, is undergoing final tweaks to best prepare it for success on the House floor. The House Rules Committee has started its work to determine how many and which amendments can be offered, how much time is reserved for debate, etc.

If the Senate and House pass their respective bills, the next step is a conference committee made up of key leaders from both chambers, who will face the task of working out the differences between the bills. Those lawmakers will not only have to fight for their party’s and chamber’s priorities, but also keep an eye on what will be able to pass both chambers, yet again.

If a conference deal is struck, that measure has to be passed by the Senate and House before being sent to the President for final approval with his signature.

Democrats also have another procedural tool at their disposal should they be unable to garner the 60 votes needed in the Senate to block a filibuster. Through a budgetary process known as “budget reconciliation,” Senate leaders could advance legislation with a simple majority of 51 votes; however, the scope of the legislation would have to be limited to provisions that have budget implications, which could exclude some facets of health reform such as consumer protections. This week, a House committee approved a measure that could be used as a vehicle for health reform within the budget reconciliation process. As a revenue measure, however, the Constitution prescribes that the full House of Representatives would have to approve the bill before it could be considered by the Senate.

Want a visual? See this handy flow chart published in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/10/08/GR2009100803080.html#

When Will It Move?

From the start of this 111^th Congress and new Administration in January, the timeline for health care reform legislation has been unusually ambitious. Despite numerous inevitable set-backs along the way, it is still feasible that a bill could reach the President’s desk by the end of December.

Here are the latest estimates on timing:

End of October/Early November: Merged Finance-HELP bill comes to Senate floor for one to two weeks of debate

Weeks of November 2 and 16: House considers its bill for two weeks; the other two November weeks are planned Veterans Day and Thanksgiving recesses

Early to Mid-December: Finalization of conference bill (which would have informally started in November) and floor votes in both chambers. Leaders have already warned lawmakers to expect to work deep into December.

And What is in the Bill, Anyway?

As House and Senate leaders work to negotiate merged health care reform bills for floor consideration, there are several critical differences that they will need to resolve. Overall, each of the health reform bills would take major steps to expand access to health insurance coverage and make it more affordable for low-income Americans through expanded Medicaid eligibility. The measures would improve quality, restrain health care costs, expand prevention and wellness services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and create a new voluntary, government-run insurance program for long-term services and supports (i.e., the CLASS Act).

The measures take differing approaches on whether to provide a “public option” along with private plans and, if so, whether to base the public option on Medicare rates or rates negotiated with providers. Meanwhile, another proposal would take a more moderate approach, creating new insurance cooperatives to offer an alternative to private plans as opposed to a government-run insurance plan. Some have also proposed a “trigger” that would create a government-run option in states where at least 5 percent of residents lacked access to affordable care. There are also key differences on whether to require employers to offer health insurance coverage to their employees or instead require employers to pay a portion of any subsidies their workers receive from the government to purchase insurance.

What is not in the bill at this point is a “fix” to the payment structure by which doctors and other medical providers are reimbursed by Medicare. The sustainable growth rate (SGR) was a device developed years ago to address increasing costs in Medicare, but the resulting decreases in the reimbursement rates are usually put on ice by lawmakers. Democratic leaders recently announced plans to address the planned 2010 cuts to reimbursement rates outside of health care reform legislation. The Senate will take up one measure early next week.

As reported in past Legislative Updates, our next advocacy opportunity to advance Project 2020 will be via floor amendments. Project 2020 champion Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has said she will offer S. 1257 as an amendment when the bill comes to the Senate floor. n4a will keep you informed as that process unfolds, but if you want to take action now, please see our October 8 Advocacy Alert.

Economic Recovery Social Security Payments

Yesterday, President Barack Obama asked Congress to legislate a second round of $250 economic recovery payments to Social Security recipients in 2010. This year’s stimulus bill (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA) included those payments, which went out to all Social Security beneficiaries in the summer. The President is now urging Congress to authorize a repeat of that program for the coming year, citing continued economic hardship among the Social Security population.

The $250 figure is equivalent to approximately 2 percent of the average annual Social Security retirement benefit. It is estimated that the cost of this proposal is $13 billion. This is the White House’s first ARRA extension request. The announcement came on the heels of the news that there will be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2010, given the country’s negative inflation rate.

n4a is supportive of the President’s plan. “Older adults struggling to make ends meet in this recession will be directly aided by this relief, and we hope the expenditure of these payments will have a stimulative effect on the economy, as well. Given the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment in 2010 for Social Security recipients, this one-time payment will be especially helpful to those living on a fixed income. As a result of the recession, Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs have seen a direct and dramatic increase in the demand by older adults in their communities for emergency and supportive services. We look forward to working with Congress to advance this proposal, and thank the Administration for its leadership,” said Sandy Markwood, n4a CEO.

à If you have questions or concerns, please contact n4a’s public policy and legislative affairs staff, Amy Gotwals and K.J. Hertz, at 202.872.0888 or agotwals@n4a.org, khertz@n4a.org.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Friday, December 4, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Senior says he may do without meal

BY ROBERT FOXSTAFF WRITERRFOX@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM

County nutrition sites face cuts

Program takes 25 percent cut in state funding; may face more

BY ROBERT FOXSTAFF WRITER RFOX@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM

Friday, November 13, 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Nutrition sites come up with plans to serve seniors

BY STEVE METZER STAFF WRITERSMETZER@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Nutrition sites get cut

Meals reduced from five days a week to four

BY STEVE METZERSTAFF WRITERSMETZER@LAWTON-CONSTITUTION.COM

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Democratic Caucus Demands Redress in Senior Nutrition Program Funding

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009

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Oklahoma SPLASH Line!

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