ITEM 2. A PROPOSAL TO MINIMIZE THE HARDSHIPS ENCOUNTERED BY THE AGED 1. Establishment of a minimum living cost base yearly, fluctuating with the Consumer Price Index to take care of inflation. 2. Identification of all those above 65 years of age subsisting below this base. This can be done by the Internal Revenue Service on receipt of Income Tax Reports. 3. That the I. R. S. provide such persons with an Identification Card to identify them as earning less than the prescribed minimum base. 4. That this card enable card holders to obtain a graduated discount on all living costs including taxes in any form, such discounts to increase with age, for example: 5. That discounts may also increase to the degree to which the card holder's income is below the established base. 6. That the Federal and State governments share in paying for such discounts as they do for transportation, education etc. Sincerely, SAMUEL ROSENBERG, Editor, "Newsletter." Appendix 4 STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE HEARING AUDIENCE During the course of the hearing a form was made available by the committee to those attending who wished to make suggestions and recommendations but were unable to testify because of time limitations. The form read as follows: If there had been time for everyone to speak at the hearing on "Barriers to Health Care for Older Americans," in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on May 25, 1974, I would have said: The following replies were received: LINDA V. MARTINEZ, LAS VEGAS, N. MEX. Mr. Larry Brown, director of Social Service Agency, mentioned the survey which he said was done or rather filled out by caseworkers throughout the State. Well, I am a caseworker with a case load of 168 boarding home residents. I was given the surveys in October. First of all I would like to say that I feel this survey would have been very beneficial, however, our local agency wasn't even given the correct procedure or directions on how to properly fill out the survey form. Secondly, most of my boarding home residents were not even capable of giving me the information needed. And even if they would have mentioned their unhappiness with the home and their need for more care, their intimidating boarding home operator would have "reprimanded" them for it later. One more point-if caseworkers are to adequately conduct a survey such as this, I feel they should be trained or at least versed on "problems of the aging," including isolation, health problems, et cetera. Thanks for listening to us. I am the only caseworker for 168 boarding home residents who live in 32 boarding homes. Despite what many testified today about how there are really not too many problems in or with the boarding homes-I would like to say "bunk." I provide services for these people in the boarding homes and even though I am at the "bottom of the totem pole." I can truly say from working with these people that they are unjustly treated. I could give you many examples. Please feel free to call upon me if you should desire any examples. ALBERT VALLEGOS, LAS VEGAS, N. MEX. I am director of the Las Vegas-San Miguel Senior Citizens title III program. We provide a senior center with recreational activities for the elderly in the Las Vegas area. We provide limited transportation in and around Las Vegas to program activities, to medical facilities, and to other agencies dealing with elderly needs. We also provide in Las Vegas, a 50-meal-per-day meal program for the elderly. Our transportation program consists of one van and one five-passenger sedan. Our problems as I see them include the need for more facilities for the elderly, like senior centers and services for the elderly especially those living in rural areas. We have a large geographical area in San Miguel County and in order to begin to provide some of the essential services needed by the elderly, we need more transportation. Some of our participants come from boarding homes and many complaints about the treatment they get there, including lack of proper nutrition meals, and recreational activities. I feel part of the boarding home problems could be taken care of by State government, mainly licensing division. Many boarding home clients are not getting the essential everyday needs that most of us take for granted. I am a member of the Task Force on Aging for district II which will later become the advisory committee for the new triple A. As you know NCNMEDD received a grant from the New Mexico Commission for planning. Once the plan is approved NCNMEDD will become the triple A for the district. My concern is that the funding level for the next fiscal year for district II is being reduced by $86,000. The number of elderly in the area has increased considerably and yet the funds are being reduced. Even though the Commission on Aging and NCNMEDD were aware that we were going to be cut since last January or February they have had us doing extensive planning to increase services in areas where expansion is needed and providing services in areas where they currently are nonexistent. There is nothing wrong with long-range planning, however, many elderly and other people have been involved in this plan and were led to believe that completion of this plan would mean additional services for the elderly as well as new programs in areas where they are now urgently needed, but do not exist. The reduction of $86,000 in fund for the district means that not only there will not be an expansion of services provided, but that there will be a reduction. For example our program in Las Vegas will be cut down about 37 percent of the Federal funds we're now receiving. Concerning the new triple A, I feel that it is not, at least at the present time, too concerned about receiving the funds for the district and becoming the triple A, even though the amount they will receive is considerably less than the district now has under the Commission on Aging. I also feel that the Federal law, concerning advisory councils or committees need to be strengthened to state that the action and recommendations of the advisory council on aging to the triple A must be taken into account before a policy decision is made by the triple A. The triple A (NCNMEDD) board now can override any input or recommendation made by the advisory council without consulting the advisory council and without any justification. The Triple A was not even concerned enough to be at this hearing. I would also like to remind the Senator that there is a title V in the Older Americans Act that need funding. MEL ORTIZ, SANTA FE, N. MEX. Our society St. Vincent De Paul are very much involved with all people in need including our Senior Citizens. The matter of transportation and drugs has been pretty well covered and I favor a program paying for all drugs in totalalso transportation especially in northern New Mexico where no public city or county transportation is available to get from one little town to a health clinic or doctor many miles away is a must in priority for all the poor and in particular for the aged. Many of our older citizens that live in there own homes are always needy of help to do minor repairs to the home, yard, plumbing etc. For a person on Social Security to call a plumber or other professional to do a repair job at their home would mean half of their monthly income would be gone, at least. We in our society of St. Vincent De Paul try and help in this area plus all other needs. Our working income is derived from donation at church one Sunday each month. On the matter of the son or daughter to take over the duty of caring for a parent. I favor this very much. It has been my experience however, that, a son or daughter willing to take the responsibility are penalized. My mother-in-law as an example was widowed and ill so we brought her to live with us free of any expense. We my wife and I had five children and at that time my income was not too great. We tried to get the Department of Welfare in our state to help her with medication, doctor and hospital bills if any were incurred, because her Social Security income was about $32.00 per month. The only way they would help was if she went out and rented her own place, live alone, etc. This is finally what she did thus costing the tax payer an additional out lay of cash for rent and utilities. The State of New Mexico allows $38.00 towards rent and $18.00 for utilities under their welfare program-How ridiculous! Give the son or doughter a decent tax break and pick up the tab for all medical help needed and I feel you will find the parent being cared for by the immediate family rather than a nursing home. Make the Senior Citizen eligible for food stamps as an individual even though being cared for by their children who most likely is already overspending their household budget on food for the family without considering a father or mother on permanent basis. I hope and pray to our Lord something good will come out of this hearing and feel free to call on me for help in this direction. TROY A. NEWCOME, WHITE ROCK, N. MEX. Having served 31⁄2 years as a member of the New Mexico Commission on Aging, I had the opportunity to visit several boarding homes and two nursing homes and I found the service and sanitary conditions deplorable. In 1972, through the combined efforts of the State Commission on Aging and other senior citizen groups, there was a law passed to set up standards of inspection and licensing of boarding homes which to date have been found inadequate and should be enforced more fully. There are not enough qualified inspectors to enforce this law as it now stands. I believe with more funding and more qualified people directing this program it could be one of the finest in the country. With the backing of the fine senior citizen groups and Commission on Aging this can be accomplished. JO ROYBAL HOGUE (MRS. EUGENE), SANTA FE, N. MEX. Enclosed are some clippings which concern the boarding homes in New Mexico.1 They are self-explanatory. I have exhausted every avenue for help. After my exposé, the people who ran the boarding houses forbade me to enter the premises. And since I had no official title, they were within their rights. My friend Miguel Archibeque is now dead. On his deathbed, his last request was that I continue to seek help for the senior citizens. Gentlemen, how can I help you help these poor forgotten souls? 1 Retained in committee files. о |