Appendix 3. Report prepared by Mrs. Edna Morris, Van Buren County Pag (Iowa) Commission on Aging.... 14 Appendix 4. Statements submitted by the hearing audience: Anderson, Raymond, Fairfield, Iowa--- 14 Barker, Bernadine, Keosauqua, Iowa Bates, Bernadine, Fairfield, Iowa---- Evans, Mary S., Fairfield, Iowa.. Fulton, Harry and Willa, Fairfield, Iowa---- Fulton, Willa Huston, Fairfield, Iowa___ Garrison, Mr. and Mrs. Orval, Ottumwa, Iowa. Gilmer, Ethel, Fairfield, Iowa.. Glines, Mildred, Fairfield, Iowa- 14 Hickenbottom, Chester and Florence_ 148 Hill, Ferne, Fairfield, Iowa-- 148 Hite, Frances and Harold, Fairfield, Iowa-- 148 Hollister, Rhoda, Fairfield, Iowa. 149 Horton, Esther, Fairfield, Iowa. 149 Johnson, Walt, Fairfield, Iowa.. 149 Ketcham, Carl B., Fairfield, Iowa.. 149 Koch, Mr. and Mrs. John, Fairfield, Iowa.. 149 La Rue, Bill, Fairfield, Iowa- 150 Lent, Cecil J., Leighton, Iowa.. 150 Lothrop, Jennie, Fairfield, Iowa 150 Martin, Glenn, Fairfield, Iowa---. 150 Mitchell, Catherine, Fairfield, Iowa__ 150 Nelson, Beverly, Fairfield, Iowa-- 151 Nicholson, Kathryn M., Fairfield, Iowa. 151 Osborn, Esther, Centerville, Iowa... 151 Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Ray, Batavia, Iowa. 151 Pearson, Ruth E., Fairfield, Iowa__ 151 151 Rajametts, Sofia__ 151 Ray, Ruby, Fairfield, Iowa__. 152 Riley, Bertha E., Fairfield, Iowa-- 152 Riley, Maxine, Fairfield, Iowa---- 152 Robinson, Laverne, Ottumwa, Iowa. 152 Salts, Eva M., Fairfield, Iowa- 152 Sines, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Centerville, Iowa.. 153 Spielman, Bertha, Fairfield, Iowa. 153 Weaver, C. J., Fairfield, Iowa.. 153 Wood, Willis, Fairfield, Iowa.. 153 Wood, Zelma____ Workman, Stanley and Gladys, Fairfield, Iowa-- 153 153 154 THE NATION'S RURAL ELDERLY MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1976 U.S. SENATE, SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING, The committee met at 2:10 p.m., pursuant to notice, in the Indian Also present: Deborah K. Kilmer, professional staff member; David Harf, legislative assistant to Senator Clark; Margaret S. Fayé, miDority professional staff member; and Donna M. Gluck, resource assistant. OPENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR DICK CLARK, PRESIDING Senator CLARK. The meeting will please come to order. There is a larger crowd than we thought would be here and I know that the machine makes a little noise, so it may be difficult for some of you to hear. We are trying to get a microphone for the witnesses, and I will try to speak up as best I can. If we can get a microphone, that will be helpful. I have 3- or 4-minute statement that I want to make at the beginning about the nature of the hearing. We have two panels this afternoon, and while I am doing that perhaps the first panel could come on up to the table. The first is a panel on transportation. Edward S. McMillin, the State legislative Council, American Association of Retired Persons, Inc., here in OtTumwa; Dr. Albert Burrows, professor of sociology at Penn College in Oskaloosa, and a member of the State Advisory Committee on Aging; and Ben Grismore, from Corydon. If they will come right on up here, we will start the hearing. I want to say at the outset that I am particularly happy to be here in Ottumwa for this meeting which is an official hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging. The hearing will probably be over at about 4 o'clock. We will have the two panels, and following those we will give people an opportunity to make statements or ask questions up until 4 o'clock. As you see on my left, a stenographer will record everything that is being said and we will issue a printed transcript of these proceedings. If you want a copy of what has been said here today, please leave Your name and address with anybody here at the center and indicate that you want a copy of the printed hearings and we will be happy to supply those. SIX HEARINGS BEING HELD Our subject at the six hearings that we are holding in the State of Iowa and outside the State-we are holding some of these hearings in Nebraska and South Dakota, as well as Iowa-is "The Nation's Rura Elderly." We are interested principally in programs as they affec rural areas, and by "rural areas," I simply mean communities the siz of Ottumwa and smaller, with particular reference to the smalles communities. So that is what we are emphasizing, not simply problems of the elderly, but problems of the rural elderly and what unique kinds o problems people face as they grow older in the small towns. I suggested that such hearings be held about 1 year ago because it is my judgment that we cannot hope to know what is happening in rura America if we simply stay in Washington. That is why we are coming out to smaller communities in various parts of the country. The chairman of this committee, Senator Frank Church of Idaho agreed with this suggestion and so we are holding these hearings in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. I want to keep my own statement brief because we want to emphasize the questions, particularly, on transportation, and our second panel is going to be talking more specifically about employment programs. Let me sum up a few points that I think ought to be made. One of the prime objectives of these hearings is to determine the responsiveness and practical help that is provided to the rural elderly by programs such as the Older Americans Act, the medicare programs, and the housing programs. I remember visiting some of the housing programs here in Ottumwa some time ago-transportation assistance, programs of that kind, the multipurpose centers such as this. These are the Federal programs that are in existence and we would like to have your reaction as to whether they are working or whether they are not working-what we ought to be doing differently, and what we are doing right. That is really the purpose of the hearing. There is a real need for this kind of evaluation, I think, because we failed to do what we said we were going to do in the 1971 White House Conference on Aging. We set some very good goals, but we are a long way yet from reaching them. we have not yet arrived at a national policy on aging, particularly as it regards rural issues. Part of the lag has been caused by a lack of leadership, I think, both in the executive branch and in the Congress. The fact is that we still have a great number of elderly peopleabout 8 million, to be exact, which is more than one-quarter of our entire population-60 years and older who are from rural areas. In some States, I might say, that percentage is much higher-as high as 50 percent. Here in Iowa it is about 45 percent. TRANSPORTATION: THE KEY So there are major needs in rural America and we are going to be talking here in Ottumwa today-listening, I should say-first about transportation. Now it does not stretch anyone's imagination to realize that in rural areas transportation is particularly important. It does not really matter much what the Federal, State, or local government provides if it is not accessible to anybody. What good is health care if you cannot get to it? What good is any service if it is not accessible? Transportation is really a key to the problems of rural services. For many elderly without an automobile or bus, there is no way to cash their retirement checks; no way to see doctors; no way to pick up prescription drugs; and no way to go to and from the grocery store. And yet, we are told by experts that even though rural areas depend more on an effective transportation system than urban areas, rural residents are losing access to any kind of system faster than other areas. In the past 15 years, nearly 150 bus companies have gone out of business in cities with less than 25,000 people. So what do our rural elderly do? If they do not have family or friends to drive them for necessary appointments and errands, they simply stay home-stay home and become more and more isolated, unhealthy, and literally homebound. The Ottumwa area has been more fortunate than some other areas of the country because of the 10-county bus program you have operating for the elderly. With support from the State office on aging and other agencies, there is one bus operating in each county to serve the needs of the elderly residents. But is this sufficient? Are individuals able to get direct, door-to-door service? Are schedules convenient for the riders' needs? We hope to explore these questions today. Our other topic of focus today will be employment programs for the ader worker. The employment situation for younger workers has improved recently, but the jobless rate for the older worker is still too low. The number of unemployed persons 55 or older has actually increased lately despite our modest economic recovery. The second panel today will discuss several special employment programs for older workers that exist in this area. We will hear how such programs assist the older person in supplementing his or her small retirement check. I am sure we will also hear how employment opportunities for the older worker are vital means for keeping the person active and productive. This is a virtue that most elderly desire above all else to feel needed. I am sure our witnesses will convey this point. Finally, I'd like to say that in the Older Americans Act programs, and in all the others, the rural elderly must feel that no one is dictating to them. The progress we are making in aging is due in no small part to the initiatives and determination of older persons who are making things happen. The Federal share of their effort, if one is needed, ought to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. This first panel, again, is made up of Ed McMillin, State legislative Concil. American Association of Retired Persons, Inc.. Ottumwa; Dr. Albert Burrows, professor of sociology at Penn College, and a member of the State Advisory Committee on Aging; and also Ben Grismore of Corydon. They are going to be talking, I think, in that order. Then we are going to have questions for the record and then our second panel. So Ed McMillin, would you wish to start? I apologize for the fact e don't have a microphone. I know that it is a little noisy, so the onder you can speak, the better. PANEL ON TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS STATEMENT OF EDWARD S. McMILLIN, STATE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, INC. OTTUMWA, IOWA Mr. McMILLIN. Thank you for the opportunity, Senator Clark, to testify before the Special Committee on Aging on "The Nation's Rural Elderly." I guess, Senator, this area is about as rural as any area in Iowa. Statistics tell us that, per capita, we have probably more older persons than anywhere in the State of Iowa. My many years as a public servant-18 years as Wapello County auditor-put me in touch with a great number of older persons who, through the years, expressed many of the same concerns they are expressing today. As I retired and became one of those older-person statistics, I found the elderly of this area of Iowa are still vocalizing many of those same concerns I heard as county auditor: a need to be useful, to have adequate transportation available, and needs related to nutrition and health. One of the key concerns, Senator, is the lack of adequate transportation in this rural area of southern Iowa. My association with the American Association of Retired Persons and my work with the area agency on aging program has placed me in direct contact with a number of older persons who are grateful for a mass transit system in Ottumwa, Iowa, even though cost and accessibility does not often meet the need. They are also appreciative of the area agency on aging minibus program that is a source of transportation within the 10 counties of area XV. As good as the area agency on aging transportation is, Senator, there are still a number of older persons living out in the rural areas who have extreme difficulty in getting from their homes to a doctor, a dentist, or a pharmacy, all of which may be located in a county seat town miles away. Many of our older persons, Senator, must rely on friends, neighbors, and family, if they have any, to provide this kind of needed service. MANY ARE ISOLATED In addition, there are hundreds of older persons who are simply isolated from people due to a lack of transportation. There are people who have lost all contact and, as a result, begin to deteriorate memtally and physically. AARP does provide personal, door-to-door service for a number of older persons, but the need goes well beyond AARP's ability to respond. There is a need to bring together existing transportation potential in the area to coordinate what is being done and to expand service beyond what is being done now. |