Advocacy Efforts Produce Win for Washington State Seniors

Don Moreland, Advisory Council Chair

The 2006 Washington State legislative session is over and through the advocacy efforts of dedicated seniors and their supporters from sending action alert letters and emails to attending Senior Lobby Day in Olympia we obtained funding for four out of six requested budget items that will help some of Washington's most vulnerable residents.

This year, the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) teamed up with a coalition called the Eldercare Alliance in order to present a unified voice for eldercare funding. The Eldercare Alliance is a coalition of organizations seeking to support investments in the state's long-term care system.

The group made an impact when we descended upon Olympia on February 15 for Senior Lobby Day. Governor Gregoire addressed the group of almost 200 senior citizen advocates, as did many legislators. 

Advocates spent a long day at the Capitol sharing with representatives their own personal stories of the impact of these vital programs. At each meeting, advocates gave their representatives a one-page fact sheet on the Eldercare Alliance budget requests. They also handed each legislator and staffers a fortune cookie that contained a message urging them to support our elders. 

Although several of the buildings on the campus in Olympia were accessible only via stairs and it was difficult for some advocates to reach their legislators' office, they did succeed, which inspired them all the more to make their voices heard.

In addition to the Senior Lobby Day effort, the W4A launched an online advocacy tool that people can use to contact their representatives with the click of a button about important issues. Action Alerts were sent via email to advocates who then used the tool to urge their representatives to support the Eldercare Alliance. Subscribers recently used the tool to send thank you letters to legislators for their support. The W4A Advocacy Alert tool has over 100 subscribers and is gearing up for advocacy efforts at the federal level. 

The following items included in this year's budget will have a real impact on the lives of Washington state residents who need and rely on the state-funded long-term care service system:

• Area Agency on Aging case management funding restoration
• Rate increase for Adult Day Health Care services
• Long Term Care Ombudsman coverage for additional Adult Family Homes
• Monthly personal care needs allowance increase for nursing home residents

Two of the requested items did not receive funding this year:  support for Respite Services (care relief for unpaid family caregivers) and Senior Information and Assistance programs.  However, we look forward to working with the legislature next session to address the demand and growth in these critical programs.

We thank everyone for all the hard work and dedication.  If you would like to join, stay tuned to important advocacy efforts, subscribe to the W4A Advocacy Alert or simply take action on the current W4A Action Alert regarding Medicare Part D.

Photo: Washington State Tourism