Husband and wife Nick and Charlotte Nichols packed frozen meals, milk, orange juice and snacks at the Callaway County Senior Center Monday morning. After packing up their car, they delivered the meals and grocery items to the homes of 10 seniors in Fulton.
The Callaway County Senior Center pays for 70-80 percent of the meals through donations, and Medicaid pays for the rest, depending on who qualifies. While Medicaid pays for some of those meal costs, Silver Haired Legislature Callaway County Representative Judy Baumgartner said the Silver Haired Legislature thinks Medicaid should pay for more.
Each year, the Silver Haired Legislature chooses focus items and advocates for issues that affect seniors. Silver Haired Legislature representatives email, call, write and visit with Missouri state legislators. One of this year's focus items is a bill that could adjust the qualifications, which could in part cause Medicaid to pay for more of the seniors' meals.
The Nichols have been volunteering to deliver meals for four years. Their current delivery route is within Fulton, but volunteers deliver meals throughout Callaway County. Currently, more than 100 people in the county receive meals - a number which has more than doubled the past four years, according to the senior center's director.
If Medicaid paid for more of the meals, it would take some of the cost burden off of the senior center, Baumgartner said. The senior center is a nonprofit organization that works to provide meals and social opportunities for seniors in Callaway. Baumgartner said there is often a misconception in the community that the Callaway County Senior Center is just for low-income seniors. The center, she said, is for anyone older than 60, and the exercise class she teaches there is open for anyone 50 and older.
The center provides opportunities for low-income seniors - like the meal delivery for homebound seniors - but it also offers exercise classes, free tax help during tax season and other activities for seniors of all incomes.
Baumgartner said the number of seniors has increased the past few years. During that same time, nationwide budget cuts have decreased funding for some programs.
"There are more seniors in need and less money to do it with," Baumgartner said.
Two bills of importance for the Silver Haired Legislature would expand the Medicaid eligibility limit and increase the Medicaid allowable asset level by $2,000.
This year, the Silver Haired Legislature's top five focus items are:
• Restore funding for the Home-Delivered and Congregate meals program provided by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs);
• Increase funding for programs and services provided by the AAAs;
• Expand Medicaid eligibility from the curreBy Megan Favignano
Fulton Sun Reporter
Husband and wife Nick and Charlotte Nichols packed frozen meals, milk, orange juice and snacks at the Callaway County Senior Center Monday morning. After packing up their car, they delivered the meals and grocery items to the homes of 10 seniors in Fulton.
The Callaway County Senior Center pays for 70-80 percent of the meals through donations, and Medicaid pays for the rest, depending on who qualifies. While Medicaid pays for some of those meal costs, Silver Haired Legislature Callaway County Representative Judy Baumgartner said the Silver Haired Legislature thinks Medicaid should pay for more.
Each year, the Silver Haired Legislature chooses focus items and advocates for issues that affect seniors. Silver Haired Legislature representatives email, call, write and visit with Missouri state legislators. One of this year's focus items is a bill that could adjust the qualifications, which could in part cause Medicaid to pay for more of the seniors' meals.
The Nichols have been volunteering to deliver meals for four years. Their current delivery route is within Fulton, but volunteers deliver meals throughout Callaway County. Currently, more than 100 people in the county receive meals - a number which has more than doubled the past four years, according to the senior center's director.
If Medicaid paid for more of the meals, it would take some of the cost burden off of the senior center, Baumgartner said. The senior center is a nonprofit organization that works to provide meals and social opportunities for seniors in Callaway. Baumgartner said there is often a misconception in the community that the Callaway County Senior Center is just for low-income seniors. The center, she said, is for anyone older than 60, and the exercise class she teaches there is open for anyone 50 and older.
The center provides opportunities for low-income seniors - like the meal delivery for homebound seniors - but it also offers exercise classes, free tax help during tax season and other activities for seniors of all incomes.
Baumgartner said the number of seniors has increased the past few years. During that same time, nationwide budget cuts have decreased funding for some programs.
"There are more seniors in need and less money to do it with," Baumgartner said.
Two bills of importance for the Silver Haired Legislature would expand the Medicaid eligibility limit and increase the Medicaid allowable asset level by $2,000.
This year, the Silver Haired Legislature's top five focus items are:
• Restore funding for the Home-Delivered and Congregate meals program provided by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs);
• Increase funding for programs and services provided by the AAAs;
• Expand Medicaid eligibility from the current level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level;
• Increase the Missouri HealthNet (Medicaid) allowable asset level to $2,000 for an individual and $4,000 for a couple; and
• Retain the property tax credit known as the "Circuit Breaker."
While the Silver Haired Legislature focuses on these five areas, Baumgartner said its delegates track a number of other bills that relate to seniors' issues. For example, Senate Bill 332 would establish the Missouri Farmers' Market Nutritional Program and require the Department of Social Services to apply for a federal grant to provide low-income seniors with vouchers that could be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets. The bill is one that Baumgartner said could use more attention. It is currently not on the Senate calendar.
A bill Baumgartner described as promising is House Bill 679, which would create a silver alert, much like an amber alert, specifically for seniors who go missing. She said a system like that can help when seniors with dementia or other illnesses go missing.
While she described the bill as promising, Baumgartner said the majority of the bills she tracks that affect seniors are showing little progress.
"Disappointed. I can't put it any other way," Baumgartner said of the progress of many senior-focused bills.
She stressed the importance of legislators hearing from more than just the Silver Haired Legislature representatives on these issues.
"Regardless of what our focus is, unless we can get people, the public, Callaway County residents interested enough in what's going on to contact their legislators and let them know that they are concerned, then we're kind of beating our head against a stone wall. If they don't hear from their constituents, they don't think it's important." Baumgartner said.nt level to 138 percent of the federal poverty level;
• Increase the Missouri HealthNet (Medicaid) allowable asset level to $2,000 for an individual and $4,000 for a couple; and
• Retain the property tax credit known as the "Circuit Breaker."
While the Silver Haired Legislature focuses on these five areas, Baumgartner said its delegates track a number of other bills that relate to seniors' issues. For example, Senate Bill 332 would establish the Missouri Farmers' Market Nutritional Program and require the Department of Social Services to apply for a federal grant to provide low-income seniors with vouchers that could be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets. The bill is one that Baumgartner said could use more attention. It is currently not on the Senate calendar.
A bill Baumgartner described as promising is House Bill 679, which would create a silver alert, much like an amber alert, specifically for seniors who go missing. She said a system like that can help when seniors with dementia or other illnesses go missing.
While she described the bill as promising, Baumgartner said the majority of the bills she tracks that affect seniors are showing little progress.
"Disappointed. I can't put it any other way," Baumgartner said of the progress of many senior-focused bills.
She stressed the importance of legislators hearing from more than just the Silver Haired Legislature representatives on these issues.
"Regardless of what our focus is, unless we can get people, the public, Callaway County residents interested enough in what's going on to contact their legislators and let them know that they are concerned, then we're kind of beating our head against a stone wall. If they don't hear from their constituents, they don't think it's important." Baumgartner said.