Seniors in 2008

Rep. Berrios would like to take this opportunity to inform you about some of the legislation she worked on this year for senior citizens. Below are House Bill 652, House Bill 1728, and House Bill 734 also included is a brief explanation of each.

INDEPENDENCE
To order to help keep seniors independent, Berrios worked on House Bill 652, which would establish the Community Care program to prevent unnecessary institutionalization for persons over 60 years old who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. This new program would allow for more seniors to remain in their own homes with their loved ones.

Rep. Berrios has fought repeatedly for the rights of senior citizens to remain in their own homes, but when circumstances worsen and seniors must be cared for in long-term care facilities; she believes that they are entitled to every protection available to make their lives as safe and comfortable as possible. For all of these reasons and more, she pushed for House Bill 1728 to keep criminals away from vulnerable residents by requiring background checks for all employees of licensed or certified long-term care facilities.

PROTECTION FROM ABUSE
To prevent seniors from being abused and taken advantage of, Rep. Berrios supported House Bill 734. This measure increases the number of state elder abuse review teams for the investigations of abuse allegations therefore, helping victims get justice. Under the bill, placed reports of alleged or suspected elder abuse or neglect will be responded to by a senior service provider agency. The bill also provides a round the clock system for responses and questions.

GIVING BACK TO OUR SENIORS
Rep. Berrios fought for an important increase in state funding for programs that help our senior residents. She supported a $2 million increase in funding for home delivered meals, and more money for programs that allow seniors to remain independent and living at home.

The FY ‘08 budget passed by the General Assembly increases the Department on Aging’s home delivered meal program, which currently services almost 43,000 seniors, increases its funding to almost $10 million, which includes an additional $2 million. The additional funding will address:

• New nutritional requirements by the federal government and
• Increased food and meal preparation costs.