Long Term Care News and Views Sharing Information about Home and Community-Based Long Term Care Services Planning for Elders in the Central City* Volume 15 Issue 5* May 2010 Meet the Candidates and Supervisors at Neighborhood Silver Tsunamis Get ready for the mighty wave of Neighborhood Silver Tsunamis 2010, in the merry month of May. This year, instead of one large event there will be neighborhood events all over the city. The Silver Tsunamis are being sponsored by CASE (Coalition of Agencies Serving the Elderly), Eldercare Network, and community organizations. The events will be held at sen- ior centers throughout the city. The various candidates for Board of Supervisors will be there to take questions from seniors and people with disabilities about where they stand on issues. Look on page 5 for a tentative list of dates, times and locations. More to follow as they are currently being scheduled as this goes to print. For more information or to get involved, contact Michael Strain at michael_strain@mail.com or 707-433-3544. Next IHSS- Health Task Force Thursday May 6th 10:30 A.M.-12:00 Noon 1453 Mission Street Suite 520 Would you like to make a difference At the same location immediately for Seniors in California? following the Task Force will be the: If you are a San Francisco registered voter and at least 60 years old, you can run to represent Aging and Disability San Francisco in the California Senior Legisla- Budget Coalition ture. The California Senior Senator and two 12:00 - 1:30 Senior Assembly Members will be elected in a caucus on: Wednesday May 26th, 2010, Did you know you can contribute 10 A.M. at the San Francisco Public Library, to Planning for Elders on-line? Latino Hispanic Room, 100 Larkin St. Visit our website: Any San Francisco Registered voter over 60 www.planningforelders.org can come hear the candidates speak and vote and click on “DONATE.” Thank you! for the candidates. To receive a CSL candidate Inside this Issue: package to run, call (415) 355-3555. Passings Pg 2 News and Events Pg 3 Planning for Elders will be closed on Consumer Rights for Community Living Pg 4 HAT Pg 5 Friday April 30th in honor of International Senior Survival School Pg 6 Workers’ Day on May 1st. Calendar Pg 7 Passings We are very saddened to announce that Henry Miller (pictured here), the companion and service dog for Anaperla Aureoles, passed away on March 26th in her arms. He was 14 or 15 years old and had suffered from osteoarthritis for some time. Ana found Henry at Animal Care and Control in 1996. The veterinarian sug- gested that she not take him because he had underdeveloped legs, but she knew right away he was the one for her. Ana spent 2 years training him to be her service team. She compares herself and Henry to Jeff and Mutt. Ana is a member of HAT and Senior Action Network, and Henry used to accompany her to the meetings. Henry went everywhere with Ana-MUNI, BART, even to L.A. on the Amtrak. He’s lived with her in four apartments. Last year Ana had brain surgery, and Henry was highlighted by Channel 7 news because he came to the hospital with her and helped with her healing. Ana says that he was very calm and he patiently waited in the volunteer office through the entire 4 hour surgery, but then 5 minutes before the staff came in to get him, he started barking. This attests to the connection that Ana and Henry had. Ana believes Henry knew that Ana had a disability. He gave her the strength to get through the surgery. Henry died one week short of the one year anniversary of Ana’s surgery. From Henry, Ana has learned patience, to accept people the way they are, and to remember that not everything can be fixed, but you still have to try. Our hearts go out to Ana during this difficult time. “Rusty” Hazel Brown—January 17, 1923 ~ March 15, 2010 Rusty Brown passed away on Monday March 15th. Sam Alicia Duke recalls her as a proud dyke who had a strong voice and always fought for the rights of Seniors and people with disabilities. Rusty often got in trouble for wearing men’s clothing in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Once she was arrested for wearing pants. Rusty was also arrested for impersonating woman at a gala ball, where she was wearing high heals and a gown . Rusty was a long time member of Planning for Elders. According to Sam Alicia, you al- ways wanted Rusty at hearings at the board. She made sure senior and people with dis- abilities would not be forgotten. Rusty was there at the beginning of HAT. She encouraged people to join Planning for Elders, like Sam Alicia, who is active to this day. Thank You!! We would like to show our appreciation for the Institute on Aging for their organizational support. They have been patiently helping us with our technical and accounting work. And they do it with a smile on their face. Thanks! Rainbow Grocery Cooperative has generously granted us $2000 for oper- ating expenses. Rainbow is a worker-owned cooperative grocery store with a strong commitment to supporting local social justice organizations through the donations and grantmaking committees. Their website is www.rainbow.coop Page 2 News and Events Highlights of Health Care Reform: What Does it Mean for Seniors? After nearly a year of intense debate, health care reform passed into law. While this legislation does not solve many fundamental issues regarding the delivery of health care in the U.S., it does offer some concrete changes that will benefit seniors:  Free preventive care: Seniors will pay nothing for a free annual wellness visit, and pay nothing for recommended preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies.  Better primary care: Ensures access to a primary care doctor and makes sure your care is better coordinated.  Begins to close the “donut hole: Over a span of 10 years, the donut hole for pre- scription drug coverage will be phased out, starting with a $250 rebate for those in the donut hole in 2010.  Sustaining Medicare: The bill extends the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by at least nine years to help ensure that Medicare can cover every senior.  Long-Term Care: Workers may opt for a payroll deduction in order to take part in a national insurance program for long-term care called CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports), which would provide a lifetime benefit of $50/ day.  Reducing fraud: More oversight to prevent waste, fraud and abuse. While acknowledging the positive elements of the bill, many people believe that the real change we need is yet to come. The interests of the insurance and pharma- ceuticals are still favored over the interests of the majority of consumers, who will still have to pay out of pocket for insurance. As the former Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote after the vote: “Don’t believe anyone who says [this] marks a swing of the pen- dulum back towards the Great Society and the New Deal … the New Deal foundation would have offered Medicare to all Americans, or, at the very least, featured a public insurance option.” The fight for Single Payer is not over. July 26th is the 20th Anniversary of the ADA! Join the “It’s Normal” campaign, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act, sponsored by the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco and the Mayor’s Office on Disability. You can participate in the online campaign by going to http://www.itsnormal.org/ and signing their Statement of Values that reads as follows: “Disability is a natural part of the human condition. People with disabilities come from all walks of life, in all colors, sizes, genders and ages. Those of us living with dis- abilities bring something to the table whether it is fresh perspective, political sav- viness, indomitable spirit, energizing presence, bold intellect, etc. We contribute to so- ciety BECAUSE of who we are. Human difference and diversity enriches community. Disability is not special; it's just a part of life. We are asking everyone to sign in sup- port of this rational view of disability and to help spread the word far and wide!” Page 3 Planning for Elders Activities: Consumer Rights for Community Living (CRCL) Page 4 Planning for Elders Activities: HealthCare Action Team (HAT) May 2010 HAT MEETING COMMUNITY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS Wednesday May 12 , Wednesday, April 21th, 4pm 2010 Off-site Budget & Finance Committee Meeting at Hamilton Bayanihan Community Recreation Center, 1900 Geary Blvd. (at Steiner) Center To consider impact of Mayor’s proposed budget cuts to neighborhoods in District 1, 2, 4,5, and 7 1010 Mission (at 6th) 11:00 A.M.- 12:30 P.M. Wednesday, April 28th, 4pm Please call James for more infor- Budget Hearing on City’s Proposed Cuts mation (415) 703-0188 Ext 304 to Spending on Children, Youth and Family programs. City Hall—Board Chambers Neighborhood Silver Tsunamis All dates are in May Thur. 20 Dist 10 Wed. 12 Dist. 8 Candidate Forum Candidate Forum Visitation Valley 30th Street Senior Center Community Center 225 - 30th Street 11 a.m. 66 Raymond Ave. Time TBA Thurs. 13 Dist 6 Thurs 20 Dist 7 SAN - mini Tsunami Supervisor Elsbernd Unitarian Universalist Center, Community Meeting 1187 Franklin St 11:00 - 12:00 Stonestown YMCA Senior Annex Fri. 14 Dist. 11 333 Eucalyptus Drive 11:00 am Supervisor Avalos Fri. 21 Dist 6 Community Meeting Candidate Forum OMI Senior Center Curry Senior Center 1948 Ocean Ave. -11 a.m. 333 Turk Street 10-10:45 a.m. Tue. 18 Dist. 6 Tue. 25 Dist. 8 Candidates Forum and Candidate Forum SOMA Tsunami Castro Senior Center Bayanihan Community Center 110 Diamond St. 11 a.m. 1010 Mission St. 10 a.m. - Noon Wed 19 Dist 2 Candidate Forum SF Senior Center 890 Beach Street 12 - 1:00 Page 5 PLANNING FOR ELDERS ACTIVITIES: Congratulations to the Mission YMCA Class! The latest Senior Survival School was a success! We covered many topics in the four weeks. The participants brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the school. There were good discussions about Social Security, housing rights, hospice care, free home improvements, and many other topics. The Mission YMCA was a very gracious host, and many attending the workshops stayed for lunch afterwards. Viviana Rennella did a fantastic job interpreting to Spanish at all of the sessions. We were joined by Super- visor John Avalos for the graduation ceremony. He congratulated everyone and said that his happiest times at City Hall are when the Seniors come, in their yellow hats, singing songs to advocate for services. He encouraged everyone to come visit him at City Hall. Everyone was so please to have him there, and many had their pictures taken with the Supervisor. Lots of folks asked when we were planning to come again. Hopefully it will be in the next year or two. Of course we have to make our way around the city. Our next Senior Survival School will be held at Clementina Towers. Join us there! Senior Survival School at Clementina Towers! co-sponsored by NCPHS Tuesday May 18th, 25th, June 1st and 8th 1-4 P.M. 320 Clementina St. Come learn about services and advocating for yourself and others. Healthy snacks will be served. Russian and Cantonese interpretation will be provided. To register and for more information, please call Sarah at (415)703-0188 ext. 302 Page 6 Community Calendar: May 10 Consumer-Oriented Long Term Care Activities DATE ACTIVITY TIME & PLACE MORE INFO? Mon—Fri Computer Open Lab Call Ahead, (415) 703-0188 965 Mission Street Suite 550 Wed. May 5 LaShaun Williams DAAS Commission 9:30 am, City Hall, room 416 355-3509 Coalition of Agencies Serving Patty Clement Mon. May 10 3-5:00 Call contact for location the Elderly (CASE) 452-3500 11:00-12:30 HealthCare Action Team 1010 Mission (at 6th) James Chionsini Wed May 12 (HAT) Bayanihan Center 703-0188 ext 304 Long Term Care Coordinating 1:00-3:00 pm Thurs. May 13 Bill.Haskell@sfgov.org Council 1 South Van Ness, 2nd Floor Thurs. May 13 Senior Action Network (SAN) 10:00-12:00 Unitarian Universalist SAN General Meeting Church 1187 Franklin @ Geary 546-1333 1:00 - 2:30 ILWU Office Thurs. May 13 California Alliance for Retired Jody Reid 1188 Franklin Street # 4 Americans (CARA) 550-0828 Wed. May 19 SAN Senior Housing Action 1:00 - 3pm Christina Olague Committee (SHAC) 965 Mission St Suite 700 546-1333 10:30-1 pm Sarah Jarmon Thurs. May 20 PECC Newsletter mailing 965 Mission St., Suite 550 703-0188 ext. 302 3rd Thurs. PECC Board of 5pm—6:30pm Alice Dueker Quarterly Directors Mtg. 965 Mission St, Suite 700 703-0188 ext 306 9:30 - 11:30 am Fri. May 21 Debbi Lerman HSN General Meeting Light House for the Blind and Visually 415-668-0444 Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue. Mayors Office on Fri. May 21 Mayor’s Disability Council 1-4 City Hall Room 400 Disability 415-554-6789 Fri. May 28 SSS Advisory Committee 1-2:30 965 Mission St. Suite 550 Sarah Jarmon 703-0188 lanning for Elders Board of Directors:  Harrison Parker,  Alan Coleman, MD  Norma Satten  Pat Hess DDS (President) (Vice President) (Secretary)  Walter DeVaughn  Michael Kwok  Nader Shabahangi, PhD Page 7 If you would like to receive Long Term Care News and Views, CLIP form and return to: PECC 965 Mission St, Suite 550, San Francisco, CA 94103 Name___________________________________________________ Organization_____________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ City___________________________________ Zip _____________ Phone:_____________ Fax: ____________email: ______________ I would prefer to get my newsletter by Mail email Enclosed is a donation (appreciated but not required) $12 $25 Other $_____ Contribute on line at www.planningforelders.org or www.networkforgood.org Long Term Care News and Views is published by Planning for Elders (PECC). Production by PECC Staff and Volunteers: Alice Dueker Executive Director, Sarah Jarmon, Senior Survival School®; Donna Willmott, Consumer Rights for Community Living, James Chionsini, HealthCare Action Team, PECC Volunteers Constance Smith, Lenny Reiter, Fran Chan, Bruce Allison, Alex Macdonald, Cordell Thomp- son, Dagny Takemura, Tricia Webb. We would like to hear from you! Send information and commentary to sarah@planningforelders.org or fax to (415) 703-0186.