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Democrats unveil plan to “take care of our seniors” by increasing access to in-home care

Rocky Mount, VA—House Democratic leaders took the “Change the Assembly” Tour to Rocky Mount and Danville today. House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran held round table discussions with seniors today along with House Democratic candidates Eric Ferguson and Danville City Councilman Adam Tomer.

The number of older Virginians is expected to increase substantially over the next 25 years. By 2010, persons over 60 will comprise 18% of the state’s population. By 2030, one in four Virginians will be over the age of 60, a 120% increase.

Virginians over age 85, the cohort most likely to need long-term care, are the fastest growing segment of the state’s population. AARP research has found that 79 percent of Virginians want to remain independent and receive such services in their homes for as long as possible.

“It’s been said the test of a society is how we take care of our citizens at the dawn and twilight of their lives,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran said. “Our seniors have earned the dignity to live in their own home and ensure they are cared for.”

House leaders announced they would introduce the “Take Care of Our Seniors” proposal that will ensure:

• Expand access to in-home care,
• Provide critical resources and information for aging Virginians to make long-term care plans,
• Expand the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE),
• Increase access to long-term care insurance for employees and owners of small businesses,
• Ensure critical nutrition in-home for seniors.

“Virginia’s aging population will increase nearly 77% in the next decade,” House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. “We must make the investments today to ensure the growing numbers of seniors are able to live with the freedom and dignity they have earned.”

“These proposals to make long-term care more available are commonsense and affordable,” said Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple. “They should have been done a long time ago.”

“On Danville City Council, I fought to help seniors lower their electric bills and keep the lights on,” House Democratic candidate Councilman Adam Tomer said. “When I go to the General Assembly in January, I will fight to make sure seniors have the resources to not only keep the lights on but stay in their home.”

As a small businessman, I know how the high cost of insurance causes many businesses financial strain” House Democratic candidate Eric Ferguson said. “It’s why I support giving our small businesses long term care tax credits so they can help Virginians plan for retirement.”

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Democratic Plan to “Take Care of Our Seniors”

Greater access to in-home care by making more personal care and private duty nursing available To assist community-based providers with increasing wages and benefits, and to provide more training and attract a more qualified workforce, we will increase Medicaid reimbursements for personal care and private duty nursing providers by 10%. Only with the ability to attract, retain and reward the best community-based personal care and private duty nursing can we ensure every aging Virginian has the chance to grow old at home.

Provide critical information – Expand ‘No Wrong Door’ Every senior citizen should have ready access to critical information that helps them develop a plan for long-term care. Expansion of the No Wrong Door pilot programs, built using the innovative “Senior Navigator,” will give access points in every community and digital access points online where Virginians can get information, assessments, and case management capabilities.

Expand home-based all-inclusive care program for the elderly The Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a highly successful and innovative approach that keeps seniors out of nursing homes but is not available all across the Commonwealth. This initiative will make initial access to PACE available in Northern Virginia and will expand to additional sites throughout the state wherever feasible.

Increase Access to Long-term care Insurance Provided targeted tax-credits for small businesses that provide long-term care insurance. The surest way for aging Virginians to plan for retirement is to have proper access to long-term care insurance through their employer. However, with the rising cost of other health insurance many businesses struggle to provide that benefit to employees, particularly small business.

Eliminate Waiting List for Home Delivered Meals Currently, the state has a significant waiting list for home delivered meals, a cost effective, proven program to help keep seniors in their own owns. This initiative will eliminate the waiting list for home delivered meals, helping seniors get the nutrition they need where they want it, in their own homes.

Statewide tour highlights Republican leadership failures and new Democratic agenda

Richmond, VA—-House and Senate Democratic leaders announced the launch of the “Change the Assembly” tour at the State Capitol today. The leaders pledged to crisscross the Commonwealth to highlight the need to fix what’s wrong in Richmond and change the General Assembly this fall.

Democrats outlined seven reasons the people of Virginia want change in the leadership at the State Capitol.

Seven Republican Roadblocks: Seven Reasons for Change

• Opposed raising the minimum wage
• Fought life-saving stem cell research
• Brought us the abusive driver fee
• Scuttled efforts to raise teacher pay
• Roadblock in preserving our AAA bond rating
• Obstruct increases in long-term care for seniors
• Opposed the largest investment in education in Virginia history

“The House Republican leadership has stood in the way of Virginia’s progress every step of the way and it’s time for a change,” House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. “Democrats have stood for responsible government that works for the people of Virginia and that’s the message that we will take to the voters this fall.”

“Whether it was opposing the largest investment in public education or trying to fund transportation with $1000 speeding tickets, the people of Virginia are tired of the Republicans governing through rigid ideology and gimmicks.” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran said. “Last year we remodeled the State Capitol, this year we need to change the people that serve on the inside.”

“We need progressive leadership in the General Assembly, not regressive, backward ideology,” Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Dwight Jones said. “It’s time for a General Assembly that stands up for middle class families.”

“It’s time for the General Assembly to focus on improving the quality of life for all Virginians. The people of Virginia are tired of rigid ideology getting in the way of commonsense solutions,” Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple said.

“The current form of haphazard, partisan governing has brought us a transportation plan that doesn’t work and ideological gridlock that prevents the General Assembly from doing the right thing by our schools and our colleges and universities,” Senate Democratic Leader Dick Saslaw said.

“To keep Virginia moving in the right direction, I need more partners in the General Assembly who are committed to progress,” said Governor Tim Kaine. “Changing the Assembly will help us protect education funding and move forward on better health care policies.”

The tour kicked off after Governor Kaine’s million-dollar fundraiser in Northern Virginia last evening, and included a fundraising breakfast for Democratic House candidate Jeanette Rishell in Manassas this morning. Next stops include Virginia Beach, Danville, Rocky Mount and Leesburg.

Democrats are also proposing a proactive agenda for Virginia’s future. Last week, House Democratic leaders announced they would introduce a veterans’ bill of rights for military service members and their families. Over the next several weeks, Democratic leaders will announce additional policy proposals in different regions of the Commonwealth as part of their “Change the Assembly” tour

“We do not believe all good ideas come from Richmond so our agenda will be announced over the coming weeks from all four corners of the Commonwealth,” said Moran.

Provide additional benefits for military and veterans serving our country

Richmond, VA—- House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran announced they would support a Virginia Military Veterans’ Bill of Rights.

The MVBR includes the Commonwealth’s commitment to provide quality medical and counseling care, to protect against financial hardship from service, to ensure access to education opportunities, to protect military families financially while serving overseas, to ensure they received high quality healthcare, and to provide additional benefits for families of fallen soldiers.

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, House Democratic leaders will propose:

1) Additional Life Insurance Benefits-Allow active military and veterans to opt into the state employee life insurance policy to provide additional life insurance benefits for their families.

2) Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Counseling Benefits: Create a public-private partnership to provide additional counseling services for the 23,667 Virginians returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with a focus on those who return with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical care for other brain related injuries.

3) National Guard and Reservists Financial Security Act: a. State employees – codify an existing executive order to have the state provide compensation to make up the different between guard salary and state employee salary

b. Private employees – state to provide tax credits to encourage companies to provide compensation for guard employees serving overseas

“In a time of war, when the federal government has all too often failed to provide adequate services for our veterans, Virginia must step up to this moral obligation to care for those who put themselves in harms way to defend us,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran said.

“While we have budget challenges next session, I believe that it is critical to ensure that Virginia’s veterans and servicemen and women have the highest care possible,” House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. “We ask them to put their life on the line everyday for our freedom and we owe them every benefit possible.”

“I served 26 years in the United States Navy and had the honor to serve with some of the bravest men and women on the face of the earth,” House Democratic candidate and former Naval Destroyer Commander Carlos Del Toro said. “When I go to the General Assembly in January, I will do everything in my power to make sure our veterans receive the respect and care they’ve so clearly earned.”