Guest columnist
Maureen Maigret, a former state legislator and director of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs, is chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council.
The state Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council was created by law in 2014 to “develop a plan to provide the needed infrastructure and program improvements in support services, housing and transportation that will enable the state's growing elder population to safely remain living at home and in community settings.” Following comprehensive research listening to advocates, providers and older adults across the state, in 2016 the subcommittee developed a Strategic Plan to promote older adults’ capacity to age in the community.
Research shows this is not only what older adults overwhelmingly prefer but that funding of such lower-cost supports such as Meals on Wheels, home care, adult day programs and caregiver respite can defer or delay persons from entering high-cost nursing homes causing them to deplete assets and rely on Medicaid costing Rhode Island an average of $65,000 per year.
Some of the Strategic Plan’s recommendations have been implemented, but far too many still need to be accomplished. While our older population has grown dramatically, the state has failed to invest in the support system needed to help them remain safely at home.
In addition to increasing numbers, the state’s older population is getting more diverse...
The Department of the Attorney General says the man claiming to be the state’s chief technology officer at national conferences and on online platforms is not affiliated with the state of Hawaii a...