Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/15/2010 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB307 | |
| SCR13 | |
| SB250 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 307 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 250 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SCR 13-SUPPORTING SENIOR CAREGIVERS
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SCR 13.
1:42:28 PM
TREVOR FULTON, staff for Senator Con Bunde, introduced SCR 13
paraphrasing the following sponsor statement:
Alaska's senior population is growing. The number of
Alaskans 65 years of age or older is expected to
increase by nearly 60 percent in the next 20 years and
the population of those 85 years or older is projected
to double by 2050. Per capita, Alaska has the fastest
growing 85 and over population in the entire nation.
While advances in medicine, technology, and assisted
living practices are enabling seniors to live longer,
more productive, and more comfortable lives than ever
before, the fact remains that many of our aging loved
ones will at some point require some form of
caregiving. In fact, more than 25 percent of all
seniors need some level of assistance with their daily
activities.
It is critical that we as a state are prepared to meet
and manage the needs of our aging population.
By supporting senior caregivers and encouraging the
Department of Health and Social Services to provide
additional education on the effects of aging and the
importance of senior caregivers, SCR 13 draws
attention to the changing demographics of aging in
Alaska and the critical role played by senior
caregivers.
1:45:28 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the work draft committee
substitute (CS) for SCR 13, labeled 26-LS1481\P, as the working
document. There being no objection, version P was before the
committee.
1:46:30 PM
LORNA MILLS, representing herself, said she is a registered
nurse and the owner of Care Net Inc., a private-duty home care
provider in Anchorage that employs caregivers who help people in
their own homes. Because un-monitored care opens the possibility
for exploitation of vulnerable older persons, there is a big
difference between hiring someone from a reputable private-duty
home care organization and hiring someone from a newspaper ad,
she said. As a member of the National Private-Duty Association
(NPDA) and the Alaska chapter, she said she speaks for the group
in saying they are dedicated and have made it their mission to
preserve the integrity of the private-duty home care industry by
adhering to certain standards. A goal of the association is
educate the community about the importance of using an NPDA
agency.
She asked Mr. Fulton what the sponsor hopes to accomplish with
SCR 13, what he will do to support businesses like hers, and how
she can help.
CHAIR DAVIS advised Ms. Mills to contact either her office or
the sponsor's.
1:49:43 PM
KAY BRANCH, Elder Health Program Coordinator, Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), said ANTHC supports SCR 13 on
behalf of their tribal health partners, the 16,000 Alaska Native
elders in the state, and caregivers. And they encourage DHSS to
ensure that caregiving resources and education embraces the
cultural and linguistic traditions of Alaska Native people. As
part of the Medicaid reform initiative, Alaska tribal health
organizations collaborated to design a tribal long term care
service development plan that would increase access to both home
and community-based and facility services for Alaska Native
elders and people with disabilities. This includes components
like SCR 13 that encourages family caregivers to provide care
and supplement with formal services only when necessary. This
maintains the family structure and honors the long-standing
tradition of caring for elders, she said.
Tribal health system partners continue to work with DHSS to
increase home and community-based services at all levels. This
includes traveling to rural regions to better understand the
challenges of rural service delivery and tribal health
organizations thereby ensuring equal access to services
statewide. Culturally appropriate nursing and assisted living
homes are also needed to provide the full range of long term
care services to Alaska Native elders and people with
disabilities. ANTHC therefore also seeks support for the tribal
facility capital projects in Anchorage, Kotzebue, and Bethel,
she concluded.
1:52:56 PM
JOANNE GIBBENS, Deputy Director, Division of Senior and
Disability Services, Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS), stated that the administration supports SCR 13.
SENATOR DYSON said the implication of the resolution is that
DHSS needs a kick in the pants, but it appears that DHSS doesn't
look at it that way. He asked what the resolution really
accomplishes and why the department supports it.
MS. GIBBENS replied the department supports the resolution
because it recognizes the need and is committed to doing what it
can with existing and future resources to meet that needs of
caregivers. Through a combination of federal and state funds
they currently provide funding for eight agencies statewide to
provide caregiver support services. That's probably not
sufficient to meet the statewide need, but they are committed to
do what they can and to continue working with the Alaska
Commission on Aging to identify strategies to improve service
delivery statewide.
1:55:57 PM
SENATOR DYSON referenced the resolve on page 2 and asked what
the impact is for the Legislature to say it recognizes senior
caregiving as a profession.
MS. GIBBENS said she believes that recognizing something as a
profession recognizes it as a calling and a life's task and
work. Also, family caregivers can sometimes get paid for
providing services and in that respect it's a profession for
them.
SENATOR DYSON asked if she sees this as a precursor to formal
training and/or licensing.
MS. GIBBENS replied DHSS already provides training to
caregivers, counseling and support groups to families, and
respite services for family members.
SENATOR DYSON observed that she's saying "no."
MS. GIBBENS agreed.
SENATOR DYSON asked Mr. Fulton if he and the sponsor believe
that the resolution commits the Legislature provide funding to
do everything outlined in the resolve section on page 2.
CHAIR DAVIS suggested he take the resolution at face value. She
believes it's appropriate for the department to express support
and doesn't feel that it will bind the Legislature.
SENATOR DYSON said it could be argued differently but he won't
push it.
2:01:09 PM
MARIE DARLIN, AARP Capitol City Task Force, expressed support
for SCR 13. It's important to educate people about the growing
need for caregiver services because that need for those services
is growing rapidly. She suggested that a little more emphasis
might be given to letting people know what services are
available through the state or community organizations.
2:03:12 PM
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said Alaska's
senior population is growing faster than any state in the
nation, but not because seniors are moving here. It's that the
people who moved here in the '70s and '80s are aging and
choosing to remain in Alaska. This is an important population in
terms of their investment in Alaska. According to a study done
by the University of Alaska, seniors contribute more than $1.5
billion to the state economy each year and this doesn't include
the seniors who continue to work and volunteer. SJR 13 calls
attention to the changing demographics and the need to look at
the types of services that are provided and whether they are
sufficient to keep seniors living here.
2:06:09 PM
KEVIN TURKINGTON, CEO, Senior Care of Alaska; President, Older
Persons Action Group and Alaska chapter of the National Private
Duty Association (NPDA), said he is testifying in support of SCR
13. It can bring a better balance to supporting the entire
senior population. Many resources are focused to the low-income
seniors and, while that is important, about 75 percent of
seniors don't qualify for these services. The best way to serve
seniors and lower the costs of doing so is to empower seniors
and family and professional caregivers. This can be accomplished
by filtering all current regulations and subsequent legislation
through SCR 13 and the powerful statement if makes on behalf of
seniors and their families.
2:09:54 PM
CHAIR DAVIS called an at ease due to a teleconference system
malfunction.
2:17:16 PM
CHAIR DAVIS reconvened the meeting and closed public testimony.
2:17:57 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSSCR 13, labeled 26-LS1481\P,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSCR 13(HSS) moved
from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
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