Sheltering In Place
What elderly folks who can’t leave the U.S. can do to protect themselves from the current regime and regain a sense of control.
Photo by Lucas Cleutjens on Unsplash
Many senior citizens are rightly concerned about the threatening implications of recently passed legislation that will affect social programs – Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, Section 8 housing, and Home and Community Based Services (e.g., Meals on Wheels) – on which they depend for their livelihood. The Trump regime, with the support of a compliant Republican majority in Congress, is attacking the elderly along with other groups for whom government services are essential.
Canada Resists, a Substack newsletter managed by an anonymous Canadian professor, has provided very helpful advice for elderly Americans who are unable or unwilling to emigrate to a more friendly country.
To get this information to as many people as possible and with CR’s permission, I’m reproducing here the bulk of what they have posted, since I cannot improve on their advice.
Here are some things that seniors, and those who love them, can do right now to manage for potential disruptions to vital services like Medicare, Social Security, SNAP, and subsidized housing.
1. Knowledge is Power: Find Out What’s at Risk
It can be hard to follow what’s ahead as it is a constantly changing landscape with lots of possibilities. People discuss the potential implications of future legislation, but at this point it is impossible to know what, if anything, will directly impact you. Some examples of programs that have been discussed as potentially impacted include Medicare (especially Parts B, D, Advantage, or supplemental plans), Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP, Section 202 or Section 8 housing, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). I am not writing a long list to scare you, as many may end up unchanged. But I do want to encourage you to keep your eyes open and plan as best you can for worse case scenario. As they say, better safe than sorry. And the plan itself is good for your well-being, restoring some control over the situation. You can stay up to to date through these organizations:
• National Council on Aging (NCOA)
• USAging
2. Bolster Your Mental & Emotional Health
Isolation, fear, or financial pressure takes a toll. Social support and social engagement during difficult times is critical for our resiliency. Not only for mental health but also practical support if its ever needed. We can all work on creating bigger social networks of likeminded people to protect us. Here are some possibilities for you:
Friendship Line (Institute on Aging) – 24/7 for seniors: 1-800-971-0016
If able, considering volunteering your time to help others in need as needs go up for many. A good place to start is at Volunteer Match which provides volunteer opportunities based on your location.
Find senior social groups to join through MeetUp or check out local senior centres or faith based groups.
Caregivers need support too! Here are a few places that have your back:
3. Get Organized: Gather Key Documents & Make a Benefits Binder.
In order for the administration to save money, they hope to cover less people with less things. They will do so largely by creating a lot of bureaucratic hurdles and paperwork to make it more difficult. The best way to overcome this tactic is by being well organized. Here I have two things to suggest:
A. Make sure you and a trusted contact puts into a folder (physical or digital) copies of the following below.
Medicare card and plan ID
All your physicians and other support people with contact information
Social Security award letters
Medicaid letters (if dual eligible)
Medication lists and medical records
Power of attorney or health care proxy
Contact info for doctors, case managers, pharmacies
B. You may want to enlist the support of those who help seniors identify and obtain resources. Do so by googling: “Elder resources [State Name]”
Warning: Many resources online will point you toward finding your local aging agency through the Federal Eldercare Locator site. But this website is currently down (what a surprise!). So then I decided to try to call them at the number they provided to find a local aging agency. However, every single postal code I provided to them ended with the same response: There was no such agency in that area (including postal codes of actual ageing support agencies that I found online!).
4. Prepare for Coverage Changes or Cuts
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about:
Which medications or services relevant to you may be vulnerable to coverage loss
Get prescriptions written for generics or longer fills, if possible.
If you can find your local area agency you can ask them about existing forms of assistance that might be helpful to you. Again as previously noted, google “Elder Resources [State Name}” to find the best support available to you. Once you get your closest agency, ask them about things such as:
Alternative drug discount programs
Meals on Wheels or food pantries for seniors
Transportation services for medical appointments
Call SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free help navigating Medicare choices: Find your SHIP here
5. Safeguard Finances and Access to Essentials
Direct deposit: Make sure all benefits go straight to your bank if they don't already.
If you receive housing or food help: Ask your program officer how to re-certify quickly if changes come.
6. Keep Fighting
Connect with senior centers, church groups, or community boards who may have resources and advocacy to share.
Get involved in these organizations fighting on your behalf:
Register to vote and assist others in doing so: nass.org/Can-I-Vote. If mobility is an issue, request vote-by-mail or ask a community group for help.
7. Plan Ahead for Advocacy and Emergencies
Designate someone you trust to manage your affairs in a crisis. Google: “Elder Law Clinic {Your City Name]” to find free legal resources for seniors in your area.
Create a one-page summary of your benefits and particulars, your various medical specialists with contact numbers, and your health conditions and medications.
This is, of course, only a subset of resources available to you, but it is hopefully a start to taking action and regaining control over things you can do something about. I do hope that as you arm yourself with knowledge, get yourself more organized, look for creative ways to cut costs, and expand your social engagement, the future will feel a little less daunting. And these actions that you can do today will give you back some of the control and power you deserve. And remember, you are so not alone.
I deeply appreciate Canada Resists’ providing the above information. I recommend their newsletter highly. If you have insights or additional tips on how we elderly folks can cope more effectively in these times, please comment. And remember to share this post with others.
Thank you!