Friday, July 22, 2011
Ready for our conference!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
From our intern, Ishan, age 15
Since childhood I have always felt a special bonding and passion towards elderly. I would patiently listen to their stories and enjoy their company which has made me a very empathetic and compassionate human being. Since the age of 9, I would visit Hospice residents and buy gifts for them from my savings. After visiting the residents for 5 years, I was awarded at the top of the Hospice donor tree.
I also started volunteering with my mom through Mease Hospital's friend to friend program, where we assist homebound, sick elders with medication and grocery shopping. One day Delores an 82 yrs old senior called asking for milk. When my mom & I went to deliver it we saw two milk gallons already sitting in her refrigerator. When I asked about them, she said she was feeling very lonely and was longing for company. I understood and thought about research pointing out the increased suicide rate among seniors due to isolation.
One day when we visited Ruby, 97 yrs old, she opened the door and started crying. Finally she said. “You know I lost my husband 18 yrs ago.” We responded yes we know. She said “You know I lost my only son about a year ago,” we said yes we know. She said “You know what? Today I lost my only grandson who died in an accident. I do not know why God left me and took my baby boy. I was feeling very sad, and was not sure how I would pass my day today, I am thankful the Lord sent you to me.” There are hundreds of seniors awaiting a visit. Some are in dire need of love and hand hold or a shoulder to cry on.
Increased longevity and the extremely busy lifestyles of many families have made our most valuable seniors very isolated and vulnerable. The Michigan University research of May 28, 2010, shows youth’s empathy has dropped by 40% in 20 years. Seeing this statistic I decided to implement the bonding of these two generations to decrease the suicide rate amongst the elderly and increase empathy among the youth of today.
 |
| Lavera & Ishan |
This is how my mom and I came upon creating our own organization. Our Motto is “This is how we bridge life.” Grand-Kids” (http://www.ourAIM.org) is a new initiative created with a goal to provide a vehicle to bring youth and senior citizens together, which helps both with life enriching experiences. Our AIM Foundation, a non profit, non denominational, 501 3 (C) organization, has initiated a very beautiful interesting, innovative intergenerational program called Grand Kids. If you'd like to know more, please contact me at info@ouraim.org.
-Ishan Mandani
Monday, July 18, 2011
What You Need to Know about Social Security
To help arm intergenerational advocates with the truth about this issue, we’ve highlighted some facts everyone should know about this important program.
1. Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. Social Security has a $2.6 trillion surplus and can pay full benefits through 2036 without any changes. Furthermore, relatively modest changes could be made and would place the program on a sound financial footing for 75 years and beyond. To read more about these recommendations, check out the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) publication: Strengthening Social Security for the Long Run.
2. Social Security did not cause the deficit. Social Security has its own funding stream and did not contribute to the deficit. It should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Because Social Security operates from a dedicated self-funding stream, it is projected to be fully solvent until 2036.
3. Social Security will be there for you. Social Security has never missed a payment in 75 years. It is 100% solvent for the next 25 years and, in the highly unlikely case that Congress did not act before 2036, Social Security could still pay about three-fourths of benefits thereafter. With minor changes, Social Security can be solvent for years to come.
4. Social Security is more than a retirement program. It provides essential protections for people of all ages. Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program, protecting 98 percent of the children in the U.S. in the event that they lose a parent. More than 6.5 million children receive part of their family income from Social Security.
5. Social Security benefits are modest. As politicians continue to discuss Social Security reform, it’s important to note that cuts to Social Security would dramatically affect an individual’s benefits. Social Security benefits are much more modest than many people realize. In June 2010, the average Social Security retirement benefit is about $14,000 a year. (The average disabled worker and aged widow received slightly less.)
6. Americans would rather pay more than see benefits cut. 87 percent of all Americans agree that they don’t mind paying for Social Security because of the security and stability it provides to millions of Americans. (Survey sponsored by NASI and Rockefeller Foundation in Fall 2009).
7. Almost half of all seniors would be poor without Social Security. Social Security lifts 13 million older adults age 65 and older out of poverty.
8. For many grandfamilies, Social Security is essential to their families’ survival. Social Security is a safeguard for families when tragedy strikes. The vast majority of grandparent caregivers did not plan to raise another family and unexpectedly find themselves caring for their grandchildren. Many of these grandparents live on fixed incomes and find themselves forced to make decisions between paying for diapers and formula for the children or prescription drugs for themselves. Even with Social Security benefits, 22 percent of grandparent-headed families are poor. Without Social Security benefits, the group’s poverty rate would be 59 percent or more. Read more about what’s at stake for grandfamilies in our publication: What’s at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.
9. Changes already enacted will cut Social Security benefits by 19 percent for future retirees. In the 1980s, Congress enacted changes to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. Those changes cut retirement benefits by 19 percent for workers born in 1960 and later, and more cuts could undermine the basic economic security of future retirees. To help educate the public and Members of Congress on this complex issue, NASI recently released a report on the effects of this piece of legislation.
10. Social Security should be strengthened, not cut.
Generations United believes the best way to invest in and protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens is to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. Social Security plays a critical role in providing economic security and indispensable protections for children, families, and retirees. Social Security provides vital support for children, in addition to older adults, covering 98 percent of all children in the event of the death or disability of a caregiver.
In order to improve Social Security for future generations, Generations United continues to advocate for one low-cost recommendation that would strengthen Social Security for future generations: reinstating the student benefit. Restoring the Social Security student benefit would offer students whose parents are deceased and disabled the support they need to become the educated workforce our country’s economy needs. To read more about our recommendation, download our publication Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.
This article is the final installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The House Budget: What’s In Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity”, & How Would It Affect Me?
The Path to Prosperity, introduced by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has been at the epicenter of the 2012 budget debate. After passing the U.S. House of Representatives, this House Budget Resolution was struck down in the Senate. However, the plan remains very relevant today, as portions of the plan, particularly deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, are still being considered.
According to a recent poll by Kaiser, a majority of Americans say they are opposed to cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that provide critical support to older adults and children. Cuts proposed by the House Budget Resolution would impact services for older adults and children dramatically. If the plan was enacted, federal spending would shrink to about 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2015 – this is the lowest level since 1951, a time when federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid didn’t even exist.
Generations United opposes these harmful cuts and urges Congress to balance the budget in a responsible way that doesn't do so on the backs of our nation's children, older adults, and other vulnerable groups. For these reasons, it is important for individuals of all ages to learn about the spending cuts proposed by the House Budget and advocate for shared sacrifice in any upcoming budget proposal.
Among others, the budget plan calls for the following cuts:
· $2.17 trillion in reductions from Medicaid and related health care programs.
· $350 billion from other mandatory programs serving low-income Americans. For instance, The Ryan Plan implies that federal funding for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as the food stamp program) would be substantially reduced.
· $400 billion in cuts in low-income discretionary programs. For example, The Ryan Plan identifies Pell Grants and low-income housing assistance as prime targets for substantial cuts.
In addition, the budget plan calls for the following harmful reforms:
Repealing the Affordable Care Act
Repealing the new health care law would remove access to affordable, high-quality, comprehensive health care coverage for children, youth, people with disabilities, families and older adults. Without this historic piece of legislation, insurance companies will go back to denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions. Women may be charged more than men for insurance, simply because of their gender. And, families may continue to go without the affordable, quality care they deserved. Moreover, repealing the ACA would not lower health care costs. In fact, a recent report estimates that state governments will actually save $90 billion from 2014 to 2019 because of implementation of the ACA’s major reforms.
Converting Medicaid into a Block Grant
This proposal would cut Medicaid funding by $771 billion over the next ten years and convert it to a block grant. As a result, states would receive less money from the federal government to assist low-income individuals who are eligible, leaving states with inadequate funding. With less federal dollars to provide the same services, the block grant would ultimately force states to shift these costs onto the backs of providers and beneficiaries in the midst of tough economic times. This could increase costs and jeopardize the delivery of critical health care services for older adults receiving Medicaid benefits for long-term care and the more than 30 million children Medicaid serves.
Turning Medicare into a Voucher Program
The House Budget Resolution would turn Medicare into a voucher program in which older adults receive a limited amount to buy increasingly expensive private health insurance. If passed, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that older adults' out-of-pocket medical costs would rise twice as fast as currently projected. Recent polls show that the public is strongly opposed to cuts to Medicare, with many noting Medicare's important role in providing financial security in their retirement.
Converting The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a Block Grant
The House Budget Resolution would cut SNAP (formerly known as the food stamp program) by nearly 20 percent and convert the program into a block grant. By capping the amount of federal funding the program can receive, a block grant structure would eliminate SNAP’s ability to respond to rising need. For example, due to the economic downturn, the demand for SNAP benefits for all generations has increased. With a substantial loss in federal funding, it will be increasingly difficult for states to provide benefits to those eligible. Almost a third of SNAP beneficiaries are older adults or individuals with disabilities, and almost three-quarters of SNAP benefits are used by families with children.
For more in-depth information on the how the House Budget Resolution would impact children and older adults, please review the following resources from our partners:
Child Welfare League of America: What Does a Medicaid Block Grant Mean for Children in Child Welfare
Center on Budget & Policy Priorities:
Chairman Ryan Gets Nearly Two-Thirds of His Huge Budget Cuts From Programs for Lower-Income Americans
House-Passed Proposal to Block-Grant and Cut SNAP (Food Stamps) Rests on False Claims About Program Growth
This article is the second installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
5 Things Intergenerational Advocates Should Know About the National Debt and Deficit
1. The national debt itself is not a measure of financial impact across generations.
What is important is how the debt affects the economy at the time when the government borrows the money. Whether or not the national debt will be detrimental to future generations is determined by the quality of the society that we pass on. If the debt is increased by positive investments (such as education and health care) we ensure a healthier workforce and the future economy will benefit as a result.
2. During periods of economic weakness, deficit spending actually can grow the economy.
While a deficit can in principle lead to higher interest rates and lower productivity when the economy is functioning near capacity, it actually can help bolster the economy during a downturn. The primary issue during a recession is a lack of demand. Government spending and/or tax cuts at that time can increase demand as well as output and employment. Higher output means that companies will invest more and that future generations will be made wealthier as a result.
3. The majority of the forecasted budget deficit problem is caused by high and rising costs in the private healthcare sector.
The federal government pays out over half of the country’s total health care costs via Medicare, Medicaid, and other related programs. Most of that money goes to the private health care sector. The cost of this care in the coming years is projected to rise far more rapidly than our current rate of economic growth. If we can find a way to control the increasing cost of health care, then the budget deficit will become much more manageable.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 takes significant steps to reduce the increasing cost of health care by ensuring that all Americans have access to preventative care services and affordable coverage. By creating incentives to treat health care issues earlier and in primary care facilities, rather than costly emergency rooms, the ACA will reduce health care costs considerably over time; most of these changes will occur beginning in 2014, with the introduction of state-based “exchanges,” marketplaces where consumers and small business owners can purchase affordable health insurance, much like shopping online for a plane ticket or a hotel room. According to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, state governments will spend at least $90 billion less from 2014 to 2019 because of the ACA’s reforms.
4. Social Security has its own funding stream, and it will be fully funded until 2036.
Some people have suggested fixing the deficit by cutting into Social Security. In reality, Social Security did not contribute to the deficit, and it should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Because Social Security operates from a dedicated self-funding stream, it is projected to be fully solvent until 2036.
Much of the current debate around the national deficit has focused on the idea of cutting into Social Security to help alleviate the current and projected budgetary shortfalls. Generations United strongly opposes that course of action. It makes little sense to cut benefits from a program that has proven itself to be self-sustaining, especially a program like Social Security that is so valuable to all generations. Furthermore, the amount of the deficit that could be reduced by cutting into Social Security pales in comparison to the amount of the deficit that could be reduced by letting the tax cuts of the early 2000s expire or reducing the spending allocated to conflicts overseas and addressing the rising private health care costs.
5. A constitutional balanced budget amendment means cuts to critical programs.
A balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution would threaten our economic security while raising a host of problems for the operation of Social Security and other vital federal functions. Requiring a balanced budget every year, no matter the state of the economy, would raise serious risks of tipping weak economies into recession and making recessions longer and deeper, causing very large job losses. That’s because the amendment would force policymakers to cut spending, raise taxes, or both just when the economy is weak or already in recession — the exact opposite of what good economic policy would advise.
Generations United hopes that these five key points have answered some of the questions that our members may have had concerning the national debt and deficit.
For more information on these issues, please visit the following sites:
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Center for Economic and Policy Research
This article is the first installment in Generations United’s Budget Blog Series.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Generations United's Reponse to Possible Social Security Cuts
 |
| Photo: Pete Souza | Official White House Photo |
Today, news outlets announced that President Obama plans to propose significant reductions in Medicare spending and for the first time will offer to tackle the rising cost of Social Security.
Experts are speculating that the President is considering Social Security cuts to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This would be done by changing the formula used to calculate the annual COLA to the so-called chained-CPI (Consumer Price Index). This technical change would cut the benefits people have earned – whether they receive Social Security now or in the future. After ten years, average retiree benefits will be cut by about $600 a year, and after 20 years, they will be cut by about $1,000 a year.
Generations United is focused on protecting Social Security and Medicare for the millions of children, families, and retirees that rely on these critical programs. Furthermore, Social Security did not contribute to the deficit, and it should not be cut to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Generations United urges Congress to balance the budget in a responsible way that doesn't do so on the backs of our nation's most vulnerable citizens.
Generations United believes the best way to invest in and protect our nation’s most vulnerable citizens is to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. Social Security plays a critical role in providing economic security and indispensable protections for children, families, and retirees. Social Security provides vital support for children, in addition to older adults, covering 98 percent of all children in the event of the death or disability of a caregiver.
In order to improve Social Security for future generations, Generations United continues to advocate for one low-cost recommendation that would strengthen Social Security for future generations: reinstating the student benefit. Restoring the Social Security student benefit would offer students whose parents are deceased and disabled the support they need to become the educated workforce our country’s economy needs. To read more about our recommendation, download our publication Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.
To read more about this story, check out today’s Washington Post article.
To read more about the COLA cut, check out the Strengthen Social Security Campaign’s analysis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)