Bill O’Boyle: Sen. Casey holds hearing on local impact of the Older Americans Act

May 25—WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvanians testified at a hearing this week about the importance of programs like Meals on Wheels, senior community centers, and home- and community-based services, which are funded by the Older Americans Act.

At the hearing, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, committed to fighting to keep these programs authorized and fully funded.

At a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Chairman Casey highlighted how programs funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), such as Meals On Wheels, senior community centers, and home- and community-based services, play a critical role in keeping American seniors active, healthy and connected to their communities.

Older Americans experience disproportionate levels of loneliness, isolation and difficulty accessing meals and health care services, and OAA-funded programs provide a lifeline for seniors struggling to meet these needs.

The hearing, entitled — "The Older Americans Act: The Local Impact of the Law and the Upcoming Reauthorization" — featured testimony from experts and Pennsylvanian beneficiaries about the importance of ensuring full funding for these vital programs.

"Since its passage, the Older Americans Act has served as the foundation for community social services for older adults — from funding Meals on Wheels to local senior centers to home and community-based caregiving," Casey said. "These programs are vital for older adults across Pennsylvania and the Nation, and as we prepare to reauthorize the OAA, I am going to fight to ensure they get the full amount of funding that our seniors need and deserve. Our Nation's older adults have fought in our wars, raised our children and grandchildren, and built our communities — they deserve our support as they age."

Chairman Casey invited Janet Billotte, a resident of West Decatur, and a recipient of home-delivered meals and other services from her county Area Agency on Aging.

She testified about how the services provided to her by OAA-funded programs have improved her life, saying, "Last year, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer and I was also caring for my husband who had been sick with many issues for a long time. Many days, I didn't feel well and it was very helpful to have these meals delivered to us...I'm very grateful to be receiving these services, and I know many older adults who receive Meals on Wheels are thankful like I am. I also understand that there are many more older adults on the waiting list for these services. I ask you to please help more people get into the program and be able to receive these great services."

Casey pushes for Black Lung legislation in Senate hearing

A U.S. Senate hearing this week highlighted U.S. Sen. Bob Casey's Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act to help miners who have suffered from 'black lung' disease and their survivors access the workers compensation they are entitled to receive under the Black Lung Benefits Program.

During the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety hearing, Casey, a senior member of HELP, questioned experts on the hurdles mineworkers and their families face to getting care and benefits for black lung and why it is critically important to ease this burden.

Casey also spoke about his grandfather's experience working in the coal mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

"Our Nation has long relied on coal miners, so many of whom have risked their lives and their long-term health to do the job of powering years of prosperity," Casey said. "My bill will ensure that every coal miner who is suffering from black lung disease receives the benefits that they and their families are entitled to. With the most serious black lung cases still on the rise, we owe it to our miners to make damn sure they get the care and benefits they've earned."

Rep. Meuser fights to protect Main Street America from burdensome regulations

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week participated in the House Small Business Committee's hearing titled — "Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Biden Administration's Failure to Consider Small Businesses."

Meuser said the Biden Administration has demonstrated a complete disregard for the interests of business owners in their rule-making process. Since taking office, Meuser said President Biden and his administration have enacted 891 final rules, costing $1.6 trillion and requiring 232.4 million hours of paperwork.

"Since January of last year, the House Small Business Committee has reviewed more than 100 proposed and final rules, sent 66 letters to 34 different federal government agencies, and held 13 hearings on the regulatory burdens created by the Biden Administration," Meuser said. "Today's hearing addressed the overall negative effects on Main Street America caused by burdensome regulations from the Biden Administration and the changes necessary to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)."

Meuser said the RFA was created to ensure federal agencies considered small businesses during their rule-making process and prevent excessive burdens. He said the RFA requires agencies to analyze whether proposed regulations will have a "significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities."

However, Meuser said the current implementation of the RFA fails to protect small business interests, with agencies often treating it as a mere formality rather than a thorough analysis of regulatory impacts.

To protect small businesses from excessive federal regulation, Meuser said the RFA needs to be strengthened. He said this will require legislative action both within and beyond the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Small Business.

"One of the greatest challenges small businesses face today is the burden of federal regulations," Meuser said. "Anyone who engages with local Chambers of Commerce or visits small businesses on Main Street, as I do, will quickly understand this. If federal regulators approached their roles with an open mind and listened to American small business owners, they would realize that excessive rules and taxes hinder small businesses' ability to succeed and grow."

Department of Aging's launches innovative 'Dom Care' campaign

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging this week announced it has launched its first-ever marketing campaign to promote its Domiciliary Care housing program — also known as "Dom Care" — to Pennsylvanians who have some extra room in their home and wouldn't mind some extra company.

Dom Care providers open their homes to offer a family-like living environment, daily support and supervision to adults aged 18 and older who are unable to live independently in their community, yet do not require the level of care provided by a long-term care facility.

Dom Care providers receive monthly compensation and many other rewards. When surveyed on why they participate in the program, Dom Care providers have reported they enjoy helping and giving back to others in the community, welcoming residents and watching them succeed, providing a secure home to another in need, and companionship.

The "Open Your Door" campaign is now running, and is designed to reach and appeal to multiple age groups.

"The Dom Care program offers a person the opportunity to live in a safe, caring home with a host provider who has the room, capability, compassion, and understanding to supply the basic necessities so the residents can live and thrive in their communities in a home setting," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich.

The Dom Care program is available in 31 counties: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Columbia, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, McKean, Mifflin, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Snyder, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York.

Dom Care providers must be aged 21 and older and receive certification by the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to provide supportive services in their home, to no more than three eligible individuals. Providers receive a monthly stipend for sharing their home and providing services to Dom Care residents.

The local AAA works with Dom Care providers and Dom Care residents to match them based on needs, preferences, and interests. A trial visit is set up prior to the resident moving into the Dom Care home to ensure the provider and resident are a compatible match. Once a resident moves into the home, they receive supervision, a bedroom with basic furnishings, three nutritious meals a day, assistance with personal care, laundry, medications, and transportation to non-emergency medical appointments. The AAA supplies ongoing care management to the residents and support to the provider.

Residents pay their Dom Care provider a monthly rate, established by the Department of Aging. Individuals receiving Social Security Income (SSI) are eligible to receive a state supplement which covers the monthly payment to their provider and provides the individual with a monthly personal needs allowance.

There are currently 286 Dom Care providers serving 538 residents in Pennsylvania.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.