Seniors

California Democrats recognize the importance of our seniors, the fastest growing age group in the nation, and believe they enrich our everyday experiences, connect us with our past and forecast our collective future. We affirm and embrace the continuing contributions of our seniors and we continue to be committed to fostering the strong bond between the young, those in the middle, and our elders. Our seniors deserve the highest standard of care from the health care industry and a prescription drug program that helps them get the medicine they need. We are committed to protecting homeownership and hard-earned pensions as well as the support services and assistance that collectively help seniors maintain independence and quality of life. We strongly believe that seniors be offered the opportunity to remain in jobs that they have so successfully performed in for many years.

Pre-seniors, ages 55 to 62, have been among those hardest hit by the current economic downturn. Many in this baby boomer generation have lost the ability to regain financial footing, yet they don’t qualify for the same benefits as their elders, such as low-income housing and Medicare. Forced retirement for those 55 and older costs needed income, which results in loss or reduction of benefits and brings additional financial burden to Social Security and Medicare.

To honor California seniors, Democrats will:

• Oppose mandatory retirement;

• Work for additional retraining for the boomer generation to remain in the workforce; extend unemployment, housing and health care benefits to individuals 55 and older and their immediate family;

• Strengthen Social Security and preserve hard-earned pensions as the bedrocks of a dignified retirement;

• Continue Medicare as the Defined Benefit Plan;

• Work toward universal, comprehensive health care; until that is achieved, reform Medicare Part D to make it clear, affordable and easily accessible to people of all incomes levels, specifically addressing the numerous eligibility problems encountered by pharmacists and the confusing number of private drug plans from which millions of retirees have been forced to choose;

• Affirm the right of all seniors to manage their attendant care so they may live with dignity in their own homes and communities;

• Support increased, stable funding, and expansion of service hours for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS);

• Investigate and prosecute crimes against seniors, including white-collar and financial schemes as well as elder abuse, and strictly enforce all existing penalties for crimes against seniors;

• Increase counseling, emergency, and permanent low to moderate income, affordable senior housing, and the number of senior centers that provide services, including day care efforts, help for seniors with Alzheimer’s, as well as support for their families, and more food banks for the growing number of seniors who lack basic, adequate nutrition;
• Fight to preserve and protect programs that serve low-income seniors such as: Adult Protective Services, Senior Community Employment, Multipurpose Senior Service Programs, Alzheimer’s Cay Care Resource Centers, Home Delivered Meals, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, California Senior Legal Hotline, renter’s assistance, homeowner property tax discount assistance programs and property tax postponement; and

• Expand public transportation and other transit services to support seniors on limited incomes, with or without health concerns, to travel freely and enjoy a quality lifestyle.