Sample Communications to Legislators and Media: 2014 Legislative Session

Sample communications to legislators and media: 2014 legislative session

Below are some examples that can be tailored as either a letter to the editor and a message to your legislator. Please keep in mind that these are guides or templates that you should personalize with your own local examples.

If you need any assistance(i.e., where to send), please contact Heidi () or Cathy () or call the Association at 952-854-2844.

Make caregivers a budget priority in the 2014 legislative session.

The state of Minnesota should ensure that all aging Minnesotans receive safe and quality care from experienced caregivers. Nursing homes, assisted living settings and home care providers struggle to hire experienced, quality caregivers in their settings due in part to the low wages and benefits they are able to offer given inadequate state funding. Caregivers are the cornerstone to providing quality care for Minnesota’s seniors. It is up to lawmakers to invest in these jobs and the caregiving profession by passing rate increases that pay for the long term care services and supports that seniors need.

Minnesota must maintain its tradition of supporting quality, home and community-based care for seniors.

Minnesotans should receive the care they need to preserve their quality of life for as long as possible in settings they call home. When Minnesotans are able to stay in their communities for as long as they are able, they stay connected to families, friends and the life choices they have made. Lawmakers should support the spectrum of home and community based services with adequate funding and without additional eligibility restrictions.

As more Minnesotans retire and enter the next stage of their lives, they deserve a healthy, safe and quality life in the place they call home.

Our retiring population and their families, providers and the state of Minnesota all share responsibility for the planning and care for aging Minnesotans. Planning for the future is an important first step, and new tools are needed to help families understand the costs and options available for the care of their loved ones.

Minnesota needs to build a strong caregiving workforce for the future.

The state of Minnesota should ensure that all aging Minnesotans receive safe and quality care from experienced caregivers. Senior care providers struggle to recruit and retain experienced, quality caregivers in their settings due to lower wages and benefits. A stable workforce is a key ingredient to providing quality care. It is up to lawmakers to invest in these jobs and the caregiving profession.

The Long Term Care Imperative encourages lawmakers to support our 2014 legislative proposals to ensure seniors have access to quality care and quality caregiving.

Example 1:General message to fund caregivers in 2014:

Each month when it comes time to pay my bills, I wonder how long I can continue to do this line of work.

As a caregiver working at (FACILITY), I provide care to some of the most vulnerable adults in Minnesota. I help them with their daily needs and know I am making a difference in their lives. I listen to their stories, share memories with them, and see them smile.

For the last few years, however, my colleagues and I have been struggling–trying to keep up the same level of care, despite numerous cuts and rate freezes. The lack of increases has resulted in people like me leaving the profession, creating care worker shortages and risks to the people we serve.

The overall budget and priorities for our state must reflect the importance of my work and who I serve. I don’t want to leave a job I love in order to work down the street at the local store just to makes ends meet. Caregivers are the cornerstone to providing quality care for Minnesota’s seniors. It is up to lawmakers to invest in these jobs and the caregiving profession.

Sincerely,

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Example 2:General message to fund caregivers in 2014:from family members:

Entry-level wages for years of experience: That sums up what many staff receive for the demanding job they perform where my (mother/father) receives care.

Nursing homes, assisted living settings and home care providers struggle to hire (and retain) experienced, quality caregivers due in part to the low wages they are able to offer–given inadequate state funding.

It was a difficult choice to have my mother/father move into an assisted living/nursing home, but after getting to know the staff, I know they are in caring–and familiar hands–and this matters a lot to my mother/father and me. However, I know that inadequately funding makes it difficult for providers to retain experienced staff. And I need experienced staff to care for my mom/dad.

Caregivers are the cornerstone to providing quality care for Minnesota’s seniors. It is up to lawmakers to invest in these jobs and the caregiving profession. A five percent increase for caregivers will help ensure the quality of services my mother/father receives.

Sincerely,

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Example 3:Message from administrator/housing directors:

Dear Editor/Representative ______:

I run a care facility with [insert number] employees and we serve [insert number] seniors

in [insert city]. We are one of many facilities that have been impacted by lack of adequate

funding to older adult service providers.

Since 2003, funding for older adult services andlong-term care providers has been far below the national average, making it difficult toretain highly-skilled and specialized staff. We cannot afford to pay trained staff what theydeserve, nor can we adequately compete to attract quality caregivers to our facility.

The state of Minnesota should ensure that all aging Minnesotans receive safe and quality care from experienced caregivers, and a start would be to pass a 5% rate increase to nursing homes/ a 5% rate adjustment to the Elderly Waiver program.

A stable workforce is a key ingredient to providing quality care. It is up to lawmakers to invest in these jobs and the caregiving profession.

[insert name]

[insert facility here], [insert city]

Example 4:Sample GENERAL Letter to legislator

Dear legislator:

I am writing to urge you to make caregivers a funding priority for the Minnesota Legislature this session.

Did you know that by 2020, Minnesota willhave more seniors than school-aged children? This increase will require the state to greatlyexpand its capacity to provide services to the elderly in the coming years. However I am concerned that [insert name of your facility] will not be able to handle the increased

demandbecause we won’t have enough caregivers to provide the services needed and expected.

Due to years of frozen rates, I have been unable to offer my staff deserved increases. This has resulted in experienced staff having to leave because they can’t afford to work here anymore. What this ultimately means is facilities and service providers like [insert name of facility] will haveto turn away older adults who need care.

It is time that the Minnesota Legislature finally address long-term care and older adult services

as a priority issue so that each and every senior Minnesotan has access to the health, long-term

care and older adult services that best meets their needs and circumstances.

Caregivers are the cornerstone to providing quality care for Minnesota seniors. Please invest in these jobs and the caregiving professions by passing rate increases that pay for the long-term care services and supports that seniors need.

Thank you,

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Example 5:GENERAL HCBS message

When cuts are made to assisted living and home care services, older Minnesotans, who rely upon these programs, loose their independence.

In the past few years, home health care services have received double-digit legislative and administrative budget cuts. As a result, access to these services is limited and seniors are increasingly left with two choices – get by without the care they need or move into a nursing home. As long as there are home and community-based services available to meet the emerging needs of seniors, nobody has to make that choice.

It is up to lawmakers to pass a 5% rate adjustment to elderly waiver to ensure seniors’ continued access to these programs and services.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Example 6:HCBS general

When cuts are made to assisted living and home care services, older Minnesotans, who rely upon these programs, loose their independence.

It is up to lawmakers to pass a 5% rate adjustment to elderly waiver to ensure seniors’ continued access to these programs and services.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Example 7:letter to legislator: Elderly Waiver

Dear Representative [Last Name],

Save the state money by passing a 5% rate adjustment!

As your constituent, I am writing to you today to pass a 5% rate adjustment for the Elderly Waiver program, which allows seniors to stay in their own homes as long as possible.

Minnesota has been a leader in providing innovative home and community-based services (HCBS) programs that help tens of thousands of Minnesotans live more independently, at a cost savings to the state. These services include assisted living services, housing with services, adult day services, adult foster care, home care, hospice, independent senior living, respite care and services, senior nutrition, and transportation services. The program that helps impoverished seniors access these services is called the Elderly Waiver (EW) program.

For decades, our state policy has encouraged the use of these cost-effective HCBS programs whenever appropriate for the individual. However, the Elderly Waiver program has been cut dramatically in recent years, suffering double digit administrative and legislative cuts. As a result, access to HCBS services is limited and seniors are increasingly left with two choices – get by without the care they need (often resulting in acute episodes requiring emergency hospitalizations) or move into a nursing home, which is more expensive.

According to the state’s own numbers, the number of seniors in our state will surpass the number of school kids by 2025. Given the magnitude of the demographic shifts ahead, the budget priority should be clear: fund care for seniors by passing a 5% rate adjustment to the Elderly Waiver program.

Sincerely,

[Name]

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Example 8:Caregivers

Dear ______,

Seniors value their independence and they don’t take lightly the decision to give up that independence for a nursing home. For those who call nursing homes “home” it is a literal lifeline connecting them to the services they need to survive. For those whose need for care is continuous and demanding, or for whom there is not sufficient access to home and community-based services, a nursing home is the only option left.

If lawmakers really understood the needs of seniors in nursing homes, they would better understand and appreciate the caregivers who provide services every single day. Caregivers are the cornerstone to providing quality care for Minnesota’s seniors. If lawmakers really understood, they would make caregivers a budget priority this year.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Example 9:HCBS general

Dear ______,

Home and community-based services promote value and foster independence for seniors. Cuts to assisted living and Elderly Waiver rates reduce available options and could force seniors into nursing homes prematurely.

Minnesota has led the nation in its past efforts to move individuals away from high-cost settings by providing services in the home. However, cuts to home health care will force seniors back into higher cost settings such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Isn’t that counter-productive to what should be the state’s mission of providing affordable, efficient, targeted care?

It is up to lawmakers to pass a 5% rate adjustment to elderly waiver to ensure seniors’ continued access to these programs and services.

Sincerely,

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Example 10:HCBS

For the past several years my [mother/father] has relied upon in-home care and support to maintain her independence. I’m concerned that without a 5% rate adjustment this year to the elderly waiver program, my (mother/father) will no longer receive the care she/he has come to rely upon and will be forced out of her home and into a nursing home.

The workers who provide care to seniors are giving, capable people, who are stretched thin by the demands of the job made tougher due to short staffing, long hours and below average pay. If my [mother] is forced into a nursing home, how will the overworked staff handle [her] needs as they develop and change?

The demand for older adult services will only continue to grow. We must ensure that seniors like my [mother/father] have access to care that maintains their independence for as long as possible. Lawmakers should support the spectrum of home and community based services with adequate funding and without additional eligibility restrictions.

Sincerely,

[Name]