October 24, 2018
Dear Aging Services Provider,
On behalf of the Diverse Elders Coalition, we would like to thank you for what you do!
We know the services you provide our older adults support their quality of life and their
ability to live independently.
Our elected officials hold great responsibility and are chosen to make important
decisions that affect our quality of life. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Senior
Nutrition (Older Americans Act and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and
other safety net programs play a vital role in supporting older Americans throughout
our country.
The upcoming election in November may be one of the most important elections in
recent history, as we all know the future of the American safety net is threatened. The
misrepresentation and misunderstanding of Social Security and Medicare as
entitlements is a disservice to our older Americans who have contributed to these funds
throughout their lives. These earned benefit programs, created decades ago, were
designed with the faith that as our contributions supported others, we too would be
sustained as we aged. We must protect these programs, which are the foundation for
independent living for all older adults.
We are respectfully asking you to help protect these programs for the clients we serve
and their families. This can be done in several ways:
- Educate and provide accurate information on the programs at stake: Social
Security, Medicare, Older Americans Act, the Farm Bill, and others. If you
need information on how changes to these programs will affect your clients
directly, please contact the Diverse Elders Coalition for proposed actions
against these programs. - Explain how proposed actions will affect your clients directly and suggest ways
they may be able to participate to oppose these actions. This could be through
deliberate transportation to voting locations, providing support for absentee
voting, or other means of helping your members participate in the voting
process. If your clients are not able to vote, you may suggest joining advocacy
organizations and groups to get out the vote and participate in the voting
process. - Ask that candidates provide accurate information about their positions on these
vital issues.
If these programs and services are drastically reduced or eliminated, the impact will be
quickly felt not only by our clients but by the agencies that provide these vital services
as well.
Your efforts will be crucial in providing a voice to those that long have been ignored.
We sincerely appreciate all that you do in your communities and we know that we are
stronger together. Please work with us as we continue to advocate and fight for the
programs that we know improve the lives of older adults!
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