FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH...SANDY MARKWOOD
Insights from the CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
BY:SCOTT BARWICK
Caring Today: What¹s the mission of n4a?
Sandy Markwood: Our mission is to provide advocacy, training and technical assistance to Area Agencies on Aging and Title XI Native Americans. For local aging programs across the country, we¹re their membership organization. Our goal is to advocate for their needs, which basically translates into the needs of older adults and caregivers.
CT: Your slogan is "advocacy, action and answers on aging." How does n4a deliver on that?
SM: We track legislation on Capitol Hill. We take policy positions on traditional issues that impact the Older Americans Act‹issues such as transportation or Medicaid and Medicare.
Some issues are more apparent than others. Last year, for instance, it came to our attention that digital-television conversion was going to have a major impact on older adults. They're one of the major population groups that has over-the-air broadcast. They don¹t have cable. They don't have DirecTV.® They have rabbit ears! So, from an advocacy standpoint, we are always out there trying to ensure that the needs of older adults and caregivers are met, and that our agencies are supported in their abilities to help older adults and caregivers.
On the action side, we¹re helping our agencies take appropriate steps to provide necessary local services.
For "answers on aging," we operate the "eldercare locator," which is a public service of the Administration on Aging and connects older adults and caregivers to aging services across the country as well as critical information and referral support.
So, we ensure that we can help older adults directly to some degree, but
it's primarily through our members that we get them the information they
need.
CT: Can you talk more about the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116,
www.eldercare.gov)?
SM: It has been in operation since 1992. And currently, it's actually going through an overhaul for the first time.
Initially, it was set up as a service for long-distance caregivers. But what we found is that a great percentage of callers were actually older adults calling in for themselves or for a loved one--they really want to talk to somebody before they get connected to services. So, what we're going to do is transfer folks directly to their local AAAs for the information and referral services they need.
CT: What is the question most frequently asked by callers?
SM: They're looking to see for which home- and community-based services they would be eligible. Sometimes people call thinking they need one thing and ultimately they discover other services that would better meet their needs. I would encourage people to call and find out which services are available before they--or Mom or Dad--are in a crisis situation. Some services have waiting lists. Often people don¹t seek us out until Mom's leaving the hospital and needs a whole set of services to be able to go home. It's hard for anybody to get all those services in place that quickly.
CT: Will you explain the working relationship between n4a and the local AAAs?
SM: For AAAs and their members, we constantly provide information on legislative updates, advocacy alerts and let them know what's going on with critical issues in Washington, DC.
But we also have a practices clearing house. Our members want to know what's going on across the country program-wise. So, if there's a good idea that they can replicate or if they're looking at trying something new, they want to know who else has done it. Even though they may not replicate it exactly, they can learn from somebody else who's got a program up and running.
CT: What are some of the programs that a local AAA can provide?
SM: There are respite programs to give caregivers relief, adult daycare programs, support groups and educational programs. There¹s a whole variety of different programs (see sidebar). We found that, for caregivers to continue caring, they sometimes may need something like their lawn mowed. I mean, that's an hour or more out of their day that could be used to provide care. It's hard to define what people need to be able to fulfill that important role. There are programs that exist in communities across the country and we encourage caregivers to tap into them.
CT: Do you think people take full advantage of their local AAA?
SM: No. I think caregivers often times don¹t see themselves as caregivers. They don¹t seek out support because they either feel guilty or they don't have time. There are a multitude of reasons. But caregivers need to seek support. It¹s a very difficult job, especially if the caregiver is an older person, or working. Many caregivers are in that sandwich generation, where they¹re caring for older adults and for young kids. It is a very rewarding position, but it¹s also a very stressful one.
CT: What is the biggest concern for the local AAAs?
SM: Money! With the economic downturn, they're looking at cutbacks in programs in the coming year. We're seeing increases in waiting lists for critical programs like transportation to medical appointments, respite care for caregivers, meals-on-wheels services and homemaker services. In addition, the aging services rely so much on the assistance of volunteers.
Because of rising fuel costs last year, a number of volunteers were having to either eliminate or reduce their volunteer hours because they just couldn't afford it. It may sound trite, but resources in the aging arena have never kept up with either the rise in the aging population or the rising costs. When you add that together with the impact of the fuel crisis, we're really looking at agencies that are hurting.
CT: What is the most pressing concern, then, of the n4a?
SM: We're pressing very hard for additional resources, so our members can help the maximum number of older adults. That's critical. In this town of Washington DC, money is always the discussion point at the table. And given the demographics, given the needs of older adults and caregivers, we're really advocating very hard to make sure that we're not just adding years to people's lives but that we¹re adding life to these years.
The longevity revolution in this nation is wonderful--and it's something to be celebrated. But we need to make sure that, as people are living longer, they're still living well.
CT: In your opinion, what has been the biggest change in elder care since the Older Americans Act of 1973 created the Area Agencies on Aging?
SM: I think that there is now an infrastructure in every community in the country to provide home- and community-based services. It varies based on resources, but there is a number to call, there is an agency that can help provide support for older adults to remain at home and in the community.