Welcome to the
Senior Agenda Coalition
of Rhode Island

Thanks to our community efforts and the efforts of many people and groups, especially our senior centers, the Fiscal Year 2019 state budget responded to our top three priorities: 

• Ÿ It restores $400,000 in funds for senior centers that were cut in 2006 (DiPalma & Ruggiero, sponsors). 
• Ÿ It establishes a blueprint for major upgrades to The Point, our state’s information and referral program for seniors and persons living with disabilities. These include an interactive website, options counseling, and community outreach about the availability of The Point (Goodwin & Carson, sponsors).
• Ÿ It increases Medicaid wages for homecare providers- 10% for CNA’s and other personal care workers, and 20% for nurses and therapists (Serpa, sponsor).  

We also achieved passage of our top non-budget priority- enabling legislation for an Individual Provider (IP) program that would allow persons eligible for Medicaid-funded homecare to hire their own personal care workers via a registry maintained by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). This was a major victory, taking the first step toward achieving a program that has made a huge difference in “rebalancing” long-term care in many other states (Blazejewski and Goodwin, sponsors). 

We are very grateful to Governor Gina Raimondo, and especially to Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello for fulfilling their commitments made at our March Legislative Leaders Forum.

On May 8, over 100 people came out from all over the state (including Block Island!) to honor three accomplished individuals who have done great work toward improving the quality of life of older Rhode Islanders. The honorees were:  Kathy McKeon, Cy O’Neil, and Linda Katz.  

Kathy McKeon is the Supervisor of Catholic Social Services of RI, and has been a long-time leader in promoting innovation in respite care for caregivers. Cy O’Neil  is a founder and the Past President of The Providence Village, a model nonprofit community-based network of support to seniors who wish to remain in their own homes and communities as they age. Linda Katz is the co-founder and current Policy Director of the Economic Progress Institute, an expert source for information on budget and policy issues impacting older Rhode Islanders.  

We are very grateful to our Presenting Sponsor Neighborhood Health Plan of RI. We thank our Collaborating Sponsors Catholic Social Services of RI and United Healthcare, and Supporting Sponsors Healthcentric Advisors, St. Elizabeth Community and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for their generous participation in this event.

Volunteers Anne Mulhall, Joan Flynn, and Michael Moore helped pull it all together for us.

We thank you all!

On  March 6, 386 seniors from all over the state crowded into the  Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza to weigh in on legislative issues for  2018. The Senior Agenda's priorities for the year are, in order:

• a better state information system, 
• increased funding for senior centers, 
• making RIPTA No-Fare Bus passes permanent; 
• more support for family and volunteer caregivers; 
• and eliminating Medicare Part B premiums for low-income seniors.

Community members spoke eloquently about their personal experiences with senior centers and caregiving challenges. 

Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President 

Dominick Ruggerio pledged their support for RIPTA No-Fare bus pass and senior center funding.