By Jim Leddy, AARP Vermont State President

As any older Vermonter will tell you, the strains on the average household budget are becoming nearly impossible to sustain – and the future isn’t looking much brighter.  Indeed, there are a host of issues impacting our seniors.  The cost of health care and prescription drugs, the cost of long-term care, heating fuel prices, taxes, access to affordable housing and adequate transportation are a few that top the list. The issues are broad and complex for aging Americans, but there is common thread that runs through them all – affordability!

The financial mess our country faces today only adds fuel to this fire.  The American health care system is broken and our financial security is in jeopardy. With a new Congress taking office and a new President, perhaps progress can be made on some of these fronts.  It is refreshing to see politicians finally rolling up their sleeves and working together in a bipartisan fashion as they attempt to address the nation’s current economic crisis.  Many of our elected officials seem ready to put aside partisan squabbling in order to repair the country’s faltering economy.

Let’s hope the dissipating partisan gridlock is a trend that will continue, because the American people need real help with real problems. Never has the time been more crucial for a commitment to finding real solutions and an end to political rhetoric.

Individuals, businesses and elected officials must cooperate and work together to create

solutions that will benefit all generations . That is why AARP launched Divided We Fail, a bipartisan initiative that holds accountable our elected officials and urges them to work cooperatively toward finding solutions to the critical issues facing us all. Divided We Fail demands that those who have committed to representing the American people actually do so by taking action and resolving these key issues.

Americans have repeatedly stated that the economy is their number one concern, and that’s only been underscored by the economic turmoil of the past few months. Average Americans, now more than ever, are being directly affected by the crisis on Wall Street. How will they keep their homes? Pay for their children’s education? Pay for health care? And how will they ever be able to afford to stop working when they are no longer able to do so? For more and more Americans, it is a hard to believe that they’ll ever be able to achieve the cornerstone of the American dream: lifetime financial security.

Aside from the obvious and immediate economic security concerns, Americans tell us in surveys that health care is the next most pressing issue they face. Understandably so, given that the numbers of people affected by the broken health care system in our country continues to grow every day, with an estimated 46 million Americans, including 65,000 Vermonters, currently uninsured.

Vermont has made some significant progress in addressing both the cost and access to health care in our state and is considered a national leader in health care reform.

 One out of every three adults over age 65 will fall and be injured this year, and this is one of many reasons why AARP Vermont and Fletcher Allen are teaming up to help Vermonters avoid falling.  The public education campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks of falling to older Vermonters and what people can do to avoid serious injury, disability or even death from a fall.

The facts make the problem very clear:

-One in five hip fracture patients over age 65 die within a year after surgery, and one in

  four have to spend a year or more recuperating in a nursing home.

-Falls are the single leading cause of catastrophic injury in older adults.

-Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths.

-At Fletcher Allen, 85% of trauma admissions for those over 65 are due to falls.

-Over 95% of hip fractures among those over 65 are caused by falling.

-Vermont has one of the highest rates of death from falls nationwide.

Fortunately, falls need not be considered a normal part of aging and can be prevented through a number of proven strategies: making safety enhancements to the home environment; medication management; fitness programs to improve balance; and basic education about how to prevent falls.

Fletcher Allen has a number of programs and resources already in place to educate the public about fall prevention and to help individuals make the needed changes in their home environment. By partnering with Fletcher Allen, AARP is helping extend the reach of this effort by communicating directly to AARP members in ChittendenCounty, bringing new volunteers to existing programs, and raising awareness about fall prevention to the general public.

The ChittendenCounty campaign includes advertising, direct mail, media attention and newspaper inserts all citing the risks to older citizens and outlining steps to reduce that risk.  A recruiting drive for volunteers to build home entry ramps and make home modifications will start early next year.

“This project is an outgrowth of the Burlington Livable Community Project, in which a key finding was that 90% of Burlington residents would like to stay in their homes and neighborhoods as long as possible,” explained Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur of AARP Vermont. “It aligns with AARP Vermont priorities to help older Vermonters live out their older years in the setting of their choice.  In addition this effort will reduce health care costs through prevention and engage AARP members in making a contribution to their community.”

"Fletcher Allen is pleased to be partnering with AARP Vermont on this fall prevention education initiative," added Pam Farnham, Manager of Adult Outreach and Education at Fletcher Allen's Community Health Improvement Program.  "Fletcher Allen has a long history of helping individuals minimize their risk of falling through a number of programs: Falls Assessment Clinic, the Falls and Fires Home Safety and Modification Program, and A Matter of Balance exercise/education program.  This partnership is another step towards helping people age safely in place and we are very excited to be part of this work."

To help prevent falls and bone fractures, AARP and Fletcher Allen recommend that older Vermonters:

·        Have an annual physical and eye examination. Make sure any cardiac and blood pressure problems are fully evaluated.

·        Consume a diet with adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D for good bone health. Do not smoke, and avoid excessive use of alcohol.

·        Participate in an exercise program to maintain agility, strength, balance, and coordination.

·        Maintain a clutter-free home with clear walking paths through rooms. Eliminate tripping hazards and install grab bars, handrails and other safety devices in appropriate areas, such as bathrooms and bedrooms.

·        Wear properly fitting shoes with nonskid soles. Never walk about with only socks or stockings on your feet.

·        Have adequate lighting in the home. Use nightlights between bedrooms and bathrooms. Make sure light switches are easily accessible by doorways.

 Residents who would like to learn more about the ways to reduce or eliminate the risk of falling should call or e-mail AARP for a free booklet Taking Steps to Prevent Falling Head Over Heels at 802-951-1305 or vt@aarp.org.  To learn more about personal and home assessments, contact the Fletcher Allen Fall Prevention Clinic at 802-847-1902. To sign up for A Matter of Balance, a free, comprehensive class on fall prevention, residents can call 802-847-2278.

The WinooskiFalls project and its developers HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund will receive the 2008 Livable Communities Award for forward thinking in the field of home and community design. The Livable Communities Award, cosponsored by AARP and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), honors builders, developers and remodelers that create attractive, well-designed homes and communities, which are safe, comfortable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. This year, HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund is one of four winners nationally.

“The boomers approaching retirement age have changed every institution they have encountered so far, from schools, to the workplace, to the suburbs,” said AARP Director of Livable Communities Elinor Ginzler. “Now city planners, developers and homebuilders are anticipating their next impact. This is happening at the same time the cost of gas and traffic congestion are providing incentives to reduce the need to drive. As a result, you see communities reinventing their downtowns to be more user-friendly as  this year’s winner, Winooski, VT, did. You see suburbs building town centers to provide entertainment, goods and services closer to home. And you see builders looking to make their homes more user-friendly for a generation accustomed to amenities and comfort.”

AARP Vermont teamed up with the City of Burlington and some 30 area organizations to launch the Burlington Livable Community Project three years ago.  The group has worked to engage the community -- stakeholder organizations and residents -- in defining a vision and specific action steps to make Burlington more livable for an aging population. It focuses on three issue areas: housing, mobility, and community engagement and enthusiastically supports the national recognition being received by this project which fully embodies their agenda.

HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund won the 2008 Livable Communities Award in the category of “Developer over 250 units”. The development provides residents with a real sense of small-town community and a strong identity with proximity to a riverfront walkway and many public transportation options, downtown Burlington, countless shops, restaurants, two college/university campuses and the largest hospital in the state. The community of Winooski prides itself on “smart growth” – building community while protecting the environment – offering energy-efficient, universally-designed and affordable units.   

The developer Ken Braverman Principal, HKW/LLC, stressed the positive impact projects like this can have on a community.  “By putting smart growth principles into action, the WinooskiFalls project demonstrates that developing livable communities for people of all ages is an excellent way to restore and revive our city centers.  My partners and I thank AARP/ NAHB for this honor, and look forward to continuing to build on our success in Vermont’s downtown neighborhood for many years to come.”

Governor Jim Douglas was pleased that the project received national recognition.

“WinooskiFalls demonstrates the economic and cultural value of  public and private partners establishing and promoting smart revitalization in a historic downtown. I am pleased that my Administration could play a role in creating a new neighborhood offering full access to employment, recreation, dining, and shopping in a mixed-income, multi-generational residential and commercial setting unlike any other in Vermont. On behalf of the people of Vermont, I applaud HallKeen, The Braverman Company, and New Boston Fund for creating a community at WinooskiFalls that benefits individuals and families of all ages.”

As there will be 70 million people over 65 by 2030, AARP is releasing a national poll showing that at least a quarter of baby boomers expect to move again and they will be looking for something comfortable.  Half or more of those boomers will look for a home that’s all on one level.  A similar number (50%) will look for a newer home.  This project is a great example of the kind of residential community that will serve them best.  It’s new, convenient, aesthetically appealing and inviting to everyone.

Winners will be honored at a dinner in Washington, DC on December 10, 2008 and will also be featured in AARP The Magazine, the nation’s most widely circulated magazine.  For more information, photos and video clips on the winning projects, visit www.aarp.org/homedesign.

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 AARP VT Open House

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Forum on Vermont’s Future Draws Crowd

BURLINGTON, VT, June 4, 2008 -- Some 150 people turned out at UVM’s Davis Center last night for AARP’s forum entitled “Can Vermont Afford to Grow Old?” The open public forum was held to explore the impacts on Vermont as the Baby Boomer generation ages.  Moderated by State President Jim Leddy, the forum examined the implications for individuals and the state of a rapidly aging population. 

Economist and UVM professor Art Woolf outlined the current demographics and the projected impacts on social programs, the workforce, tax burdens and the economy as a whole. Woolf stressed the decline of the working age population and the growing percentage of the population over age 65 as a troubling combination. He emphasized a focus on economic growth and development as a needed response. 

Barbara McIntosh of the UVM School of Business Administration and a national authority on older worker issues made the case for the how productive older workers will alleviate some of the burdens expected as the population ages.  With 3 out of 4 workers planning to work beyond age 65, it is critical that Vermont employers focus on retaining and attracting their valuable older workers.  She demonstrated that this segment of the population will play an increasingly critical role in the workforce and economy. 

Finally, Lisa Davis, senior vice president and a policy expert at AARP’s national office, lent a national perspective to the debate, detailing the real stresses on the American family, such as health care costs and personal financial challenges.  She stressed that cutting programs is not an answer, but that fixing the health care system, improving quality of health care, making it easier to work later in life and save for retirement as some of the areas that need the attention of leaders and policymakers -- both in Vermont and Washington, D.C.  Davis described the Divided We Fail initiative that includes a coalition of AARP, the National Business Roundtable, Service Employees International Union and the National Federation of Independent Businesses who have joined together to call for bipartisan action by Congress and the next president on affordable health care for all Americans and lifetime financial security.  Divided We Fail is seeking to ensure that health care and financial security are at the top of the national agenda for action.

For more information, go to dividedwefail.org.

In attendance were former and current legislators, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie, UVM faculty members, hospital representatives, city officials and many local citizens interested in the topic. 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization with 128,000 members in Vermont and 39 million members nationally. Through a wide array of special benefits, services, and information resources, we help our members make important choices, reach their goals and dreams, and make the most of life after 50.

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  Can Vermont Afford to Grow Old?

AARP State President Jim Leddy invites you to participate in a forum on Vermont’s future.

As more and more Vermonters hit retirement age, what impact will this have on the future prosperity of our state, on individual financial security, and on the key services, such as health care, that we all rely on? Join leading experts as they discuss how Vermont’s aging population will change our state and what we can do to prepare.

Moderator:
Jim Leddy, State President, AARP Vermont

Panelists:
Art Woolf, Associate Professor of Economics, UVM
Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President, Public Education, AARP National Office
Barbara McIntosh, Professor, UVM School of Business Administration

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
7:00 – 8:30 PM
UVM Davis Center, Frank Livak Room
Refreshments will be served

Parking:
Parking for the UVM Davis Center is by the tall blue water tower just east of the building.

Directions:
From I-89: Take exit 14W going towards downtown Burlington. Stay in the middle lane bearing right when the road forks. Continuing in the middle lane, stay on East Ave. until the traffic lights. Turn left at the lights and stay straight through the next set of lights (do not turn to go to the hospital). When the road splits, stay left and park within the parking lot.

From Main St. heading east: Go down Main St. towards Staples Plaza and take right turn at Spear St. and proceed left around jug handle to cross Main St. You are on East Ave. At first set of lights turn left and stay straight through the next set of lights (do not turn to go to the hospital). When the road splits, stay left and park within the parking lot.

Please send this legislative update to your friends and family members and encourage them to be an AARP Vermont e-mail advocate. They can sign up at www.aarp.org/getinvolved 

If you have any questions or comments regarding this legislative update, please do not hesitate to contact Philene Taormina at (802) 951-1304 or at ptaormina@aarp.org  AARP will take you off this mailing list if at any time you’d prefer not to receive it.

 

  UVM Transportation Research Center Awarded $1 Million for Workforce Development Project

BURLINGTON, VT - The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the University of Vermont’s Transportation Research Center (TRC) has been awarded $979,829 as part of a $1.01 million workforce development project to help develop innovative programs to attract and retain skilled workers in the transportation sector of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

“The transportation industry is a major economic sector,” said UVM President Dan Fogel, “and keeping it vibrant is critical to Vermont’s economy and our quality of life. The Transportation Research Center and its partners on this workforce development grant are an excellent example of how UVM can partner with communities to advance Vermont and New England.”

To construct and implement this workforce development program, the UVM Transportation Research Center is partnering with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Technical College, AARP-Vermont, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the Maine Department of Transportation, Vermont Local Roads, and The University of New Hampshire-Local Technical Assistance Program.

Given Northern New England’s demographic changes and the turbulent nature of our 21st century transportation system, the transportation sector will require a comprehensive workforce development plan. The grant awarded to the TRC will fund four new programs to help transportation leaders attract and maintain workers in this challenging environment.

The programs will tackle a host of issues including the need for transportation professionals with interdisciplinary skill sets (e.g. environmental engineering, intelligent technology, energy, public involvement, and innovative financing). While these diverse needs may challenge some with traditional road construction or traffic expertise, this newer approach creates an exciting challenge that can be used to recruit new talent and to retain existing workers.

Also to be addressed is the challenge of recruiting and training skilled maintenance workers, at times a difficult task in northern New England’s rural landscape.

And finally, the grant will fund a program that focuses on the statistics of our aging population by seeking to recruit and train the state’s growing number of retirees. Demographics—particularly in New England—point to the need to make better use of the skills and talents of retirees, from both inside and outside the transportation sector.

“Like all industries, transportation has seen an evolution of skills needed to meet the demands of the 21st century,” explains Director of the TRC, Lisa Aultman-Hall. “However, transportation plays such an integral role in our community and economy and we expect these new programs to be very successful in attracting new talent to work on the complex challenges of the system.”

“The programs are especially designed to address the needs related to finance, energy and environment,” Aultman-Hall said. “We are very pleased to have Karen Glitman, former Vermont Deputy Secretary of Transportation as the program manager for this grant. Her interdisciplinary background and approach is well suited to this challenge.”

The mission of the TRC is to develop integrated interdisciplinary research and education programs that advance the state and regional transportation system that promote a sustainable economy, healthy communities, appropriate land use development and re-development, equitable mobility, minimal environmental impacts and efficient energy use. The Center works with faculty and students in multiple Colleges at UVM. The Center was founded in 2006 with an initial grant of $16M from the U.S. DOT secured by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and former U.S. Sen. James Jeffords.

For more information about UVM’s Transportation Research Center, visit its website at www.uvm.ed/transportationcenter.

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