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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-LFA-rpt.pdf THE LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING WAS A SERIES OF "TOWN MEETINGS" ON THE SUBJECT OF AGING, SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON AND THE LEXINGTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, THE SERIES WAS FINANCED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THROUGH ITS SCIENCE FOR CITIZENS PROGRAM, THESE MEETINGS PROVIDED FOR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND PARTICIPATION IN MAKING PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS ON ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT THE LENGTH AND QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, EXPERTS IN FIELDS LIKE ETHICS, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH, AND GERONTOLOGY PRESENTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTING, LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATORS WERE INVITED. A TOTAL OF OVER 800 PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SERIES OF FOUR FORUMS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS FROM TWELVE ADJACENT TOWNS. "TOWN MEETING" DISCUSSION AND DEBATE FOCUSED ON A GROUP OF RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING SUB-COMMITTEES IN HEALTH FINANCE, HEALTH LEGISLATION, HUMAN SERVICES AND RETIREMENT, ATTACHED HEREWITH ARE COPIES OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS ON WHICH FEDERAL ACTION HAS BEEN REQUESTED. WRP/MFH MOTION ON RESOLUTION 5 THAT THIS FORUM RECOMMENDS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN FUNDING FOR BASIC BIO-MEDICAL, CLINICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND INTER- DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH . THAT THE AIM OF THIS RESEARCH SHOULD BE THE EXTENSION OF THE HEALTHY YEARS OF LIFE, AND THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO RESEARCH ON SPECIAL AND CHRONIC DISEASES OF THE AGED POPULATION. THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR A 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BUDGET EACH YEAR FROM FISCAL YEAR 1979 THROUGH 1983. THIS RESOLUTION WAS VOTED ON FAVORABLY IN THE THREE FORUM SESSIONS IN WHICH IT WAS DEBATED. (IT WAS REINTRODUCED IN THE OTHER TWO FORUM SESSIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE AMENDMENTS WHICH BROUGHT IT TO ITS PRESENT FORM, ABOVE. ) THE FINAL VOTE ON MAY 31, 1978, WAS UNANIMOUS, MOTION ON RESOLUTION 3 THAT THERE SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF MEDICARE TO INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR REGULAR PHYSICAL CHECK-UPS, OUT-PATIENT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, EYEGLASSES, HEARING AIDS, DENTURES, SUPPORTS FOR JOINTS AND MUSCLES, AND ARTIFICIAL REPLACEMENTS, THAT., IR ADDITION, COVERAGE SHOULD INCLUDE TREATMENT FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AS A PRIMARY SERVICE IN THE EXISTING HOME CARE SERVICES SYSTEM; AND EXTENDED BENEFITS FOR TREATMENT BY PSYCHIATRISTS OUTSIDE HOSPITALS, AND THAT MEDICARE COVERAGE SHOULD MAKE HOME HEALTH CARE MORE AVAILABLE, SPECIFICALLY BY REMOVING REQUIREMENTS ON PRIOR HOSPITALIZATION, NUMBER OF VISITS, AND BEING HOME BOUND. THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF MEDICARE INCLUDING THE ABOVE- MENTIONED COVERAGES, THIS RESOLUTION PASS UNANIMOUSLY AT THE APRIL 26, 1978, LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING SESSION. to MOTION ON RESOLUTION 14 THAT, SINCE ANY PERSON IN THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON OR ANY RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES MAY BECOME A VICTIM OF A CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS OR MAY AT SOME PERIOD OF HIS OR HER LIFE REQUIRE LONG- TERM MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE, THAT, THEREFORE, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE LEGISLATURE CONSIDER LEGISLATION DIRECTED TOWARD FINANCIAL ALLEVIATION OF PROBLEMS OF CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS AND LONG-TERM NURSING CARE. THAT THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION MAKES IT NECESSARY FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO DESIGN PROGRAMS TO ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDENS AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN WHICH OFTEN STRIKES THE FAMILIES OF PATIENTS, THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR GOVERNOR, OUR UNITED STATES SEANTORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION AND TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THIS RESOLUTION, MOTION PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING, ON MAY 31, 1978. MOTION ON RESOLUTION 12 THAT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND OTHER APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES INCREASE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACOLOGY AND THAT THEY TAKE ACTION TO ENCOURAGE THE TRAINING OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS AND INTERACTION OF DRUGS ON OLDER PERSONS. THAT GUIDELINES BE DEVELOPED FOR DRUG DOSAGES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT AGE-RELATED AND DISEASE--RELATED EFFECTS, THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION AND TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION. MOTION PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING, MAY 31. 1978. MOTION ON RESOLUTION 16 THAT THE LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING SUPPORTS USE OF FEDERAL TAX MONEY FOR AN EXPANDED PROGRAM OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCA- TION REGARDING THE HEALTH HAZARDS AND PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS RELATING TO SMOKING, THAT THE FORUM EXPRESSES ITS DISAPPROVAL OF THE USE OF LEXINGTON TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE THE GROWING OF TOBACCO FOR USE IN CIGARETTES, THE USE OF WHICH RESULTS IN HIGHER FEDERALLY SUPPORTED HEALTH CARE COSTS. THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION AND TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION, MOTION TABLED BY LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING, MAY 31, 1978. TIME DID NOT PERMIT CONSIDERATION OF THIS MOTION, HOWEVER, THE QUESTIONNAIRES RETURNED AT THE END OF THE MAY 31 SESSION SHOWED THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: STRONGLY MILDLY MILDLY STRONGLY OUR TAXES SHOULD NOT AGREE AGREE UNDEC I DED D I SAGREE D I SAGREE BE USED TO SUBSIDIZE THE GROWING OF TOBACCO 84% 12% 27 27 0% FOR USE IN CIGARETTES tl MOIION ON RESOLUTION 11 THAT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND OTHER APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ENCOURAGE THE REVAMPING OF EDUCATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO INCLUDE INCREASED TRAINING IN GERONTOLOGIC MEDICINE WITH EMPHASIS ON ATTITUDE AND APPROACH TO SPECIAL NEEDS OF OLDER PATIENTS, THAT INCENTIVES BE PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF GRANTS TO MEDICAL SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS OF GERONTOLOGIC MEDICINE. THAT THE PROVISION OF A STRONG BACKGROUND IN GERONTOLOGIC MEDICINE BECOMES AN INTEGRAL PART OF MEDICAL SCHOOL TRAINING SO THAT THE PRINCIPALS OF CARE AND APPROACH TO OLDER PATIENTS IS TAUGHT, THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO INITIATE LEGISLATION AND TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION. MOTION TABLED BY LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING, MAY 31, 1978, TIME DID NOT PERMIT CONSIDERATION OF THIS MOTION; HOWEVER, PREVIOUS FORUM DISCUSSION INDICATED THAT THE MOTION VERY LIKELY WOULD HAVE PASSED . HOWEVER, THE QUESTIONNAIRES RETURNED AT THE END OF THE MAY 31 SESSION SHOWED THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: STRONGLY MILDLY MILDLY STRONGLY THERE SHOULD BE INCREASED AGREE AGREE UNDECIDED DISAGREE DISAGREE TRAINING OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN 76% 18% 2% 2% 2% GERONTOLOGIC MEDICINE a t a 4 MOTION ON RESOLUTION 15 THAT THE LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN INSTRUCT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE (TO BE APPOINTED UNDER RESOLUTION 8) TO INCLUDE, AS ONE OF ITS FUNCTIONS, LIAISON WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGING OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING. THAT, WITHIN THE PROPER LIMITS, THE LEXINGTON COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE SHOULD INTERFACE WITH MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGING TO PASS ALONG EVIDENCE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE NIA PROGRAMS AND PARTICIPATE IN EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS WITH WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS OUR MONEY FOR RESEARCH, THAT THIS FORUM REQUESTS OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS TO ENCOURAGE THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING TO INCLUDE THIS LIAISON FUNCTION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, MOTION PASSED BY LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING, MAY 31, 1978.