The Aging Network, Essay Example

Question 1

The Aging Network, or National Aging Network, is a structure of interconnected agencies that incorporate federal, state, and local organizations to provide services to enable older adults to live independently within their homes and communities. The network was established with the Older American’s Act (OAA) in 1965 due to the lack of community services for the geriatric population. The Aging Network was meant to ensure a better quality of life for those over age 60, regardless of their economic status. The Aging Network is headed by the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and administers, authorizes, and distributes funding to assist older adults with programs covering research, training, nutrition, home and community-based services, family caregiver assistance, and basic legal rights. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works with state and local governments to protect the health of Americans and provide essential human services. Funds are provided to 246 Tribal organizations, and 56 State Units on Aging. These State Units allocate funds which go to 629 Area Agencies on Aging to be distributed to approximately 20,000 local service providers and volunteers to be given to older adults (“Older Americans Act,” 2012).

The principles and values of the Aging Network include disease prevention, health and wellness services, and the promotion of legal and human rights to older adults. The Aging Network upholds the OAA by providing persons 65 years of age and older long-term care, legal services, abuse prevention, income, affordable housing, and equal opportunity for employment. Though the basic principles remain consistent, the OAA is continuously being updated to reflect the changing times. Throughout the years since its initiation, the OAA has undergone changes such as increasing financing for senior centers and including grants to Native American tribal organizations. It has also been modified to accommodate the increasing population of older adults. The most recent reauthorization occurred on September 19, 2012. This includes new programs which provide assistance for veterans, Holocaust survivors, and senior citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered. It also provides support for caregivers and funds programs involving fall prevention, nutrition, abuse prevention, and local ombudsman programs. The new reauthorization requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to improve inflation calculations to more accurately reflect the out-of-pocket expenses that older adults pay health care and medications (“Older Americans Act,” 2012).

Countries other than the United States also have policies regarding the care of older adults. The Canadian government has a policy similar to the United States in caring for its geriatric population, but in Canada, older adults are provided with more assistance and have reduced levels of poverty. Canada’s Public Pension System provides benefits to all Canadians; this system has three main components. The first component is similar to the United States’ Social Security program. The Canada Pension Plan is a mandatory program which provides income for retired and disabled workers and their survivors. The second component of the Canadian Public Pension System, the Old Age Security program is a pension financed from general revenues and paid to most Canadians over age 65; those who do not receive benefits include those who do not meet residency requirements or who have high taxable incomes. The third component is the Guaranteed Income Supplement. It is a non-taxable benefit paid to low-and moderate-income older adults and is a guaranteed form of income financed from taxes (Wiseman & Ycas, 2008).

Previously in Europe, the major trend was for senior citizens to be cared for by their families. But with the shifting economy and increasing population of senior citizens, this is changing. European governments are now looking for ways to help seniors maintain their independence. In the Netherlands, older adults have the option of receiving a “care budget” to pay for their own services and have popularity of retirement communities where friends develop their own village or group of apartments. But for those who cannot afford it, they must rely on government programs to pay for nursing homes or home-based services, which are provided regardless of people’s ability to pay. Other European countries are falling behind. Britain spends little money on providing assistance to its older adults, resulting in a greater burden on caregivers, causing isolation from society, poor nutrition, and increase in treatable illnesses (Martin, 2011). In Germany, the high cost of health care is leading to many moving out of the country to Asia and Eastern Europe because they are unable to afford the rising costs of health care with their pensions.

Culturally, older adults are more respected in Asia. In many developing countries, they are still taken care of by their families. But with more adults living longer and the economy declining, there may be more challenges as in caring for the geriatric population. In countries such as China, India, and Thailand, there may not be enough government resources to supplement the rising elderly population. In Shanghai, many have to be on a waiting list for over five years before they are able to enter a government nursing home. Many nursing homes are facing issues such as bankruptcy and often deliver sub-standard care (Kleinman & Chen, 2012).

As with any institution, the OAA faces constant criticism. One concern is that eligibility for assistance is limited and the margins are too narrow. However, the government is attempting to provide as much assistance as possible and the continuous reauthorizations are proof of that effort. Another concern is that the increased spending for the OAA, along with the increasing costs of Medicare and Social Security programs, will be detrimental to the national budget. However, in order to accommodate the increasing amount of older adults and their specific needs, more funds are necessary. If more efforts are spent on prevention, the overall costs of expensive medical procedures can care for chronic illnesses can be decreased. Healthier older adults may even choose to work part-time, requiring less spending on financial assistance programs such as Social Security.

Any changes made to the OAA should reflect the changing times and economy. Before the reauthorization in 2012, the OAA needed to be expanded to better accommodate the changing population of older adults. In order decrease health care costs for both acute and chronic illnesses and reduce the need for expensive medications and medical procedures, the OAA could incorporate funding for more preventative care. Programs could be implemented which would expand on nutrition and exercise, provide vaccines, breast and prostate exams, and focus on complementary and alternative medicine. Overall the OAA has been beneficial to older adults, and while resources will always be limited, continuously reassessing the countries conditions and concerns will help to ensure a better quality of life.

Question 2: Employment

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of older adults in the workforce. Whether they are returning to the work or postponing retirement, many must supplement their limited incomes. Difficulty in finding employment and retaining their positions often occurs due to the high amount of age discrimination. Even though there are laws against age discrimination, it is a frequent problem and forces many older adults to live in poverty.

The factors that influence employment rates among older adults include the job market and economy, availability of health insurance, eligibility for Social Security benefits, and the design of pension plans. The amount of older adults in the work force may continue to increase due to improved health and education, the decline in physically demanding work, and the changing standard of pension plans. Employers are beginning to move away from the defined benefit pension plans that pay a lifetime monthly annuity towards defined contribution plans, which pay a single “lump-sum” at retirement.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was established in 1967 to combat discrimination against workers over the age of 40 and to prevent employers from seeking retaliation against workers who have filed complaints. The ADEA encompasses the federal government and its agencies, private employers with 20 or more employees, interstate and employment agencies, and labor unions. State governments are not affected by this act.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides training and employment to older adults on a limited income. The SCSEP helps older adults to work 20 hours a week in community service positions and ensures that payments are at least minimum wage. To qualify for assistance, people must be at least 55 years of age, unemployed, reside in the county serviced by the local SCSEP office, and have a family income of no greater than 25% above the federal poverty level. Preference is given to those over age 60, veterans and their spouses, and minorities. The SCSEP is funded by the AARP Foundation and the Experience Works program.

Common reasons for age discrimination include economic decline and stereotypes. During times of economic hardship, employers are often forced to lay off workers. Older adults are often laid off first and replaced by younger prospects. Younger employees may be paid less and many employers do not want to pay into pension plans. Harmful stereotypes also contribute to age discrimination. Examples of these stereotypes may include that older adults are resistance to change, are technologically ignorant, and have low energy and productivity.

Doris Roberts is an actress who speaks out against stereotypes which negatively impact the employment of older adults. She illustrates that senior citizens are often portrayed in an undignified matter and quality roles are limited for older, particularly female, actors.

The state of employment has specific implications for older women, minorities, and individuals living in poverty. According to a study by Purcell (2009), the number of older women and minorities who must continue to work is increasing, though full-time employment is more frequently obtained by Caucasian males. Older African Americans and Hispanic adults will face specific challenges such as lower wages, higher unemployment, and limited access to self-employment. People who are economically disadvantaged show the reverse effect and their employment levels continue to remain low.

Older adults play a significant role in affecting the policies and environment of the work arena. In order to remain updated, employers can offer training programs to educate their employees about the latest technology advances in their fields. Access to the latest trends and information increases productivity. Workers will take personal initiative and continue to improve their skills, ultimately benefiting employers and their companies.

In Sweden, even though there are a high amount of older adults in the workforce, the majority choose to be employed. This is in opposition to the United States, where many older adults must continue to work to sustain their basic necessities. Because of the amount of investment in preventative healthcare, the Swedish population is healthier and is able to engage in more productive work. According to Westerholm (2012), education and improved living conditions inspires more older adults to remain active. Swedish citizens have the opportunity to work until age 67, but are able to receive full benefits at age 61. Swedish citizens receive more pension money the longer they stay in the workforce; though this is similar to Social Security, but is presented as an incentive rather than a penalty. Older adults also have greater opportunity to work part-time, have better working conditions, and more flexible working hours.

Aging network professionals can play a significant role in this matter by promoting programs which provide better healthcare, nutrition, and education to older adults. These agencies can help to prevent and fight age discrimination, allowing a greater number of older adults to be employed and retain as much independence as possible.

Changes do need to be made in order to assist older adults with the same employment rights and privileges as younger generations. Due to limited finances and an increasing population of older adults, the amount of people who will continue to work at an older age will continue to rise. But by taking into consideration the physical needs of older adults and not engaging in harmful stereotypes, working in older years can be seen as a beneficial rather than detrimental.

Question 3

The retirement patterns of older adults are changing. The age of full retirement has increased to 66 and many older Americans are postponing their retirement and remaining in the workforce. When Americans do retire, it is usually because they are able to collect assistance from a either a pension plan or Social Security. The high number of Americans in the baby boomer generation, or those born between 1946 and 1964, will increase the show an increase in the number of older adults who are working. Older adults can no longer rely on the guarantee of assisted income after retirement.

The retirement of the baby boomers does not necessarily constitute a crisis if accommodations are made. Increased funding will have to be placed into Social Security and private plans and the age of retirement will have to be raised. Americans are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. By increasing the age of retirement, older adults will be able to earn more money independently and have higher incomes when they do retire.

The Social Security retirement program provides government assistance to older adults, the disabled, and unemployed. According to the Social Security Administration (2012), to qualify for benefits, a person must be at least 62, have worked for ten years, and earned at least $4,520 per year. Social Security is funded through payroll taxes or Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax (FICA). Employees are responsible for one half of the tax, which is withheld from their paycheck; their employers pay for the other. Independent contractors, or those who are self-employed, are responsible for the entire amount of the Social Security tax.

Social Security provides a source of income for retirees and prevents many older adults from living below the federal poverty level. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration (2013), the full retirement age to receive Social Security benefits is 66, but people can begin to collect Social Security income at age 62. However, if workers retire at before they reach the age of 66, their benefits are reduced. Workers who delay receiving Social Security until they are beyond the full retirement age are eligible for delayed retirement credit, which increases their benefits. In 1983, legislation increased the retirement age to 66 for those who were turning 62 in 2000 or later. For those who will be turning 62 in 2017, the age of full retirement will increase to 67.

There are many criticisms against Social Security. Some are concerned that it discriminates against the poor and middle class because of the high taxes workers must pay on their wages. The taxes for Social Security can be very high and removes a significant amount of money from paychecks. Another concern is that the benefits for survivors are denied to single adults, divorced widowers married less than 10 years, and co-habitating and same-sex couples. Social Security also forces citizens to pay for services that they may not want or even have available to them upon reaching the full retirement age. Many people would prefer to pay into a private plan because Social Security often provides a low rate of return on income.

Despite the criticism, in addition to preventing many people from living below the federal poverty line, Social Security income also pays for disability benefits and supplements the survivors of the deceased recipient. Disability services are provided for those who are unable to work before the age of retirement. To qualify for disability benefits, recipients must complete a “recent work” test based on the age they became disabled and a “duration of work” test to show that they worked long enough under Social Security. Most recipients are eligible for disability benefits after they have been disabled for five months. The disability benefits are increased once a year based upon inflation rates.

Changes must be made to the Social Security program. The increasing amount of retired older adults will require extra assistance, especially with the rising costs of health care. Even though Social Security does keep older adults from living below the poverty level, their income must usually be supplemented by other sources. Social Security survivor benefits should also be expanded to reflect the changing demographics of this country. Many couples either choose not to marry or are unable to marry because they are of the same sex. Their life-partners are entitled to receive the same benefits as those who are legally married. Americans should be given a choice regarding if they elect to receive Social Security or choose a private plan. Because Social Security may not be available to younger generations, the high amount that they spend in taxes may be more beneficial in paying for food, school loans, and other basic necessities. While other institutions, such as the OAA reflect the changing times, the Social Security program often remains stagnant and outdated.

References:

Administration on Aging, (2012). Older Americans act. Retrieved from website: http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/OAA/index.aspx

Kleinman, A., & Chen, H. (2012, April 24). Looking after the elderly – asia. Retrieved from http://www.fungglobalinstitute.org/publications/articles/looking-after-the-elderly—asias-next-big-challenge-286.html

Martin, D. (2011, June 06). Europe shames britain on care for the elderly as we rank 17th out of 20 in list of money spent on our elders. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394677/Europe-shames-Britain-care-elderly-rank-17th-20-list-money-spent-elders.html

Purcell, P. Congressional Research Service, (2009). Older worker: Employment and retirement trends. Retrieved from website: http://aging.senate.gov/crs/pension34.pdf

Social Security Administration, (2012). Social security: How you earn credits. Retrieved from website: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10072.pdf

U.S. Social Security Administration, (2013). Understanding the benefits. Retrieved from website: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10024.html

Westerholm, B. European Economical Social Committee, (2012). Activation of senior citizens – why do swedes work longer. Retrieved from website: http://www.slideshare.net/EESCsocsection/04-barbro-westerholm

Wiseman, M., & Ycas, M. U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. (2008). The Canadian safety net for the elderly. Retrieved from website: http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v68n2/v68n2p53.html