Only in America…

How many times have you heard, “Only in America…?”

This weekend is the Fourth of July. Next to Christmas, it’s my favorite holiday. The spirit of it conjures up images of the best of family, friends, community and the ideas that make our country great.

My latest “only in America” story involves three of our key AAHSA staff: Lauren Shaham, Majd Alwan and Margaret Wanca-Daniels. Lauren is an Orthodox Jew, Majd a devout Muslim, and Margaret a devout Baptist. A Christian. A Jew. A Muslim.

Lauren does media relations for us and many of our members. She gets us quoted regularly in top media outlets about our issues – issues most people don’t want to talk about or deal with.

In my testimony last week before the House Ways and Means Committee, I was part of a line-up of doctors, hospital leaders and a representative from AARP. When it came time for me to speak, I told them, “I represent the issues nobody wants to deal with and everybody will face.” Lauren fights that societal denial all the time, yet we are quoted frequently in the country’s most-read publications.

As an Orthodox Jew, Lauren keeps faith with her rituals. We accommodate, yet she always sees that her duties are fulfilled at our meetings when they fall on the Sabbath, for example. I admire her faithful commitment to her traditions and rituals. I wish I were as disciplined.

Majd Alwan is our technology guru. He directs our Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), has a doctoral degree, and helped develop an applied research technology lab at a prestigious university, from which we stole him. He now helps our members develop their technology plans, works with Congress and the administration on technology policy, and helps technology companies and universities understand the missions of our members so that science can be translated into innovations that work for the people we serve. Majd keeps faith with rituals including regular prayer.

Margaret is a behind-the-scenes force at AAHSA. She sees that the exhibit halls at our meetings are full each year. She also helps our state associations sell our mission to exhibitors. Her work generates a large measure of non-dues income that allows us to support things like CAST and the Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS). She also helps us interpret our mission to the business world. None of us can serve the people we serve without a partnership with the business sector.

Lauren, Majd and Margaret represented CAST and AAHSA at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the only event of its kind in the world. It’s held in Las Vegas. CAST was asked to provide educational content around the applicability of advancing technology in an aging society.

We sold exhibits and sponsorships to help pay for this opportunity. Majd was there to educate. Lauren was there to drum up media attention. Margaret was there to help generate revenue. All three were successful.

In the midst of this huge secular event, both Majd and Lauren kept their religious rituals. She kept Sabbath. He kept his prayers. In the course of doing so, Majd learned more about the requirements of Sabbath and covered for Lauren during certain hours. Lauren returned the favor when Majd went to prayer. On the Sabbath, Majd noticed an obviously Orthodox Jewish man who could not get on the elevator. Majd stepped in to help the man get where he needed to go. Margaret observed the Majd-Lauren dynamic and talked with them about their faiths and their differences. And they all maintained a collegial working relationship. A great team, these three!

The media fills us daily with divisiveness of all kinds: negative political spin about the plight and course of our country; the dilution of long-held values of freedom, choice and responsibilities; personal flaws of public characters; even the negatives about religion. These are concerns in all of us for sure, but doubtless often overplayed for entertainment value.

But in this country, on this celebration of Independence Day, let’s realize that a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian can work together, respect each other’s beliefs and traditions, talk about similarities and differences, and create an effective team. In America, three people of differing faiths can uphold their values even in one of the most secular of environments, without compromising their work. They can make a positive impact together for the great cause of improving the quality of life in our aging society.

AAHSA member organizations are filled with such diverse people; you each have your Laurens, Majds, and your Margarets. This weekend, celebrate and respect the common ideals you share.

A Christian, a Jew, a Muslim – No, it’s not the beginning of a joke. It’s the beginning of community based on differences, yet united by common goals.

E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It’s on our country’s Great Seal.

Do you have an “Only in America” story to share?

Let’s Talk about Long-term Services and Supports Today

At 1:15 this afternoon, President Obama will  host an online town hall where he will talk about health care reform. You can watch the event live by visiting www.HealthReform.gov.

But don’t just watch. You can also participate in online chat. Below is a sample question you can use to make sure long-term services and supports is part of the conversation.  The more of us who participate, the better. I know I’ll add my voice. Will you?

Sample Question:

“The current system for providing long-term services and supports  is fragmented, difficult and expensive. It affects not only people and their families, but also government programs, the medical profession and the economy as a whole. What will you do to help make it more affordable to care?”

Has Your Organization Changed Someone’s Life?

AAHSA and the readers of our FutureAge magazine want to know.

In the spirit of AAHSA’s Annual Meeting theme, I’m writing a story about what not-for-profit providers are doing to change lives.  And I don’t just mean older people. What has your organization done to transform the life of an employee, board member, student or volunteer?

Maybe you helped a CNA receive his or her nursing degree. Maybe your wellness program helped an employee lose 100 pounds. Both of these are actual examples from your peers. Now, it’s time to share your story.

Please contact contact me by July 7 if you have a life-changing story to share.

Advocacy Update and Call for Action

Over Congress’ Fourth of July recess, we need your help contacting key legislators and urging them to include the CLASS Act in the various health care reform bills.

These legislators include senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Finance committees,  House members on the Energy & Commerce, the Ways & Means, and the Education & Labor committees, and the Blue Dog Coalition.

It’s a long list, but it’s important we contact as many of these legislators as possible.

Please let us know if you need contact information for these legislators.

We developed the following  sample messages you can use to contact these legislators. Please feel free to add your own words, which are always more effective than standardized messages.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score, which is laid out descriptively rather than by numbers alone, is the most important point to get across.

Please include your contact information so you can follow up with the legislators. We’ll be in touch early next week with information about our plans for the August recess. Working together, we will make it affordable to care!

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Mark-up on the CLASS Act is expected for July 8, so this is the major key group to contact now

“We urge you to support the inclusion of the CLASS Act (Title XXXII) in the Affordable Health Choices Act currently in mark-up.  This new insurance program is fully paid by premiums.  The CBO score (negative $57.8 billion over 10 years) clearly shows that this program will not cost the government a penny over the next 10 years, has a positive savings of $2.5 billion in Medicaid in the first 10 years alone, and is sustainable over the long term.  This program would transform financing of long-term services and supports, assist America’s workers and future retirees, and promote choice and independence.”

Senate Finance Committee

“We urge you to include the CLASS Act, introduced by the HELP Committee, in the Affordable Health Choices Act (Title XXXII) in your committee’s health reform legislation when it is introduced.  This program would transform financing of long-term services and supports, assist America’s workers and future retirees, and promote choice and independence.  The CLASS Act was scored by CBO as sustainable for the long term, and because it is paid by premiums, the score (negative $57.8 billion) confirms that this program does not cost the government a penny over the next 10 years and has a positive savings of $2.5 billion in federal Medicaid dollars in the first 10 years alone.”

House Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, and Education & Labor Committees:

“We urge you to support including the CLASS Act, H.R. 1721, in the Tri-Committee Health Care legislation. The CLASS Act was introduced by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.), and is now part of the Senate HELP Committee’s Affordable Health Choices Act as Title XXXII.  This new insurance program would transform the financing of long-term services and supports, assist America’s workers and future retirees, and promote choice and independence. The CBO score (negative $57.8 billion over 10 years) clearly shows that this premium insurance-based program is not a cost to the federal government, is sustainable over the long term, and actually saves $2.5 billion in federal Medicaid dollars in the first 10 years alone.”

Blue Dog Democrat Coalition

“We urge you to support including the CLASS Act, H.R. 1721, in the House’s health care legislation. The CLASS Act was introduced by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.), and is now part of the Senate HELP Committee’s Affordable Health Choices Act as Title XXXII. This new insurance program would transform the financing of long-term services and supports, assist America’s workers and future retirees, and promote choice and independence. The CBO score (negative $57.8 billion over 10 years) clearly shows that this premium insurance based program is not a cost to the federal government, is sustainable over the long-term, and actually saves $2.5 billion in federal Medicaid dollars in the first 10 years alone.”