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Issues - Senior Citizens
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118564862
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Issues - Senior Citizens
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Ronald Reagan's Governor's Papers of the Press Unit
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1975-12-31
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1967-01-01
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Reagan, Ronald: Gubernatorial Papers,
1966-74: Press Unit
Folder Title: Issues - Senior Citizens
Box: P31
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 1:00 PM (EST),
Citizens
THURSDAY MARCH 23, 1972
JH
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
FACT SHEET
MESSAGE ON OLDER AMERICANS
In his message, the President outlines a comprehensive
strategy for the complex problems faced by older Americans.
There are 5 major elements:
1.
Improving the income position of older Americans.
2. Upgrading the quality of nursing homes.
3. Helping older Americans lead dignified, independent
lives in their own homes.
4. Expanding opportunities for the involvement of older
persons in community life.
5. Organizing the Government to meet the changing needs
of older Americans.
In 1973, the Federal Government will spend an estimated
$50 billion on behalf of older Americans, nearly 50% more than
in 1969. One example of increased concern for the elderly is
the increase in overall Federal spending under the Older
Americans Act; spending under this Act has risen from $32
million in 1969 to a proposed $157 million as announced in the
1973 budget. The President is recommending a further increase
of $100 million for nutrition and related services. This will
bring total spending in 1973 to $257 million -- an eight fold
increase.
1. IMPROVING THE INCOME
POSITION OF OLDER AMERICANS
The President has signed into law social security
increases amounting to more than a 26 percent rise
since 1969 -- a $10 billion annual increase in in-
come for the elderly. When the proposed 5% benefit
increase in H.R. 1 is enacted, the increase in a
2 1/2 year period would be one-third, the largest
such increase in the history of social security.
In his message the President urges Congress to
enact the new income benefits for older Americans
contained in H.R. 1, which would total $5 1/2 billion
when fully effective. This includes $3 billion in
increased social security benefits and $2 1/2 billion
in new benefits for the needy elderly.
Other important reforms contained in H.R. 1 include
the first national income floor for older Americans;
guaranteed inflation-proof social security benefits;
a modified retirement earnings test to allow an
individual to earn more after retirement without
losing social security benefits; increased benefits
for delayed retirement; and special minimum benefits
for people who have worked for 15 or more years under
social security.
more
2
The President will propose a program to increase
the incomes of military retirees and improve the
military retirement system. This includes re-
computing retired pay on the basis of January, 1971
military pay scales, and improving the protection
of survivors of retired personnel.
Older veterans are benefiting from improved medicare
care for veterans. In fiscal year 1973, 844,000
veterans will be treated in VA hospitals, and ap-
proximately one-fourth of these veterans will be
over age 65. Veterans' pensions were increased by
an average of 10 percent in calendar year 1971
and are being increased by another 6 1/2 percent
in 1972.
Benefits for retired Federal employees and their
families have been improved by increasing annuities
as the cost of living rises, and by liberalizing
health and other retirement benefits.
The President has submitted a program to reform and
expand private pension programs, through:
-- tax deductions to encourage independent savings
toward retirement;
-- more generous tax deductions for self-employed
persons;
-- vesting of pensions to insure that persons who
have worked for an employer for a significant
period will retain their pension rights;
- management of pension funds exclusively in the
interest of beneficiaries; and
-- a one-year study of pension plan terminations
by the Departments of Labor and Treasury.
The President announced (August 1971) a New Economic
Policy to help reduce inflationary pressures that
are so harmful to older Americans receiving relatively
fixed incomes.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to relieve
the burden of property taxes.
Recent and pending changes in income tax laws would
provide special help to older persons (a single
person agod 65 or older would be able to receive up
to $5,100 of income without paying any Federal in-
come taxes, while a married couple with both husband
and wife 65 or older would be able to earn up to
$8,000 of such tax free income.)
The President directs his Office of Consumer Affairs
to develop recommendations for further action to
make older citizens aware of their legal rights
under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act
and to help the States develop consumer education
programs specifically designed for older citizens.
The President's comprehensive health proposals also
can reduce the burden of health costs on the elderly:
He has:
more
3
-- Requested that the monthly $5.80 Medicare
supplementary premium fee be eliminated,
yielding older persons $1.5 billion.
-- Urged several measures contained in H.R. 1
to reduce health costs for older Americans,
including extending Medicare to many of the
disabled who have been forced to retire early,
enabling Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in
Health Maintenance Organizations, and clarifying
coverage for extended care facilities after
hospitalization.
2. UPGRADING THE QUALITY
OF NURSING HOMES
The President announced an 8-point plan to upgrade the
quality of nursing homes in August of 1971. The Administration
has:
Trained almost 450 State nursing home inspectors
in Federally-sponsored programs,
Submitted legislation to provide 100 percent
Federal funding of State Medicaid inspections of
nursing homes;
Established an Office of Nursing Home Affairs in
the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education
and Welfare;
Increased Medical Services Administration personnel
by 142 positions to enforce Medicaid standards and
regulations;
Funded a short-term training program for nursing
home personnel (20,000 in fiscal year 1972; 21,000
in fiscal year 1973.);
Designated Social Security district offices to receive
and investigate nursing home complaints;
Initiated a comprehensive analysis of the issues
related to long-term care; and
Improved the enforcement of nursing home standards,
including the decertification of 13 substandard
nursing homes.
3. ENHANCING THE INDEPENDENCE
OF OLDER AMERICANS
To help older Americans lead dignified, independent lives
in their own homes, the President:
Increased the 1972 budget of the Administration on
Aging to $100 million for 1973 -- to provide home-
maker, transportation, nutrition and community
services. He will request an additional $100 million
for funding of increased nutrition and related services.
Called for indefinite extension of the Older Americans
Act and proposed amendments to strengthen service
delivery:
more
4
-- HEW would increase its financial support for
the State Agencies on Aging and fund up to
90% of services costs and up to 75% of the
administrative costs of new Area Planning
Agencies on Aging.
-- State and Area Planning Agencies would plan to
mobilize wide range resources -- public and
private -- to enhance the independence of older
citizens.
Announced new procedures for interagency coordination
of Federal resources which aid older persons. Under
these procedures Federal agencies will identify each
year that portion of their resources they expect to
spend the next year to help older persons meet their
needs. State Agencies on Aging will use this infor-
mation for more effective planning and delivery of
services.
Set up a system whereby nearly 900 Social Security
district offices will provide information on benefits
available to the elderly;
Asked the Domestic Council Committee on Aging to
examine ways to use other government offices -- such
as the General Services Administration's Federal In-
formation Centers and the Agricultural Extension
Service's local offices -- to expand the information
and complaint centers;
Will launch an outreach campaign (Project FIND) to
increase the participation of eligible older persons
in the food assistance programs of the Department of
Agriculture (i.e., food stamps and surplus commodities).
The campaign will be conducted through a network of
existing Federally operated or funded field offices
and outreach workers;
Urged action on the recent legislative proposal of the
Secretary of Transportation that some of the Highway
Trust Fund be used to finance mass transportation and
asked the Secretary of Transportation to develop
specific suggestions for helping States and localities
use a portion of these resources for the elderly.
Announced that the Department of Transportation will
give priority to community requests for capital grants
that aid the elderly from the Urban Mass Transportation
Fund. The President urges States and localities to
move immediately to take advantage of available
resources.
Made housing money more readily available for older
Americans. In fiscal year 1972 and fiscal year 1973
HUD will reach an all-time record in producing
specially designed, subsidized and insured housing
and nursing homes.
-- 66,000 units of HUD-subsidized housing units
specially designed for the elderly are planned
for fiscal year 1972 and an estimated 82,000
for fiscal year 1973.
-- 14,000 units under the Nursing Home and Inter-
mediate Care Facility Program, are planned in
fiscal year 1972 and an estimated 18,000 in
fiscal year 1973.
more
5
HUD has also issued guidelines to make the
Section 236 subsidized rental program more
responsive to the needs of the elderly and
to provide technical assistance to non-profit
sponsors under the Section 106(a) program.
Announced that HUD will extend the mortgage
maturity for the FHA insured nursing home
program to a maximum of 40 years -- enabling
sponsors to "package" residential and nursing
home complexes more easily.
Requested HUD to work with the Administration
on Aging to develop training programs in the
management of housing for the elderly.
Directed the Secretary of HUD to encourage more
space for senior centers in subsidized housing
projects for the elderly.
4. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR INVOLVEMENT
To expand opportunities for more older Americans to make
meaningful contributions in all facets of society, the President:
Proposed legislation to expand ACTION's person-to-
person volunteer programs to permit low-income
elderly persons to work with children of special
need in community settings and with older Americans
in nursing homes and in the community.
Supported a national effort of volunteer organizations
designed to help the elderly to remain in their own
homes.
Tripled the Retired Senior Volunteers Program, to
$15 million, to involve 75,000 volunteers.
Doubled the Foster Grandparents Program to $25 million,
providing for 11,500 foster grandparents to serve
23,000 children per day.
Doubled the special job projects for older persons,
such as Green Thumb and Senior Aides, to $26 million,
to involve as many as 10,000 older persons.
Will propose legislation to broaden the coverage of
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to include
the fastest growing area of employment -- the State
and local governments.
Directed the Secretary of Labor to work on expanding
employment opportunities for persons over 65 by
urging the States and local communities to include
older Americans in jobs provided by the Emergency
Employment Act of 1971 and working with public em-
ployment offices to help open job opportunities
in both the public and private sectors.
Will send a directive to heads of Federal departments
and agencies to emphasize the policy that age shall
be no bar to a Federal job which an individual is
otherwise qualified to perform.
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6
5. ORGANIZING THE GOVERNMENT
To better coordinate present and future efforts for older
Americans, the President has:
Created a new Domestic Council cabinet level
committee on aging, chaired by HEW Secretary
Richardson.
Created the position of Special Assistant on
Aging, John Martin.
Appointed a Special Consultant on Aging,
Arthur Flemming.
To augment these efforts the Administration will:
Strengthen the Secretary of HEW's Advisory Com-
mittee on Older Americans -- providing it with
permanent staff to support its increased
responsibilities.
Arrange to have the Chairman of the Advisory
Committee report directly to the Secretary of
Health, Education and Welfare.
Create a Technical Advisory Committee on Aging
Research reporting to the Advisory Committee to
develop a comprehensive plan of social,
psychological, health, education, and economic
research in HEW affecting the aged.
####
SENIOR CITIZENS--RR
Some would have us believe that old people are out of step
with modern society, that they are unable to keep up with the
hectic pace of modern technology, that they are confused by every-
thing and should get out of the way of young, progressive ideas.
But I disagree. There is great danger in lumping all people
over the age of 50 into one great mass. Maybe some people do
become confused and unable to keep up the pace as they grow
older. But I am sure you know, as I do, many young people also
are confused by our society and choose to drop out rather than
try to understand.
The fallacy of generalizing about all people over the age
of 50 is easily seen by looking around: in every phase of
private business, where owners and employees by the thousands
continue working actively well into their seventies; in govern-
ment--city, county, state and federal--where people work right
up to the mandatory retirement age and then donate their services
as volunteer consultants for years afterward; in volunteer organ-
isations, in which many of you have participated, where men and
women in their eighties and nineties continue to serve their
society faithfully and well. I firmly believe that Senior
Californians are not out of touch with the Space Age. The fact
is, they are the architects of the Space Age.
It is my hope and desire that each Senior Californian will
have a retirement that is satisfying and productive--a retirement
with dignity and self-respect.
For example, we have worked diligently to end discrimination
because of age in the area of employment. This task is, GE course,
still far from completion, but great strides are being made.
California has become the first state in the nation to create
a state civil service classification specifically for the purpose
of hiring senior citizens on a part-time basis to work in their
own communities in finding solutions to the problems of housing,
employment, medical care, nutrition and education.
California has attracted nationwide attention for its volun-
teer recognition program, the Senior Californian Service Corps.
And Property tax relief for senior citizens is now a reality
because of the efforts of this Administration.
We have made significant progress in these and many other
fields. Yet much remains to be done.
There is still not enough housing available for those on
limited, fixed incomes. There are still not enough jobs avail-
able for those with talent and energy who seek them. There are
many who feel alone and forgotten.
We in government cannot provide all the remedies, solve all
the problems and meet all the needs--nor should we. A truly
Creative Society cannot be built on the efforts of government
alone. All members of our society must work together. When
both government and the independent sector think and act creatively
as a team--neither one telling the other what it must do but
rather what each can do to reach the same goal-then there is no
problem we cannot solve.
-2-
As citizens, you and I have a responsibility to use our
talents and resources to the best of our abilities. And, if
we do, California will continue to be the greatest state in the
nation.
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