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This file contains materials relating to Cleonice Tavani, Arthur S. Flemming, and Bertha Adkins.

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352356386
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Aging - Federal Council on Aging (2)
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352356386
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Aging - Federal Council on Aging (2)
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This file contains materials relating to Cleonice Tavani, Arthur S. Flemming, and Bertha Adkins.
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Sarah C. Massengale Files (Ford Administration)
Sarah Massengale's Health, Social Security and Welfare Files
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Old age
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352356386
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1976-10-31
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10
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1976
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1975-03-01
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 3, folder "Aging - Federal Council on Aging (2)" of the Sarah C. Massengale Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials. 1/15/75 THE ELDERLY AND THE PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM -- Program devised to combat recession with smallest possible inflationary impact. -- This is in best interests of elderly as they are ones hit hardest by inflation. -- The increase of the low-income allowance would benefit those low-income elderly. -- Elderly who pay taxes would benefit from tax rebate proposal, while those who do not would still receive money from the Government. -- While does limit increase in social security -- this one year -- it would not be unduly burdensome if efforts to combat inflation succeed. --- Finally, general talk about how the stakes in this economic battle are high for all Americans, and the elderly, along with the rest of us, stand to gain greater economic security if the twin dangers of recession and inflation are successfully combated. Consumer C Price Index rise 51% betw. 1970-76 (across - the 77% -bd.) Elday Insur. Benefits time use for same FORD & LIBRARY SERALD Tue FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 July 31, 1975 Sarah Massengale Thought you would find these of interest. Cleonice Tavani FORD & LIBRARY GERALD News national council Release of senior citizens 1511 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 Telephone: (Area Code 202) 783-6850 FOR RELEASE PM NEWSPAPERS I/P 333 TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1975 Contact: Steven L. Radabaugh Terry McKenna Telephone: (202) 783-6850 PRESIDENT FORD REBUKED FOR "CALLOUS INDIFFERENCE" TO THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY POOR Washington, D.C.--The leader of America's most politically-active organization of older people--representing 3 million older Americans-- has sharply rebuked President Ford for his "callous indifference to the needs and sufferings of our elderly poor." The rebuke came from Nelson H. Cruikshank, President of the National Council of Senior Citizens, following the release of the annual report of the Federal Council on Aging and the subsequent message by President Ford on transmitting the report to Congress. In that message Ford rejected the recommendations contained in the report. The Federal Council expressed its deep concern about the financial burden falling upon the elderly as a result of the reductions proposed in the federal budget. Its recommendations include "legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes," and a request that "assistance be provided to enable facilities to meet such standards especially those homes serving minorities and the poor." President Ford's rejection of the Federal Council's report was on the ground that it "does not reflect the Administration's policies." " "This is a curious statement," said Cruikshank. "Nowhere in the provisions of the Older Americans Act is it suggested that the Federal Council on Aging shall reflect the Administration's policies. On the contrary, the Act says the Federal Council shall serve as a spokesman on behalf of older Americans by making recommendations to the President and shall inform the public about the problems and needs of the aging. GERALD, LIBRES FORD -2- "Mr. Ford has the best advice available on how to help the elderly, but he consistently chooses to ignore it," said Cruikshank. "His rejection of suggestions, however, is not unexpected. It is in keeping with the President's past performance as regards older people." Cruikshank noted that among the first recommendations Ford sent to Congress on becoming President were proposals to cut back on Medicare and Medicaid, and to raise the price of food stamps. Later, he tried to get Congress to renege on its own law and reduce its scheduled cost-of- living increase in Social Security. "When the President starts thinking of improving our economic situation why must it always be at the expense of some poor old man or woman?" Cruikshank asked. The senior citizens leader said that a major part of the President's message to the Congress is devoted to a defense of his inept policies with regard to nursing homes. "However, the President had apparently not read a recent report by the U.S. Department of HEW following a new nursing home survey. Nor had the President been told of the recent remarks of Dr. Theodore Cooper, Assistant Secretary of HEW for health matters. Cooper said that present federal regualtions "fail to achieve what they are designed to accomplish," and recommended they be replaced with new regulations which would emphasize the performance evaluation of a nursing home. Cruikshank said the HEW study, in addition to other federal and state level investigations, revealed that hundreds of thousands of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds have gone to support owners and administrators of nursing homes that have flagrantly wasted taxpayers' money. "If the President is really interested in stopping all kinds of inflation why does he resist efforts to exert control over these homes and stop this shameful practice?" he said. -3- The National Council of Senior Citizens is a non-partisan organization of over 3,000 older people's clubs across the country which seeks to improve life for older Americans through social and political action. Since it was set up in August 1961, the Council has been the leading senior citizens organization involved in the legislative battled to enact Medicare, the Older Americans Act, improvements in Social Security, elderly housing, part-time community service employment for seniors, and other proposals to help the elderly. Endorsement ORIGINAL TO: Douglas Bennett fill fedrul COPY TO: Sarah Massengale FY 52 on ssung 1 3 2 DB 4 WHAS27(1624)(2-033793E217)PB 18/85/75 1623 1975 AUG 5 PM 531 5 ICS IPMMTZZ CSP 6 7 2827836850 TOMT WASHINGTON DC 118 08-15 #423P EST 59 8 PMS PRESIDENT GERALD FORD 9 10 WHITE HOUSE DC 11 WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO NOMINATE MISS BERTHA S ADKINS, MRS 12 13. BOROTHY DEVEREUX, DR CARL EISBORFER, THE REV. MONSIGNOR CHARLES J 14 FAHEY AND MR JOHN B MARTIN FOR A FULL TERM AS MEMBERS OF THE FEBERAL 15 16 COUNCIL ON THE AGING. ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT VALUABLE 17 EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING TO THE DELIBERATIONS OF THIS COUNCIL TO 18 19 WHICH THE CONGRESS HAS ASSIGNED EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSIBILITIES. ONE FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD COMPANY, 20 YEAR'S SERVICE IS BARELY TIME TO GET THE COUNCIL ORGANIZED AND GET 21 22 STARTED ON THE DISCHARGE OF ITS IMPORTANT BUTIES. CONTINUITY OF THE 23 COUNCIL'S WORK WILL BE GREATLY ENHANCED IF THESE ABLE AND DEBICATED 24 25 PEOPLE ARE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE IN MEMBERSHIP 25 JACK OSSOFSKY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AND NELSON H CRUIKSHANK PRESIDENT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SENIOR 8 CITIZENS 1511 K ST NW WASHINGTON DC 20085. 9 10 NNNN ( 11 12 13 14 15 15 ( 17 T8 19 20 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE REGISTER COMPANY, 21 22 23 C 24 25 26 aging I am concerned about the problems that confront older persons, especially the very acute problems that confront those with low in- comes and those who are members of minority groups. One of the best ways to deal with these problems is to do everything possible to lift the burdens of inflation from the backs of all of our citizens. If we are to achieve this objective, most of our citizens will have to make some contributions. That is why some of my recommendations have called for downward adjustments in programs which I know are directly related to the lives of older persons. At the same time it is important to keep in mind the fact that whereas the Consumer Price Index will have increased between 1970 and 1976 by 51%, the 01d Age and Survivors Insurance benefits will have increased 77%. Likewise, the introduction of the Supplementa1 Security Income program has resulted in the aged, blind and disabled receiving approximately $2 billion more in benefit payments in calendar year 1974 than they did in calendar year 1973--a figure which will undoubtedly increase markedly in the present calendar year. Also, the amount of funds available to assist States and communities in providing servicesfor older persons has increased five-fold in the past two fiscal years. In addition, I have called for tax adjustments which, if enacted into law, will reduce the tax payments now being made by many older persons. FORD LIBRARY is 078839 -2- In spite of these advances I know that more remains to be done. Once our economy begins to turn the corner I am committed to a policy of making sure that older persons receive their fair share of the increased productivity I am confident our nation will experience. Many of our older persons are living today in skilled nursing homes and intermediate care facilities. Some are receiving excellent service. Others are called upon to put up with sub- standard facilities and substandard services. I want to renew our Government's commitment to do everything possible to see to it that Federal funds are not used to subsidize either substandard facilities or services. I support without reservation the vigorous campaign that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is waging to achieve this objective. FORD & LIBRARY GERALD HEALTH. OF EDUCATION SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Office of Human Development Administration on Aging February 17, 1975 NOTE TO MRS. PAMELA NEEDHAM I am attaching the material you and I talked about the other day. Oill Arthur S. Flemming Commissioner on Aging Attachment FORD is LIBRARY CERALD file FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING ) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 News Release For Immediate Release Federal Council on the Aging Freer - (202) 245-0441 Foster - (202) 245-0443 FORD is LIBRARY CERALD FCA Hearing on Older Women to Mark International Women's Year The Federal Council on the Aging will mark International Women's Year with a hearing on "National Policy Concerns for Older Women." It will take place on September 28, 1975 from 2-5 p.m. at the Sheraton Park Hotel in conjunction with the 25th anniversary meeting of the National Council on the Aging, in Washington, D.C. International Women's Year was established by a United Nation's General Assembly Resolution in December 1972. The main purposes of IWY are to focus attention on the situation of women and on ways to improve it; to activate concern for the equality of rights and opportunities for women and men; and to promote action on behalf of women throughout the world so as to ensure the participation of women at all levels of national and international development. In planning for the September hearing, the Federal Council on the Aging is working with the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year which was appointed by President Ford and is headed by Jill Ruckelshaus. The hearing panel members are Bertha Adkins, FCA Chairman, Council members Dorothy L. Devereux, Dr. Sharon M. Fujii, Professor Lennie- Marie P. Tolliver and Garson Meyer, Margaret Long Arnold, member National Commission IWY, and Patricia S. Lindh, Special Assistant to the President. Among the witnesses testifying are Dr. Arthur S. Flemming, Commis- sioner on Aging and also Chairman of the Civil Rights Commission; Dr. Ethel Allen, member of the National Commission IWY; Katherine Dunham, Director of the Performing Arts Training Center, Southern Illinois Univer- sity and member, National Advisory Council on Aging of National Institute on Aging; Paul Nathanson, Director of the National Senior Citizens Law Center, Los Angeles, California; Maggie Kuhn, Founder of the Gray Panthers; Marjorie Collins, Associate Director, N.C.O.A.; Tish Sommers, Task Force on Older Women, N.O.W.; Dr. Natalie Trager, Coordinator of the 26th 'Annual Conference on Aging, Institute on Gerontology, University of Michigan; Dorothy McCamman, Chairperson of the Task Force on Women and Social Security, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Dr. Caroline Ware, IWY Task Force, Clearinghouse on Women's Issues, and Dr. Helena Lopata, Director of Center for the Comparative Study of Social Roles, Loyola, Chicago, Illinois. The Federal Council on the Aging plans to issue a publication for the general public presenting highlights from the hearing and submissions as well as recommendations which will emanate from the Council regarding national policy initiatives concerning older women. FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF H.E.W. OFFICIAL BUSINESS 391 U.S.MAIL Ms. Sarah Massengale The White House 220 Old Executive Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. file FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE aging WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 Report of Activities for Month of July, 1975 Response of President to FCA Annual Report On July 24, 1975, the President submitted his comments and recommendations on the first Annual Report of the Federal Council on the Aging to the Con- gress. The FCA report indicated that in its few months of existence there had not been time to produce extensive recommendations. "However, we have become increasingly aware that the economic plight of the elderly is of crisis proportions. Their urgent humanitarian needs require special attention in strategies by both the Executive and Legislative branches of government to offset the effects of recession and inflation." The Council expressed concern about the burdens that would befall the elderly through cutbacks which had been proposed by the White House in social services for the elderly and ceilings on benefit programs financed from Social Insurance Trust funds. Mr. Ford responded: "I sympathize with this concern, but I am determined to reduce the burden of inflation on our older citizens, and that effort de- mands that government spending be limited. Inflation is one of the cruelest and most pervasive problems facing older Americans, so many of whom live on fixed incomes. A reduction of inflation, therefore, is in the best interests of all Americans and would be of particular benefit to the aging." The Council report also recommended legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes." The Presidential response was that the Department of Health, Education and Welfare has set high standards of nursing home care and safety that must be met by nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. "The enforcement of these standards is one of my Administ. ation's highest priorities. Federal funds pay 100 percent of the costs of inspection to monitor compliance with these standards. The Federal Government pays its share of the costs of meeting nursing standards through health care financing programs, primarily Medicare and Medicaid. Financial assistance is also made available to assist nursing homes in meeting selected fire safety standards." The White House response concluded: "The perspective and recommendations of this report are limited to a particular area of interest and advocacy. The report does not reflect the Administration's policies which must reflect a broader range of responsibilities and priorities." The Presidential response was given extensive press coverage with stories appearing in the Washington Post, New York Times and through the wire services appearing in newspaper and over radio stations throughout the country. The general thrust of the stories was on the denial by the Pres- ident of FCA recommendations. FORD LIBRARY & GERALD Fifty requests for copies of the annual report were received from House and Senate Committee and members staff, University librarians and representa- tives of the news media as well as national organizations on aging. Chair- man Bertha Adkins was interviewed over a Philadelphia radio station on the White House statement. Development of National Policy for Frail Elderly The FCA Committee on Economics of Aging and the Committee on Senior Services both met during this month and worked further on the FCA priority of de- veloping national policy recommendations regarding care of the frail elderly. Putting their deliberations into very succinct terms: the Federal Council on the Aging is working towards a social support svstem for the frail elderly which would be a complement to the medical care system. The medical care system would basically consist of care which had to be medically mon- itored whether delivered in a hospital, nursing home or own residence. The FCA will work further on recommendations for change in the "medical care system" especially to improve conditions, facilities and access for the poor and minority aged. As a co-equal to the medical model, the "social support system" would be for the frail older person whose needs were primarily of a psycho-social nature. The services would be primarily social services with a vital health comp- onent. The services package would be universally available to the target group with the client definition likely to be tied to criteria such as "all persons over the age of 75 or 80 who require or desire social care." The basic set of services being considered is the following: a. A thoroughly professional "diagnostic" prescriptive, monitoring capability (used in a psycho-social rather than medical sense.) b. Case leadership and management capabilities. c. The affording of the physical presence of "another" in a flexible manner in accord with the need of the frail person. Such a capability would extend to the provision of funds when necessary to purchase this "presence". This social care system would be basically a public program using community- sponsored non-profit agencies. It would consist of a Federal, State and local network. Financing would be out of tax revenues not insurance with matching arrangements from the various levels of government to be determined. Most importantly, there would be universal entitlement for the client group with individual cost-sharing on a self-declaration basis. Generally speak- ing, no capital funding would be provided in this social care system but start-up costs would be available. This is only an initial hypothesis and the Council is working on many more issues and tasks which must be addressed before their first draft national policy recommendations will be ready for public airing. The FCA Committee on Aging Research and Manpower is currently working on manpower needs and defining the target group. The Council will receive all these Committee status reports at their September 26-27 meeting. Hearing on Older Women A news release has been issued on the, FCA hearing on older women to be held September 28th in Washington at the Sheraton Park hotel in conjunction with the 25th anniversary meeting of the National Council on the Aging. The hearing topic is "National Policy Concerns for Older Women". FCA staff is working with the panel members appointed by Chairman Adkins to identify particular issues which should be covered at the hearing and the names of persons who should be invited to speak and/or submit statements which will be included in the report on the hearing. To assist in this process, back- ground materials were developed for FCA by Marlene Silverman of the AoA staff. The general public will also be able to participate in the hearing dependent on the number who can be scheduled during the three-hour period beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 28th. Written statements will be welcomed. FCA staff has also been working with AoA and OMB staff ,on various means of having Federal Executive Boards, HEW regional offices and State and local units on Aging give special attention to the concerns and conditions of older women during 1975. Congressionally Mandated Studies Representatives of The Urban Institute, which is conducting the study of the interrelationships of eligibility for benefit programs, appeared before the FCA Committee on Senior Services to provide a status report. The Committee members asked to be involved in the determination of the four states from which information will be sought about State-level benefit programs. Economist Elizabeth Duskin will be serving as a consultant to the Federal Council in regard to the study on the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly. Mrs. Duskin met with the FCA Committee on the Economics of Aging at their meeting on July 23-23. This Committee under the chairmanship of Nelson Cruikshank has been delegated responsibility for oversight of this project. The timing on this endeavor has always hinged on the availability of data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey being conducted by the Census Bureau for the Treasury Department. Hopefully, initial results will be available soon and determining the extent of any meaningful study and find- ings which the FCA will then be able to produce will be the main activity of Mrs. Duskin. Chairman's Activities- Following up on a recommendation made by the Federal Council at their May meeting, Chairman Bertha Adkins called on several members of the new House Select Committee on Aging to discuss informally the work of the Council. Staff Activities Staff attended the hearing conducted by the Subcommittee on Health Main- tenance and Long Term Care of the House Select Committee on Aging on July 8th. The Executive Director participated in a meeting on Saturday, July 26th of the advisory committee to the National Council on the Aging of the National Institute on Aging concerning the development of the na- tional research plan on aging. This group dealt with "service-oriented research". Ms. Tavani was among those members criticizing the initial outline which subsumed "income maintenance" under "services" instead of as a separate research category. As part of the celebration on July 14th marking the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Older Americans Act, FCA Executive Director, Cleonice Tavani received a Special Achievement Award "for outstanding leadership in planning, directing and implementing the functional activities of the Federal Council on the Aging." Department Committee Management Activities Material was submitted by the FCA Secretariat concerning the Responsi- bilities for Maintenance Records under the Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-576) The necessary paper work relevant to the renewal of the Charter which ex- pires November 29, 1975 has been completed and the "package" now goes for clearance through General Counsel's office, Department Committee Management Office, and on for signature by HEW Secretary. Cleo Fed'l Council In king 7/31/75 call - status of Drug Bennett - Roben West 2950 - -Jocelyn 5 re-appt 's - to Council 2481 Wassonet terms up in June 2941 Serve tul reappocuted or replaced 6526 are concerned why are being held up not conservative group - Berther adkins say are responsible for John Martin hold. up + carl Eisdor/er Nate alliancer + hons. Chas Fahey Sr. Citizens Dorothy Devereaux are promoting theirown do not have handreb Mann(s.c.) 3 people - Stature in aging + in press release Repube. paths adkins concerned w/fnal remark 7 Statement makes Pres look insensible knows are advocates + do NOT represent vaws of thes. Jy 28 Cong. Record - Snate reaction BERALD FORD HeRARY confidential II Joeelyn 7/31 March recd reappt 6 Rhodes objected lbads bad Republ big spenders C.C. Kunkscates III - Nati alleance of Dr. citizens Brock - blasted Council ArMay 75 do Met appear to support Pres real probs - Dr Eisdorfer). medical Dr gesentol. 502 Cath Churat nursue home rep not big Republ Fahey 1. Brock's cand: Nat Winston medical dr admin. Tenn camparinmagr Tonn Jack Ronson 2. Hansen (Wigo) Watson U.rp wyo -bus dept Routson head - 3 Mann's : Morcam Putnam nursing home (Nors.c) oper 2 also: Rhodes Harry Holland w/soc. sec for 36 yrs in Phoenix air Aruz Council Sr. litigeas WK rec 3 re appts straight out also rec'd Fahey Eisdor For w/acter Weaston Holland Rhodes owes it object to 5 Staight reappts. FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Federal Council on the Aging Monday, July 28, 1975 Freer ---- (202) 245-0441 Foster (202) 245-0443 FCA Hearing on Older Women to Mark International Women's Year The Federal Council on the Aging will mark International Women's Year 1975 with a hearing on "National Policy Concerns for Older Women". It will take place on September 28, 1975, at the Sheraton Park Hotel in con- junction with the 25th anniversary meeting of the National Council on the Aging, in Washington, D.C. International Women's Year was established by a United Nations's Gen- eral Assembly Resolution in December 1972. The main purposes of IWY are to focus attention on the situation of women and on ways to improve it; to activate concern for the equality of rights and opportunities for women and men; and to promote action on behalf of women throughout the world so as to ensure the participation of women at all levels of national and in- ternational development. In planning for the hearing in September, the Federal Council on the Aging is working with the National Commission on International Women's Year which was appointed by President Ford and is headed by Jill Ruckelshaus. The FCA Hearing will focus on the needs and problems of the older woman, as well as her contribution to life and society by assessing her perspectives, experiences and values. A wide range of government and non-governmental wit- ness will testify at the hearing which will be open to the public. Bertha S. Adkins, Chairman of the Federal Council on the Aging will pre- side at the hearing. Persons wishing to testify or present statements for the record should contact: Cleonice Tavani, Executive Director, Federal Council on the Aging, 400 Sixth St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201. FORD i LIBRARY GERALD copy sent to Cleo Tavani 7/25/75 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 1975 Office of the White House Press Secretary THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: I am transmitting herewith the Annual Report of the Federal Council on Aging, together with my comments and recommendations. The Federal Council on the Aging was established by the 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965 to advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans, and for other pur- poses specified in the enabling legislation. Members of the Federal Council on the Aging were confirmed by the Senate on June 5, 1974. As the annual report indicates, the Federal Council on the Aging has undertaken a number of advocacy activities pursuant to its legislated mandate. The report, as sub- mitted to me by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for transmittal, does not include supporting data or analysis which would provide the basis for a detailed review of policy positions and recommendations. Since the Council was only recently formed, the Administration, on behalf of the Federal Council on the Aging, has requested that the Congress authorize an extension until January 1, 1976, of the date for submission to the Congress of the two legislatively mandated studies. One study calls for a review of the interrelationships of all benefit programs -- Federal, State, local --- serving the elderly. Such information could be useful to the Executive Branch and the Congress to identify duplicative and overlapping programs and to propose the necessary re- forms so that our resources may be more effectively applied to help those most in need. A second study, dealing with the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly, could also be helpful in deter- mining the burdens and benefits of government actions as they affect the Nation's elderly. I look forward to the study reports to help us provide an effective and economical delivery of services to our elderly citizens. The Council specifically recommends "legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes. " The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has set high standards of nursing home care and safety that must be met by nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The enforcement of these standards is one of my Administration's highest priorities. Federal funds pay 100 percent of the costs of inspection to monitor compliance with these standards. The Federal Government pays its share of the costs of meeting nursing home standards more GERALD FORD LIBRARY 2 through health care financing programs, primarily Medicare and Medicaid. Financial assistance is also made available by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist nursing homes in meeting selected fire safety standards. The Council also expressed its concern about the level of funding for programs to assist the elderly. I sympathize with this concern, but I am determined to reduce the burden of inflation on our older citizens, and that effort demands that government spending be limited. Inflation is one of the cruelest and most pervasive problems facing older Americans, so many of whom live on fixed incomes. A reduction of inflation, therefore, is in the best interests of all Americans and would be of particular benefit to the aging. The perspective and recommendations of this report are limited to a particular area of interest and advocacy. The report does not reflect the Administration's policies, which must reflect a broader range of responsibilities and priorities. GERALD R. FORD THE WHITE HOUSE, July 24, 1975 # # # # WP 7/25/75 Ford Rejects Aging Unit's Ford Disavows U.S. Report on Aged Main Advice By PHILIP SHABECOFF He added, "The enforcement vasive problems facing older of those standards is one of Americans, so many of whom United Press International Special to The New York Times my Administration's highest live on fixed incomes. A reduc- President Ford yesterday WASHINGTON, July 24- sent to Congress a report from President Ford diavowed today priorities." tion of inflation, therefore, is However, the department re- in the best interest of all Amer- the new Federal Council on a report by a Presidential coun- portedly has prepared a study, icans and would be of particu- Aging, but he rejected the ad- cil that charged his Administra- scheduled to be released this tion with "annarent lack of lar benefit to the aging." duce on our older citizens and that effort demands that govern- ment's spending be limited," NYT 7/25/75 the President said. He called inflation "one of the cruelest and most perva- sive problems facing older Americans," and said a reduc- tion of it "would be of particu- lar benefit" to the elderly. FORD LIBRARY & GERALD Meeting 6/24 antQuern Cleo Tavani, exec. dir. Clw Tavani Federal cornect on the Agug - su May 16 background paper \ mentioned was worried about re-appt. of Bertha adkins (chrma) being held up somewhere w write House Council is concentrating on 3 main areas / study, mandated by Congress, on interrela- tronships of benefits for elderly will he done by Urban Institute political overtones + ramifications recommendations to P. Dec 75 GERALD FORD LIBRAST do not want to duplicate work of Martha griffiths Srp cretued Rep. Mich Welfare Reform study 2 study to determine impact of all feall State +local taxes on olderly mandated by congress (issues closely tred to benefits package) will use existing data eg. HUD study on property tax Treasury.commioned study by Bur.rf Labor Statistics m consumer expenditures Durvey "hest" source on tax payments Treas. contact Nelson Maclung may try toget computer run info fr. Treasury due Dec -Jan 3 study on "Frail aderly" I.e. thos lequiring Nursny Home lace - seeking alternatures want to focus on indu ather than instit. or on hth. care system own decis outo study { AQ fuzzy, broad concept . doubts will 80 anywhere ] broader than (NX) Reps Edw. koch is home hethcare proposal major : -defination of popul francing (insur give revenues..) - meanstest Entitled right? policy 75 ig - shd chronic care he part of mate hith nsurance.' trying to find all fide studies done Council may try to suggest incremental changes m leaing I-r action - will also encourage l-r looks u.s. home hoth care before NHI Tavani unofficially has regatives reaction to hot means program - fuls is more political than social She didn't mention 30, major Study an 16 May memo - fagot N dropped? AQ - keep in touch with ber Meeting 6/24 antQuern Cleo Tawani, exec. dir. Clw Tavani Federal cornect on the Aging - su May 16 background paper - mentioned was worred about re-appt of Butha adkins (chrma) being held up somewhere me write House Council is concentrating on 3 main areas / study, mandated by Congress, on interrela- tronships of benefits for elderly will he done by Urban Institute political overtones + ramifications recommendations to P. Dec 75 GERALD FORD LIBRARY do not want to duplicate work of Martha griffiths Srp cretueal Red. Mich Welfare Reform Study 2 study to determine impact of all feall state + local taxes on olderly mandated by congress (issues closely tred to benefits package) will use existing data eg. HUD study on property tax Treasury.commissoned study by Bur.rf Labor Statistics m consumer expenditures survey "het" source on tax payments Treas. contact Nelson Macking may try toget computer run info fr. Treasury due Dec -Jan 3 study on "Frail Aduly i.e. thos bequiring Narsing Home lace - seeking alternatures want to focus on indu rather than instit or on hth. care system non decise outo study { AQ fuggy, broad concept doubts will so anywhere ] broader than (NX) Reps Edw. koch is home bethcare proposal major >, : -defination of popul francing (insur give revenues..) - meanstest Entitled reght? policy ?s 75 ig- shd chronic care he part of mate hith nsurance.' trying to find all fide stud is done Council may try to suggest incremental changes m leaving I-r action - will also encourage l-r looks u.s. home hith care before NHI Tavani unofficially has regatives reaction to hot means program - fuls is more political than social She didn't mention 39, major Study an 16 May memo - forgot! or dropped' AQ - keep in touch with ber FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NATIONAL POLICY CONCERNING THE FRAIL ELDERLY The Federal Council on the Aging has adopted, as a major priority, the development of national policy recommendations for that group among the aging population which can be characterized as the "frail elderly". This target group consists of persons, usually but not always over the age of 75, who require one or several supportive services in order to cope with daily life. They are expected to become a sizable percentage of this country's population well before the end of this century. Concern is being expressed for this population in many quarters. They comprise the major age grouping in nursing homes. Dissatisfaction with the quality of care in a number of these institutions is responsible for the veritable avalanche of proposals for improving institutional care -- and possibly avoiding it with community-based alternatives. The Federal Council on the Aging believes that there are no simple ap- proaches to financing, planning and delivering a package of services to these frail older persons. The Council does not necessarily conceive of these as "health" services. Other major programmatic areas in the Federal government such as social services, income and housing are equally involved. The FCA has embarked on a process that will produce recommendations for action by the Federal executive and legislative branches. This process has and will involve a broad range of interested parties. A seminar to which were invited national experts in the field was held on March 13, 1975. Individual dialogue by FCA members and staff has been initiated with gerontologists and other officials inside and outside govern- ment. Special studies may be commissioned if the FCA feels they are needed. Completed and ongoing related research efforts will be tapped for ideas. This very document will be distributed to solicit recommendations using the following outline which has been prepared by the Council's Task Force on the Frail Elderly as a systematic means of obtaining information: 1. POPULATION AT RISK Can we achieve a public policy based on the hypothesis that there are so many people so much at risk that at some certain point the program of care gets "turned on"? Are any one or several of the following the indicator of the population how group? define defentify at risk? age, debility, income, race, sex, marital status, living arrange- ment, milieu, geography. GERALD R. LIBRARY FORD of June 11, 1975 Federal Council on the Aging 2. Can a basic set of services be determined? Can there be a place where people can develop whatever is needed and one's entitlement is access to that place that does whatever you need rather than to an individual service (Morris personal services concept)? Is intensity and level of the service a criteria? Is geography a factor in delivery and availability? Should services be age-only or multi-generational or both? Are any one or several of the following the appropriate service package: social casework, counseling, coordination, advocacy, brokering, ombudsmanship and "benign oversight" assessment: social, medical, etc. reassessment prescription, recommendation, plan transportation nutrition maintenance: physical environment, personal support 3. SYSTEM OF SERVICES What system should be developed to deliver the services? How are roles of family and friends enhanced? Should it be age oriented or multi-generational? Should it be centralized or decentralized? Should it be governmental - Federal, State, local? Should it be regional or local jurisdiction Should it be private - voluntary or proprietary? Should it combine government and the private sectors? Should it be categorical or generic? Federal Council on the Aging 3. Are one or several of the following elements of a system of services: a. planning - coordination b. assuring service C. delivery d. monitoring Should the system be built on the existing health care system (Medi- care - Medicaid) or the multi-generational social services (Title XX) or the aged-only services (Older Americans Act) or a new system? How complex and broad can a system be and still work? 4. MANPOWER NEEDS Are new types of personnel needed to operate services for the frail elderly? How defined? What numbers of personnel will be required? What kind of short- and long-range training will be needed? 5. SPONSORSHIP Should the auspices or sponsorship of the system be any or several of the following: a. public or private b. proprietary or non-profit c. health or social services system d. national, state, sub-state, local What should be the relationship between and among existing social and health planning agencies? What should be the role of the individual citizen including the con- sumer, client, patient? What are roles of family, relatives, friends? Federal Council on the Aging 4. 6. BENEFIT - ENTITLEMENT Should it be a categorically funded, generic program for a target group? Should it be an entitlement tied to an individual? Should it be an insurance program? Should the individual participate in cost-sharing through a deductible, co-insurance or a means test? 7. FUNDING - REIMBURSEMENT Should there be provision for capital funding and start-up costs? Should the services be financed through any or several of the following measures: general tax revenues dedicated tax - trust fund - employer contribution voluntary - mandatory participation by consumer in premium payment use of private insurance carrier Federal - State - local match voluntary funding vendor - voucher QERALO FORD LIBRARY direct payment to consumer 8. PHILOSOPHICAL RATIONALE What services should the frail elderly have because they are citizens and a population at risk? Are these services a right? Can these basic assumptions be made: that these are services which cannot be cashed out and that an income floor is guaranteed? How can freedom of choice and self-determination be assured while at the same time providing needed protection? What should be the nature of filial responsibility? Federal Council on the Aging 5. What should be the nature of filial responsibility? How can family involvement be enhanced? How can universality and equal access be assured? How can there be sensitivity to racial minority needs? Are there special problems for frail older women? How can the role and status of the frail elderly in society be maxi- mized and enhanced regardless of their level of productivity? Should need be the only criterion for service? Should age be the only criterion for service? How is quality of services monitored? THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 15, 1975 MEETING WITH THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING Friday, May 16, 1975 12:15 - 12:30 p.m. (15 minutes) The Cabinet Room FORD is LIBRARY 938870 From: William J. Baroody, Jr. Theodore C. Marrs I'm I. PURPOSE To meet and be photographed with the Federal Council on the Aging during their convention, and to briefly discuss major issues concerning the aging citizens. II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS AND PRESS PLAN A. Background: 1. The Federal Council on the Aging was established by Public Law 93-29, May 3, 1973. It is composed of fifteen members appointed by the President for terms of three years. Members are appointed so as to be representative of older Americans, national organizations with an interest in the aging, business, labor, and the general public. At least five of the members must be older persons. The current membership includes nine who are older persons. The Council officially got underway with Senate approval on June 5, 1974 of the fourteen persons nominated by the President on March 27, 1974. A fifteenth member has been added to complete the number called for by Public Law. The Secretary of HEW and the Commissioner on Aging serve as ex-officio members of the Council, - 2 Cod 2. The Council is commissioned to advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans; to assist the Commissioner on Aging in making an appraisal of the Nation's existing and future personnel needs in the field of aging; to review and evaluate the impact of Federal policies regarding the aging; to serve as a spokes- man on behalf of older Americans by making recommendations to the President, to the Secretary of HEW, the Commissioner on Aging, and to the Congress with respect to Federal policy and programs regarding the aging; to inform the public about the problems and needs of the aging; and to provide public forums for discussing and publicizing the problems and needs of the aging. 3. The Secretariat for the Federal Council on the Aging is located in the Administration on Aging. It now consists of four professional staff persons and two secretaries. The Federal Council on the Aging budget for FY 1975 of $500, 000 is provided as part of the Administration on Aging budget. The President's FY 1976 budget proposes the same level of funding, but creates a separate line item for the Federal Council on the Aging. 4. During 1974 the Council set up three committees - the Committee on Senior Services, the Committee on the Economics of Aging, and the Committee on Research and Manpower. At its March 13 - 15, 1975 meeting, a Task Force on Services to the Frail Elderly was established. Four meetings of the full Council and two meetings of each of the three committees were held in 1974. A considerable amount of time at both Council and Committee meetings in 1974 was devoted to learning about various Federal programs. A wide variety of materials was assembled and distributed to Council members as part of a general orientation to their mission. 5. As directed by the Congress the Council has undertaken three specific studies: (1) A study on State formulae for funding programs under the Older Americans Act; (2) a study on the interrelationships of benefit programs for the elderly operated by Federal, State and local government agencies; and (3) a study of the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly. - 3 - 6. The Council plans to hold a hearing on the special problems of older women on September 28, 1975, in Washington, D. C., to mark International Women's Year. 7. The Council urges legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes. They have expressed to the President (letter dated December 9, 1974) their concern about the financial burden on the elderly as a result of reductions proposed in the 1975 budget, citing particularly the additional costs which would have to be borne in relation to Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. The Council has expressed distress about lack of considera- tion for the elderly as reflected in Administration proposals for the 1976 budget, citing cutbacks in Federal monies for social services and ceilings on benefit programs financed from Social Insurance Trust funds. B. Participants: A list is attached. C. Press Plan: White House photographer. III. TALKING POINTS - To be provided by Paul Theis. Attachment FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING Chairman - Bertha S. Adkins, of Oxford, Maryland. Former Under Secretary of HEW. Dorothy Louise Devereux, of Honolulu, Hawaii, former Member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives, Carl Eisdorfer, M.D. Ph. D., of Seattle, Washington. Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, past President of the Gerontological Society. Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor, of Syracuse, New York, Director of the Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and President elect of the American Association of Homes for the Aging. John B. Martin, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, former Commissioner on Aging, Special Consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teachers Association. Frank B. Henderson, of Worthington, Pennsylvania, Director, Nutrition Services, Armstrong County Community Action Agency. Frell M. Owl, of Cherokee, North Carolina. Retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Member of the Indian Advisory Council of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. Lennie-Marie P. Tolliver, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Professor and Associate Director, School of Social Work, the University of Oklahoma. Charles J. Turrisi, of Norfolk, Virginia, retired as General Superintendent of Mails of Norfolk. He is legislative chairman for the Norfolk Chapters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired Persons. Selden G. Hill, of Orlando, Florida, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Florida State Division on Aging. He was Assistant Director of the War Manpower Commission of the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Nelson H. Cruikshank, of the District of Columbia, President, National Council of Senior Citizens. Former Director of Department of Social Security, AFL-CIO. Sharon M. Fukii, of Santa Monica, California, Vice President of Geronto- logical Planning Associates. GERALD R. LIBRARY FORD - 2 - Hobart C. Jackson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Executive Vice President, Stephen Smith Geriatric Center and Administrator of the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged. Mr. Jackson was the founder of the Caucus of the Black Aged and presently serves as Chairman. Garson Meyer, of Rochester, New York, former Chief Chemist, Eastman Kodak and the President Emeritus of the National Council Own on the Aging. knows Bernard E. Nash, of Camp Springs, Maryland, Executive Director of the National Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of Retired Persons. Ex-Officio Members Stanley B. Thomas, Assistant Secretary for Human Development, HEW Arthur S. Flemming, Commissioner on Aging, HEW Staff of the Federal Council on the Aging F. Richard Williams, Assistant to the Chairman Cleonice Tavani, Executive Director Robert M. Foster, Deputy Director Alice B. Freer, Assistant to the Director file CLEARANCE FORM FOR PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH MATERIAL TO: THE PRESIDENT VIA: ROBERT HARTMANN FROM: PAUL A. THEIS SUBJECT: Talking points for the President's meeting with the Federal Council on the Aging TIME, DATE AND PLACE OF PRESIDENTIAL USE: 12:15 p.m., Friday, May 16, Cabinet Room SPEECHWRITER: Butler EDITED BY: Theis BASIC RESEARCH/SPEECH MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY: Ted Marr's office, Pam Needham's office CLEARED BY (Please initial): ( ) OPERATIONS (Rumsfeld) ( ) CONGRESSIONAL/PUBLIC LIAISON (Marsh) ( ) PRESS (Nessen) ( ) LEGAL (Buchen) ( ) ECONOMIC POLICY BOARD (Seidman) ( ) OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (Lynn) (X) DOMESTIC COUNCIL (Cannon) (Needham) PN (see changes) ( ) NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL (Scowcroft) (X) RESEARCH (Waldron) (x) JERRY WARREN (FYI) ( ) ENERGY RESOURCES COUNCIL (Zarb) (X) Ted Marrs ( ) (Butler) PT May 15, 1975 TALKING POINTS FOR PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH THE COUNCIL ON THE AGING, FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1975 1. I'm happy to have this opportunity to meet with members of the Federal Council on Aging. As you all know, the month of May has been designated as Older Americans Month to call the Nation's attention to both the concerns facing older Americans today and the contributions which older Americans have made to our society over the years. 2. Your mission, as advocates for this very important segment of our population, is growing in significance all the time. Although the Council has been operating only about a year, you've already demonstrated your effectiveness. I compliment you for the groundwork you have laid. fully share your objectives. 3. My concern for older Americans is two-fold. First, I want to make the greatest possible use of the resources of older Americans in finding solutions to the problems that all Americans share in common. And second, I want to do all that I possibly can for those older Americans who, because of various circumstances, require our assistance in meeting their basic needs -- for food, housing, medical care and so forth. 4. I've proposed an expenditure in each of the next two fiscal years of $206 million for programs conducted under the Older Americans Act. This, of course, is in addition to the funds for Social Security, Medicare, and other such programs. - 2 - 5. Although I am well aware that you had recommended a higher level of funding for the Older Americans Act programs -- a recommendation whose objectives I share, I might note -- I am seeking another route -- one which I believe will help our senior Americans more than anything else in this regard: the restoration of a sound economy. And, as you know, that requires some "belt-tightening." 6. As I've stated on a number of occasions, including my budget we're he Looking at possible message this year to the Congress, we're in the process of formulating oposals for the reforms of our welfare system and our health care system -- with the needs of older Americans particularly in mind. At the same time, White House I have directed the/Domestic Council to prepare proposals concerning the additional financing needs of our Social Security system -- to insure that the program will work as well -- or better -- in the 21st century as it has done in the 20th century. The system is financially secure now -- there's no question about that, and we're going to make sure it stays that way. 7. Let me thank you again for the work you've done and for the work ahead of you yet to be completed on behalf of America's older citizens. I appreciate your efforts. I know these Americans to whom we owe as much appreciate what you're doing for them. # # # TALKING POINTS FOR PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH THE COUNCIL ON THE AGING, FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1975 FORD is LIBRARY A FORD LIBRARY & 9ERALD 16 1975 MAY 17 AM = 04 BEUVED ARIDVA YAM 10 1012 MITH THE СОЛИСТГ ОИ THE Velue ьотите LOK WEELING bow - I - I. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE MONTH OF MAY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH TO CALL THE NATION'S ATTENTION TO BOTH THE CONCERNS FACING OLDER AMERICANS TODAY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH OLDER AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR SOCIETY OVER THE YEARS. - 2 - 2. YOUR MISSION, AS ADVOCATES FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION, IS GROWING IN SIGNIFICANCE ALL THE TIME. ALTHOUGH THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN OPERATING ONLY ABOUT A YEAR, YOU'VE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED YOUR EFFECTIVENESS. I COMPLIMENT YOU FOR THE GROUNDWORK YOU HAVE LAID. - 3 - 3. MY CONCERN FOR OLDER AMERICANS IS TWO-FOLD. FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE RESOURCES OF OLDER AMERICANS IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT ALL AMERICANS SHARE IN COMMON. - 4 - AND SECOND, I WANT TO DO ALL THAT I POSSIBLY CAN FOR THOSE OLDER AMERICANS WHO, BECAUSE OF VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, REQUIRE OUR ASSISTANCE IN MEETING THEIR BASIC NEEDS -- FOR FOOD, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE AND SO FORTH. - 5 - 4. I'VE PROPOSED AN EXPENDITURE IN EACH OF THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS OF TWO HUNDRED AND SIX MILLION DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS CONDUCTED UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. THIS, OF COURSE, IS IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND OTHER SUCH PROGRAMS. - 6 - 5. ALTHOUGH I AM WELL AWARE THAT YOU HAD RECOMMENDED A HIGHER LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT PROGRAMS -- A RECOMMENDATION WHOSE OBJECTIVES I SHARE, I MIGHT NOTE -- I AM SEEKING ANOTHER ROUTE -- ONE WHICH I BELIEVE WILL HELP OUR SENIOR AMERICANS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS REGARD: - 7 - THE RESTORATION OF A SOUND ECONOMY. AND, AS YOU KNOW, THAT REQUIRES SOME "BELT-TIGHTENING." - 8 - - 6. AS I'VE STATED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, INCLUDING MY BUDGET MESSAGE THIS YEAR TO THE CONGRESS, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE REFORMS OF OUR WELFARE SYSTEM AND OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM -- WITH THE NEEDS OF OLDER AMERICANS PARTICULARLY IN MIND. - 9 - AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE DIRECTED THE WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC COUNCIL TO PREPARE PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE ADDITIONAL FINANCING NEEDS OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM -- TO INSURE THAT THE PROGRAM WILL WORK WELL -- OR BETTER -- IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AS IT HAS DONE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. - 10 - THE SYSTEM IS FINANCIALLY SECURE NOW -- THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THAT WAY. -11- 7. LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND FOR THE WORK AHEAD OF YOU YET TO BE COMPLETED ON BEHALF OF AMERICA'S OLDER CITIZENS. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. I KNOW THESE AMERICANS TO WHOM WE OWE SO MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THEM. END OF POINTS FORD is LIBRARY CERALD THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 15, 1975 MEMORANDUM TO: TED MARRS FROM: PAM NEEDHAM SUBJECT: President's Meeting with Federal Council on the Aging Attached for Paul Theis' use is a very sketchy outline of points the President could make with the Council. The writers will certainly need to flesh them out and add more prose. -- Assure them of his deep and personal interest to the problem of the Nation's elderly. -- When the President met with a group of representatives of Older Americans shortly after taking office, the over- riding concern expressed by that group was about inflation. -- Because of the seriousness of our economic problems the President made that one of his top domestic priorities. He is fully aware that in times of economic difficulty the Older Americans are the ones that are hit the hardest. Steps he has taken include: -- holding down budget -- proposing tax cut -- signing tax bill to provide tax rebate, tax cut, and raise in low-income allowance -- The President's other top domestic priority this year is to develop a major new energy program so that we regain energy self-reliance. -- Again, Older Americans are the ones that are af- fected most when rising energy prices and scarce resources drive up costs. -- The President realizes that the Federal Council feels his budget should have provided for a greater increase in benefit and service programs for the elderly. He wishes that such increases would have been possible too. But unless Federal spending is cut and our economy healed, the elderly will not be assured of the income security they deserve. -- As the President expressed in his budget message, he believes that we need reforms of our welfare system and of the way America pays for health care. That is why his Administration is continuing to look at these programs and hopes, as soon as the economy permits, to present the necessary reform proposals. -2- -- In the meantime, the Administration is continuing to support the programs of the Older Americans Act, such as the nutrition program for the elderly. -- The President has proposed spending $206 million for programs under the Older Americans Act in each of the next two years. -- Also, the President has directed that the Domestic Council prepare proposals for his review concerning the additional financing needs of our social security system. -- He has assured the American people that social security is in no danger of going bankrupt. He has pointed out that the system is secure but that in the long-run additional resources will be needed. And he intends to propose the necessary measures to guarantee the system's security into the 21st century. suly THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 25, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: PAM NEEDHAM FROM: WILLIAM NICHOLSON Wain SUB JECT: President meeting with members of the Federal Council on the Aging I would appreciate your comments and recommendation on the attached schedule request. Thank you. OK - if only a 5 minute picture session. Jed the time down too. marra hay agreed to cut read. 4/28/25 Pan FORD LIBRARY is OFRALD will SCHEDULE PROPOSAL for The President Date: March 21, 1975 THE WHITE HOUSE From: Theodore C. Marr WASHINGTON Thru: William J. Baroody, Jr. Via: Warren S. Rustand MEETING: The Federal Council on the Aging DATE: At the convenience of the President, May 15 and 16, 1975 PURPOSE: To allow the President to meet and be photographed with the Council members during their convention and to briefly discuss major issues concerning the aging. FORMAT: - location: The Oval Office or the Cabinet Room. - participants: The 15 Presidential appointees to the Federal Council on the Aging (list attached). - expected length of participation: Open 15min CABINET PARTICIPATION: The Secretary of HEW. SPEECH MATERIAL: To be provided by Theodore C. Marrs. PRESS COVERAGE: White House Photographer. STAFF: Theodore C. Marrs RECOMMEND: William J. Baroody, Jr. James H. Cavanaugh OPPOSED: None, PREVIOUS PARTICIPATION: None. BACKGROUND: This Council which is established by law to advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older people would like to meet with the President during their regular meeting - 2 - to inform him of their findings and recommendations and to discuss Federal policies regarding the aging, as well as federally conducted or assisted programs and other activities relating to or affecting the aging. APPROVED DISAPPROVED Attachment RAID GERALD LIGRARY FORD FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING Chairman - Bertha S. Adkins, of Oxford, Maryland. Former Under Secretary of HEW. Dorothy Louise Devereux, of Honolulu, Hawaii, former Member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Carl Eisdorfer, M.D., Ph.D., of Seattle, Washington. Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, past President of the Gerontological Society. Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor, of Syracuse, New York, Director of the Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and President elect of the American Association of Homes for the Aging. John B. Martin, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, former Commissioner on Aging, Special Consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teachers Association. Frank B. Henderson, of Worthington, Pennsylvania, Director, Nutrition Services, Armstrong County Community Action Agency. Frell M. Owl, of Cherokee, North Carolina. Retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Member of the Indian Advisory Council of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. Lennie-Marie P. Tolliver, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Professor and Associate Director, School of Social Work, the University of Oklahoma. Charles J. Turrisi, of Norfolk, Virginia, retired as General Superintendent of Mails of Norfolk. He is legislative chairman for the Norfolk Chapters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired Persons. Selden G. Hill, of Orlando, Florida, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Florida State Division on Aging. He was Assistant Director of the War Manpower Commission of the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Nelson H. Cruikshank, of the District of Columbia, President, National Council of Senior Citizens. Former Director of Department of Social Security, AFL-CIO. Sharon M. Fukii, of Santa Monica, California, Vice President of Geronto- logical Planning Associates. - 2 - Hobart C. Jackson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Executive Vice President, Stephen Smith Geriatric Center and Administrator of the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged. Mr. Jackson was the founder of the Caucus of the Black Aged and presently serves as Chairman. Garson Meyer, of Rochester, New York, former Chief Chemist, Eastman Kodak and the President Emeritus of the National Council on the Aging. Bernard E. Nash, of Camp Springs, Maryland, Executive Director of the National Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of Retired Persons. R2-2 APR 16 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR JAMES B. CAVANAUGH Subject: Comments on the Annual Report of the Federal Council on Aging and Mandated Studies The Federal Council on Aging was established pursuant to the Older Americans Act, P.L. 93-29, to advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans. The Council is required to make an annual report of its findings and recommendations to the President not later than March 31 of each year. The President is required to transmit each report together with his comments and recommendations. The statute, as amended, mandates the completion of two studies by January 1976-one on the impact of taxes on the elderly, and one on the interrelationships of benefit programs serving the elderly. The statute requires Presidential comments and recommendations on the "benefits" study, but they are not necessary for the tax study. The results of the tax study must be transmitted to the Governors and legislatures of the States. Since the annual report contains the study findings, we recommend all three reports be transmitted simultaneously. Attached is a synopsis of various subjects treated in the annual report and comments with respect to present policy. We recommend transmittal of the annual report and studies as required by law. My staff has prepared draft transmittal messages to the Congress and Governors. (signed) Paul H. O'Neill Paul H. O'Neill Deputy Director Attachments FORD is LIBRARY GERALD CC: Official file - DO Records Director - Director's chron Mr. Fairley Deputy Director Ms. Sweeney Mr. Hanna Mr. Kleinberg HR/IM:PLFairley:jcs:bjg Mealhanger 13-The Ue 4/5/76 APR 16 FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 March 31, 1975 The President The White House Washington, D. C. 20025 Dear Mr. President: I have the honor to present to you the first annual report of the Federal Council on the Aging. The 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act require the Council to transmit our "findings and recommendations to the President not later than March 31 of each year. The Presi- dent shall transmit each such report to the Congress to- gether with his comments and recommendations." Since our appointment on June 5, 1974 as the first Federal Council on the Aging, we have spent considerable time in organizing ourselves to carry out the responsibilities given us by the Congress. We have also spoken out on some of the major issues affecting older Americans in these times. In these few months of our existence, we have not been able to produce extensive recommendations for this annual report. However, we have become increasingly aware that the economic plight of the elderly is of crisis proportions. Their urgent humanitarian needs require special attention in strategies by both the Executive and Legislative branches of government to offset the effects of recession and inflation. As the year proceeds, we shall be submitting reports to you, the Congress, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner on Aging on various national actions which we believe should be taken in behalf of older persons. We anticipate that we shall be called upon when issues affecting the elderly are being considered. Sincerely, Butha S. adkins Bertha S. Adkins Chairman GERALD FORD VIBRARY FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 March 31, 1975 Annual Report to the President The Federal Council on the Aging was created by the Congress under provisions of the 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act, for the purpose of advising the Pre- sident, the Secretary of the Department. of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare, the Commissioner on Aging and the Con- gress on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans. Its establishment was an effort to respond to a broader range of problems affecting the elderly than had been possible within the scope of the predecessor body, the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. The Older Americans Act directs the Federal Council on the Aging to perform the following functions: 1. Advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans; 2. Assist the Commissioner in making the ap- praisal of the Nation's existing and future personnel needs in the field of aging; 3. Review and evaluate the impact of Federal policies regarding the aging and programs and other activities affecting the aging conduct- ed or assisted by all Federal departments and agencies for the purpose of appraising their value and their impact on the lives of older Americans; 4. Serve as a spokesman on behalf of older Ameri- cans by making recommendations to the Presi- dent, to the Secretary, the Commissioner, and to the Congress with respect to Federal poli- cies regarding the aging and federally con- ducted or assisted programs and other activi- ties relating to or affecting them; -2- 5. Inform the public about the problems and needs of the aging, in consultation with the Nation- al Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aging, by collecting and disseminating information, conducting or commissioning stud- ies and publishing the results thereof, and by issuing publications and reports; 6. Provide public forums for discussing and publicizing the problems and needs of the aging and obtaining information relating thereto by conducting public hearings, and by conducting or sponsoring conferences, workshops, and other such meetings. MEMBERSHIP The Council officially got underway with the approval by the Senate on June 5, 1974 of the fourteen persons nomi- nated by the President on March 27, 1974. A fifteenth member has been added to the group to complete the number called for by Section 205 of Public Law 93-29. The Secre- tary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner on Aging serve as ex-officio members of the Council. Nine members of the Council are themselves older per- sons. They and the other members fully represent older Americans, national organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor, and the general public as called for in the law. The Council roster is attached to this report. COUNCIL SUPPORT According to provisions of the Older Americans Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Wel- fare and the Commissioner on Aging are to make available to the Council such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its activities. This is done in a variety of ways. The Secretariat for the Federal Council on the Aging is located in the Administration on Aging. Initial staff was provided by transfer of the Staff Director and her secretary from the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. Three -3- GERALD FORD LIBRARY professional staff persons and a secretary have since been added. Additional positions have been requested for FY 1976 when the Council expects to be operating at its full pace. The placement of the Secretariat in AoA and the Office of Human Development provides informal as well as formal utilization of their staffs and supportive services. The Committee Management office in the Office of the Secretary aids in carrying out the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Various units within departments other than HEW have given ready response to FCA requests for resource speakers and materials. Short-term employees and contractors have been utiliz- ed to assist with certain FCA projects such as the Congres- sionally-mandated studies. The FCA budget for FY 1975 of $500,000 is provided as part of the AoA appropriation. The President's FY 1976 budget proposes the same level of fund- ing as the previous year, but creates a separate line item for the FCA. COUNCIL MANAGEMENT Four meetings of the full Council and two meetings of each of the three committees were held in 1974. Establish- ing these three sub-units of the Council was an effort to categorize and facilitate work on the sizable assignment given by the Congress. The Committee on Senior Services is headed by John Martin, former Commissioner on Aging. Nelson Cruikshank, President of the National Council of Senior Citizens and member of several advisory councils to the Social Security Administration chairs the Committee on the Economics of Aging. A past President of the Gerontological Society and head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Carl Eisdorfer, chairs the Com- mittee on Research and Manpower in the field of aging. These Committee groupings are not seen as permanent and will be rearranged from time to time to fit FCA priorities. At its March 13-15 meeting, a Task Force on Services to the Frail Elderly was established with Monsignor Charles Fahey as Chairman. This group will develop a strategy for Council action to bring to national attention the vast number of public policy questions that should be considered for that group of older persons who require some kind of continuing intervention by society. -4- In addition to operational conditions and requirements set by its own legislation, the FCA is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Complying with this law and its regulations as set forth by HEW and the Office of Management and Budget, the following actions have been taken and procedures established: *All Council and Committee meetings are open to the public with advance notice in the Federal Register. Fif- teen to twenty-five persons usually attend Council meetings as observers. *About 150 notices of each Council meeting are being sent to national organizations in the field of aging, Fed- eral and State government officials, members of the Congress and their staffs and individual citizens. *Minutes of the Council and Committee meetings are dis- tributed to the public upon request. *Minutes and all other documents relevant to Council official actions are maintained in the office of the FCA Secretariat and are available for public inspection and copying. Copies are available under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. *Reports on Council activities appear regularly in AGING magazine and press releases are prepared on all major Council actions. COUNCIL ORIENTATION As a new entity concerned with developing priorities out of the broad mandate given by the Congress, the Federal Council devoted a considerable amount of time at both Council and Committee meetings in 1974 to learn about various Federal programs from the officials involved. They heard from the Commissioner on Aging and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration as well as representa- tives of various units within the Administration on Aging, the Office of Research and Statistics of the Social Securi- ty Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Human Development, staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, HEW Office of Nursing Home Affairs, the National Institute of Health and the Department of Labor. -5- A wide variety of materials was assembled and distri- buted to Council members as part of a general orientation to their mission. CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES As described earlier in this report, the Congress direct- ed that the Council should undertake three specific studies. A study on State formulae for funding programs under the Older Americans Act was carried out by an outside contractor under the supervision of the FCA Committee on Senior Services. At the December meeting of the Council, recommendations proposing changes in the State formulae based on the study were proposed by the Committee and adopted by the Council at its December 5-6 meeting. As called for in the Act, a report containing the recommendations of the Council and relevant parts of the study was submitted on December 30, 1974 to the Commissioner on Aging, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. At the request of the Commissioner on Aging, the scope of the Formulae study had been expanded beyond the effects of the formulae specified in Section 303 to include the fund- ing of planning, coordination, evaluation and administration of State plans in Section 306 and the funding of nutrition programs in Section 703. The major, FCA recommendation was that the factor of "the population aged 60 or over who are living in poor households" should be added to the factor of the number of State residents aged 60 or over in all the present State allotment formulae in the Older Americans Act. Several recommendations were also made concerning increases and modifications in State administrative funding. On January 31, 1975, Chairman Bertha Adkins testified at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Select Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor to extend the Compre- hensive Older Americans Services amendments. Ms. Adkins outlined the Council formulae recommendations and asked that the full report be included in the record. However, the Hearing Report, issued by the House Committee on Education and Labor on March 14, 1975 to accompany H.R. 3922, the "Older Americans Amendments of 1975", has no mention of the FCA recom- mendations nor of any changes in State allotment formulae. The Council has directed the Chairman to press for considera- tion of their recommendations by the Senate as they review extension of the Older Americans Act. -5- Work is underway on the two other studies mandated by the Congress. These were to have been completed by Janu- ary 1, 1975 but, with the delay in processing FCA member- ship, postponement for one year has been requested in S.599 introduced in the Senate 2-7-75. The study on the interrelationships of benefit programs for the elderly operated by Federal, State and local govern- ment agencies will be carried out by outside contractors. The work statement has been developed by FCA staff, in con- cert with FCA members, out of contacts with a wide range experts in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. There have also been several consultations with the staff of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy of the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress. The Request for Proposals (RFP) from bidders on this was published in the Commerce and Busi- ness daily the week of March 4, 1975. The study of the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly has been assigned to the FCAs Committee on the Econo- mics of Aging. There has been consultation with governmental and nongovernmental sources on obtaining basic data on tax expenditures of the elderly. The Census Bureau has been developing material for the Treasury Department which seems to be the most pertinent. The availability of these data is determining the pace of FCA actions on this Congressional mandate. FORD POLICY POSITIONS LIBRARY Since confirmation of its members by the Senate in June 1974, the Council has attempted to carry out the goals set for it by Congress, namely, to speak out for the older citi- zens of this nation at the Federal level. Positions have been taken on a number of matters and communicated to the President, the Congress, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, other Federal officials and the general public. As a result of the September 10-11, 1974 meeting, recommendations were made to the President and to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Commissioner on Aging concerning: Setting the Intermediate Budget level of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for older retired -7- persons as the standard for national income policy for older Americans, (in autumn of 1973 this figure was $5,414 U.S. average for retired urban couples) ; Giving appropriate attention to the employment of persons 55 years of age or older in implementing the Comprehensive Employment Training Act with regulations providing for projects for the elder- ly; Funding of senior employment programs under Title IX of the Older Americans Act. Maintaining the level of funding for Senior Opportunities and Services in order to meet the needs of the elderly for social services, in any pending legislation affecting OEO programs. Urging the continuation of the back-up function providing research support for legal services programs for the elderly as part of the mission of the Legal Services Corporation. Provide legal services for the elderly in all community programs conducted under the auspices of the Legal Services Corporation. Nominate to the board of the Legal Services Corporation persons fully representing the multi- faceted legal services needs of the elderly. Following the December 5-6 meeting, the Council express- ed to the the President and to the Congress their deep concern about the financial burden that would fall on the elderly as a result of proposed FY 1975 budgets cuts, in particular, the additional costs that would have to be borne by the aged in relation to Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. Roy Ash, Director of the Office of Management and Budget responded for the President, acknowledging awareness of the Council's concern. Mr. Ash stated that benefits for those in need, including the elderly, would rise substantially over FY 1974 in FY '75. However, his data included monies from Social Insurance Trust funds. Strong opposition to the Holt - Helms amendments to Labor-HEW appropriations Bill was expressed to Congress by the Council, terming the amendments an impediment to im- proving the status of older women and minority group members. -8- The Council also took action at its December meeting, in letters to the President, the Secretary of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare and other Administration officials, endors- ing the concept of a World Assembly on Aging, possibly in conjunction with a World Year on the Aging under the auspices of the United Nations. Favorable reaction was received from the White House, the Department of State and DHEW, to such an assembly. However, the State Department reported that in their subsequent inquiries, negative responses were received from countries belonging to the United Nations Commission for Social Development. The State Department suggested the Federal Council might want to pursue the idea of a conference outside the U.N. framework for non-governmental agencies in the more developed countries. This avenue will be given further consideration by the FCA. As directed by the Older Americans Act provisions regard- ing the Federal Council, two hearings were conducted during 1974 to "provide public forums for discussing and publici- zing the problems and needs of the aging". A hearing con- ducted by the Council's Committee on Aging Research and Man- power was held on October 31st in Portland, Oregon. The date and location were chosen to coincide with the combined annual meeting of the Gerontological Society and the American Geriatrics Society. Leading gerontologists were asked to provide their assessments of research activities in the field of aging to give guidance to the Federal Council on the Aging in their monitoring responsibilities relative to Feder- al research programs. The second hearing was conducted by the Committee on Senior Services as part of the development of the recommen- dations regarding revisions to State formulae for funding programs of the Older Americans Act. Only a few State agen- cies on aging were able to send representatives to Washington but many more provided valuable written comments which were included in the final report of the Council. The Council plans to hold a hearing on the special problems of older women on September 28, 1975 in Washington, D.C. to mark International Women's Year. The hearing will take place just before the opening of the 25th Annual Meeting of the National Council on the Aging and will be held in cooper- ation with that organization. The hearing is to focus on the frail older woman and her special problems in maintain- ing independence. As part of the general responsibility of the Federal Council on the Aging to make the public more aware of the needs and contributions of older Americans, the Chairman -9- participated in a number of activities. Her major engage- ments included: Moderator of ten television programs produced by the Administration on Aging for the NBC "Knőwledge" series. Rapporteur for the section on the Elderly at the HEW - Congressional Conference on Infla- tion on Health, Education, and Income Security and Social Services. Speaker at the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs national conference entitled "Old Age -- A New Look" COUNCIL AGENDA - 1975 Developing priorities for the Federal Council on the Aging, aside from the specific assignments given by Congress, has been a difficult task. There are so many matters afffect- ing the elderly that demand attention at the national level. The Federal Council does not want to be a passive advisory body but neither does it want to be a chatterbox for super- ficial criticisms and proposals nor just an endorser of what others say about older Americans. While there will be continued work on short-range and mid-range problems and observations on the implementation of Federal laws and programs, it was determined at the December meeting to focus on two long-range matters affecting the elderly that are not yet receiving the prominence of national policy debate which they deserve. The target group has been narrowed to persons usually but not always over the age of 75 who require one or several supportive services in order to cope with daily life. They are expected to become a sizable percentage of this country's population well before the end of this century. Concern is being expressed today for this population in many quarters. They comprise the major age grouping in nursing homes. Dissatisfaction with the quality of care in a number of these institutions is responsible for the veri- table avalanche of proposals both for improving institutional care -- and possibly avoiding it with community-based alter- natives. -10- The Federal Council believes that there are no simple approaches to financing, planning and delivering a package of services to these frail older persons. The FCA has embarked on the development of a process that will identify some of the national policy questions that should be addressed. These questions will then be put before the general public for debate and discussion with particular input from older persons them- selves, the helping professions and policy-makers. Actions already undertaken includes the holding of a seminar at the March 13-15 meeting of the Federal Council and the development of a Task Force on Services To the Frail Elderly. At the March meeting, the Council also invited Adminis- tration officials to share their thinking on the second priori- ty of the FCA. It is important that an income assurance sys- tem for this nation's elderly be developed which successfully integrates Supplemental Security Income, Social Security pay- ments, private pensions with appropriate Federal safeguards and other private income sources. The Council wants all older persons to have a solid income flow but it is imperative that financial security be assured to the most vulnerable and fragile of the nation's elders. RECOMMENDATIONS The Council urges legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes. At the same time, it is essential that assistance be provided to enable facilities to meet such standards especially those homes serving minorities and the poor. In a letter to the President on December 9, 1974 the Federal Council on the Aging expressed its deep concern about the financial burden that would fall upon the elderly as a result of the reductions proposed in the 1975 budget. In particular, the Council cited the additional costs that would have to be borne by the aged in relation to such programs as Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. We continue to be distressed about the apparent lack of consideration for the economic plight of the elderly as re- flected in Administration proposals for the 1976 Fiscal Year Budget. Cutbacks in Federal monies for social services for the elderly and ceilings on benefit programs financed from Social Insurance Trust funds are particularly burdensome to this age group. Many of their financial assets are tied to fixed sources while their needs are mobile. We recommend that the President reconsider the serious effect of these fiscal proposals on the elderly of this Nation with their urgent humanitarian needs. -11- ROSTER Chairman Executive Director Bertha S. Adkins Cleonice Tavani Federal Council on the Aging Room 4022, Donohoe Building 400 - 6th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Members of the Council For a term of one year (to 6-5-75) : Bertha S. Adkins, of Oxford, Maryland, former Under Secre- tary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Dorothy Louise Devereux, of Honolulu, Hawaii, former Member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Carl Eisdorfer, M.D., Ph.D., of Seattle, Washington, Pro- fessor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington and Past President of the Gerontological Society. Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor, of Syracuse, New York, Director of the Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and President-Elect of the American Association of Homes for the Aging. John B. Martin, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, former Commission- er on Aging, Special Consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teachers Asso- ciation. For a term of two years (to 6-5-76) : Frank B. Henderson, of Worthington, Pennsylvania, Director, Nutrition Services, Armstrong County Community Action Agency. Frell M. Owl, of Cherokee, North Carolina, Retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Member of the Indian Advisory Council of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. Lennie-Marie P. Tolliver, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Pro- fessor and Associate Director, School of Social Work, the University of Oklahoma. -12- Charles J. Turrisi, of Norfolk, Virginia, retired as General Superintendent of Mails of Norfolk. He is legis- lative chairman for the Norfolk Chapters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired Persons. Selden G. Hill, of Orlando, Florida, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Florida State Division on Aging. He was Assistant Director of the War Manpower Commission of the U.S. Civil Service Commissioner. For a term of three years (to 6-5-75) : Nelson Hale Cruikshank, of the District of Columbia, Presi- dent, National Council of Senior Citizens. Former Director of Department of Social Security, AFL-CIO. Sharon Masaye Fujii, of Santa Monica, California, Vice President of Gerontological Planning Associates. Hobart C. Jackson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Executive Vice President Stephen Smith Geriatric Center and Admini- strator of the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged. Mr. Jackson was the founder of the Caucus of the Black Aged and present- ly serves as Chairman. Garson Meyer, of Rochester, New York, former Chief Chemist, Eastman Kodak and the President Emeritus of the National Council on the Aging. Bernard E. Nash, of Camp Springs, Maryland, Executive Direc- tor of the National Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of Retired Persons. Ex-Officio Members The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare The Commissioner on Aging ) FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 MEMORANDUM filligis March 31, 1975 FROM : F. RICHARD WILLIAMS ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN SUBJECT: Annual Report to the President (Public Law 93-29, May 3, 1973) (Section 205 (d) (6) (f) Copy of Annual Report of the Federal Council for your information. If any additional information is desired call 245-0443. Dich F. R. Williams FORD & LIBRARY GERALD FOR: JAMES H. CAVANAUGH, Ph. D. Dear Jim: I have a feeling that there would be some merit in having the Council walk by and shake the hand of the President. After all it is his Council. The next meeting will be May 15-16. Rn. FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 March 31, 1975 The President The White House Washington, D. C. 20025 Dear Mr. President: I have the honor to present to you the first annual report of the Federal Council on the Aging. The 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act require the Council to transmit our "findings and recommendations to the President not later than March 31 of each year. The Presi- dent shall transmit each such report to the Congress to- gether with his comments and recommendations." Since our appointment on June 5, 1974 as the first Federal Council on the Aging, we have spent considerable time in organizing ourselves to carry out the responsibilities given us by the Congress. We have also spoken out on some of the major issues affecting older Americans in these times. In these few months of our existence, we have not been able to produce extensive recommendations for this annual report. However, we have become increasingly aware that the economic plight of the elderly is of crisis proportions. Their urgent humanitarian needs require special attention in strategies by both the Executive and Legislative branches of government of offset the effects of recession and inflation. As the year proceeds, we shall be submitting reports to you, the Congress, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner on Aging on various national actions which we believe should be taken in behalf of older persons. We anticipate that we shall be called upon when issues affecting the elderly are being considered. Sincerely, /5/ Bertha S. Adkins Chairman FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 March 31, 1975 Annual Report to the President The Federal Council on the Aging was created by the Congress under provisions of the 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act, for the purpose of advising the Pre- sident, the Secretary of the Department of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare, the Commissioner on Aging and the Con- gress on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans. Its establishment was an effort to respond to a broader range of problems affecting the elderly than had been possible within the scope of the predecessor body, the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. The Older Americans Act directs the Federal Council on the Aging to perform the following functions: 1. Advise and assist the President on matters relating to the special needs of older Americans; 2. Assist the Commissioner in making the ap- praisal of the Nation's existing and future personnel needs in the field of aging; 3. Review and evaluate the impact of Federal policies regarding the aging and programs and other activities affecting the aging conduct- ed or assisted by all Federal departments and agencies for the purpose of appraising their value and their impact on the lives of older Americans; 4. Serve as a spokesman on behalf of older Ameri- cans by making recommendations to the Presi- dent, to the Secretary, the Commissioner, and to the Congress with respect to Federal poli- cies regarding the aging and federally con- ducted or assisted programs and other activi- ties relating to or affecting them; 2. 5. Inform the public about the problems and needs of the aging, in consultation with the Nation- al Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aging, by collecting and disseminating information, conducting or commissioning stud- ies and publishing the results thereof, and by issuing publications and reports; 6. Provide public forums for discussing and publicizing the problems and needs of the aging and obtaining information relating thereto by conducting public hearings, and by conducting or sponsoring conferences, workshops, and other such meetings. MEMBERSHIP The Council officially got underway with the approval by the Senate on June 5, 1974 of the fourteen persons nomi- nated by the President on March 27, 1974. A fifteenth member has been added to the group to complete the number called for by Section 205 of Public Law 93-29. The Secre- tary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner on Aging serve as ex-officio members of the Council. Nine members of the Council are themselves older per- sons. They and the other members fully represent older Americans, national organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor, and the general public as called for in the law. The Council roster is attached to this report. COUNCIL SUPPORT According to provisions of the Older Americans Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Wel- fare and the Commissioner on Aging are to make available to the Council such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its activities. This is done in a variety of ways. The Secretariat for the Federal Council on the Aging is located in the Administration on Aging. Initial staff was provided by transfer of the Staff Director and her secretary from the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. Three 3. professional staff persons and a secretary have since been added. Additional positions have been requested for FY 1976 when the Council expects to be operating at its full pace. The placement of the Secretariat in AoA and the Office of Human Development provides informal as well as formal utilization of their staffs and supportive services. The Committee Management office in the Office of the Secretary aids in carrying out the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Various units within departments other than HEW have given ready response to FCA requests for resource speakers and materials. Short-term employees and contractors have been utiliz- ed to assist with certain FCA projects such as the Congres- sionally-mandated studies. The FCA budget for FY 1975 of $500,000 is provided as part of the AoA appropriation. The President's FY 1976 budget proposes the same level of fund- ing as the previous year, but creates a separate line item for the FCA. COUNCIL MANAGEMENT Four meetings of the full Council and two meetings of each of the three committees were held in 1974. Establish- ing these three sub-units of the Council was an effort to categorize and facilitate work on the sizable assignment given by the Congress. The Committee on Senior Services is headed by John Martin, former Commissioner on Aging. Nelson Cruikshank, President of the National Council of Senior Citizens and member of several advisory councils to the Social Security Administration chairs the Committee on the Economics of Aging. A past President of the Gerontological Society and head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Carl Eisdorfer, chairs the Com- mittee on Research and Manpower in the field of aging. These Committee groupings are not seen as permanent and will be rearranged from time to time to fit FCA priorities. At its March 13-15 meeting, a Task Force on Services to the Frail Elderly was established with Monsignor Charles Fahey as Chairman. This group will develop a strategy for Council action to bring to national attention the vast number of public policy questions that should be considered for that group of older persons who require some kind of continuing intervention by society. 4. In addition to operational conditions and requirements set by its own legislation, the FCA is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Complying with this law and its regulations as set forth by HEW and the Office of Management and Budget, the following actions have been taken and procedures established: *All Council and Committee meetings are open to the public with advance notice in the Federal Register. Fif- teen to twenty-five persons usually attend Council meetings as observers. *About 150 notices of each Council meeting are being sent to national organizations in the field of aging, Fed- eral and State government officials, members of the Congress and their staffs and individual citizens. *Minutes of the Council and Committee meetings are dis- tributed to the public upon request. *Minutes and all other documents relevant to Council official actions are maintained in the office of the FCA Secretariat and are available for public inspection and copying. Copies are available under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. *Reports on Council activities appear regularly in AGING magazine and press releases are prepared on all major Council actions. COUNCIL ORIENTATION As a new entity concerned with developing priorities out of the broad mandate given by the Congress, the Federal Council devoted a considerable amount of time at both Council and Committee meetings in 1974 to learn about various Federal programs from the officials involved. They heard from the Commissioner on Aging and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration as well as representa- tives of various units within the Administration on Aging, the Office of Research and Statistics of the Social Securi- ty Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Human Development, staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, HEW Office of Nursing Home Affairs, the National Institute of Health and the Department of Labor. 5. A wide variety of materials was assembled and distri- buted to Council members as part of a general orientation to their mission. CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES As described earlier in this report, the Congress direct- ed that the Council should undertake three specific studies. A study on State formulae for funding programs under the Older Americans Act was carried out by an outside contractor under the supervision of the FCA Committee on Senior Services. At the December meeting of the Council, recommendations proposing changes in the State formulae based on the study were proposed by the Committee and adopted by the Council at its December 5-6 meeting. As called for in the Act, a report containing the recommendations of the Council and relevant parts of the study was submitted on December 30, 1974 to the Commissioner on Aging, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. At the request of the Commissioner on Aging, the scope of the Formulae study had been expanded beyond the effects of the formulae specified in Section 303 to include the fund- ing of planning, coordination, evaluation and administration of State plans in Section 306 and the funding of nutrition programs in Section 703. The major FCA recommendation was that the factor of "the population aged 60 or over who are living in poor households" should be added to the factor of the number of State residents aged 60 or over in all the present State allotment formulae in the Older Americans Act. Several recommendations were also made concerning increases and modifications in State administrative funding. On January 31, 1975, Chairman Bertha Adkins testified at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Select Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor to extend the Compre- hensive Older Americans Services amendments. Ms. Adkins outlined the Council formulae recommendations and asked that the full report be included in the record. However, the Hearing Report, issued by the House Committee on Education and Labor on March 14, 1975 to accompany H.R. 3922, the "Older Americans Amendments of 1975", has no mention of the FCA recom- mendations nor of any changes in State allotment formulae. The Council has directed the Chairman to press for considera- tion of their recommendations by the Senate as they review extension of the Older Americans Act. 6. Work is underway on the two other studies mandated by the Congress. These were to have been completed by Janu- ary 1, 1975 but, with the delay in processing FCA member- ship, postponement for one year has been requested in S.599 introduced in the Senate 2-7-75. The study on the interrelationships of benefit programs for the elderly operated by Federal, State and local govern- ment agencies will be carried out by outside contractors. The work statement has been developed by FCA staff, in con- cert with FCA members, out of contacts with a wide range experts in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. There have also been several consultations with the staff of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy of the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress. The Request for Proposals (RFP) from bidders on this was published in the Commerce and Busi- ness daily the week of March 4, 1975. The study of the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly has been assigned to the FCAs Committee on the Econo- mics of Aging. There has been consultation with governmental and nongovernmental sources on obtaining basic data on tax expenditures of the elderly. The Census Bureau has been developing material for the Treasury Department which seems to be the most pertinent. The availability of these data is determining the pace of FCA actions on this Congressional mandate. POLICY POSITIONS Since confirmation of its members by the Senate in June 1974, the Council has attempted to carry out the goals set for it by Congress, namely, to speak out for the older citi- zens of this nation at the Federal level. Positions have been taken on a number of matters and communicated to the President, the Congress, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, other Federal officials and the general public. As a result of the September 10-11, 1974 meeting, recommendations were made to the President and to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Commissioner on Aging concerning: Setting the Intermediate Budget level of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for older retired GERALD FORD LIBRARY 7. persons as the standard for national income policy for older Americans, (in autumn of 1973 this figure was $5,414 U.S. average for retired urban couples); Giving appropriate attention to the employment of persons 55 years of age or older in implementing the Comprehensive Employment Training Act with regulations providing for projects for the elder- ly; Funding of senior employment programs under Title IX of the Older Americans Act. Maintaining the level of funding for Senior Opportunities and Services in order to meet the needs of the elderly for social services, in any pending legislation affecting OEO programs. Urging the continuation of the back-up function providing research support for legal services programs for the elderly as part of the mission of the Legal Services Corporation. Provide legal services for the elderly in all community programs conducted under the auspices of the Legal Services Corporation. Nominate to the board of the Legal Services Corporation persons fully representing the multi- faceted legal services needs of the elderly. Following the December 5-6 meeting, the Council express- ed to the the President and to the Congress their deep concern about the financial burden that would fall on the elderly as a result of proposed FY 1975 budgets cuts, in particular, the additional costs that would have to be borne by the aged in relation to Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. Roy Ash, Director of the Office of Management and Budget responded for the President, acknowledging awareness of the Council's concern. Mr. Ash stated that benefits for those in need, including the elderly, would rise substantially over FY 1974 in FY '75. However, his data included monies from Social Insurance Trust funds. 8. Strong opposition to the Holt - Helms amendments to Labor-HEW appropriations Bill was expressed to Congress by the Council, terming the amendments an impediment to im- proving the status of older women and minority group members. The Council also took action at its December meeting, in letters to the President, the Secretary of Health, Educa- tion, and Welfare and other Administration officials, endors- ing the concept of a World Assembly on Aging, possibly in conjunction with a World Year on the Aging under the auspices of the United Nations. Favorable reaction was received from the White House, the Department of State and DHEW, to such an assembly. However, the State Department reported that in their subsequent inquiries, negative responses were received from countries belonging to the United Nations Commission for Social Development. The State Department suggested the Federal Council might want to pursue the idea of a conference outside the U.N. framework for non-governmental agencies in the more developed countries. This avenue will be given further consideration by the FCA. As directed by the Older Americans Act provisions regard- ing the Federal Council, two hearings were conducted during 1974 to "provide public forums for discussing and publici- zing the problems and needs of the aging". A hearing con- ducted by the Council's Committee on Aging Research and Man- power was held on October 31st in Portland, Oregon. The date and location were chosen to coincide with the combined annual meeting of the Gerontological Society and the American Geriatrics Society. Leading gerontologists were asked to provide their assessments of research activities in the field of aging to give guidance to the Federal Council on the Aging in their monitoring responsibilities relative to Feder- al research programs. The second hearing was conducted by the Committee on Senior Services as part of the development of the recommen- dations regarding revisions to State formulae for funding programs of the Older Americans Act. Only a few State agen- cies on aging were able to send representatives to Washington but many more provided valuable written comments which were included in the final report of the Council. The Council plans to hold a hearing on the special problems of older women on September 28, 1975 in Washington, D.C. to mark International Women's Year. The hearing will take place just before the opening of the 25th Annual Meeting of 9. the National Council on the Aging and will be held in cooper- ation with that organization. The hearing is to focus on the frail older woman and her special problems in maintain- ing independence. As part of the general responsibility of the Federal Council on the Aging to make the public more aware of the needs and contributions of older Americans, the Chairman participated in a number of activities. Her major engage- ments included: Moderator of ten television programs produced by the Administration on Aging for the NBC "Knowledge" series. Rapporteur for the section on the Elderly at the HEW - Congressional Conference on Infla- tion on Health, Education, and Income Security and Social Services. Speaker at the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs national conference entitled "Old Age -- A New Look". COUNCIL AGENDA - 1975 Developing priorities for the Federal Council on the Aging, aside from the specific assignments given by Congress, has been a difficult task. There are SO many matters afffect- ing the elderly that demand attention at the national level. The Federal Council does not want to be a passive advisory body but neither does it want to be a chatterbox for super- ficial criticisms and proposals nor just an endorser of what others say about older Americans. While there will be continued work on short-range and mid-range problems and observations on the implementation of Federal laws and programs, it was determined at the December meeting to focus on two long-range matters affecting the elderly that are not yet receiving the prominence of national policy debate which they deserve. The target group has been narrowed to persons usually but not always over the age of 75 who require one or several supportive services in order to cope with daily life. They are expected to become a sizable percentage of this country's population well before the end of this century. 10. Concern is being expressed today for this population in many quarters. They comprise the major age grouping in nursing homes. Dissatisfaction with the quality of care in a number of these institutions is responsible for the veri- table avalanche of proposals both for improving institutional care -- and possibly avoiding it with community-based alter- natives. The Federal Council believes that there are no simple approaches to financing, planning and delivering a package of services to these frail older persons. The FCA has embarked on the development of a process that will identify some of the national policy questions that should be addressed. These questions will then be put before the general public for debate and discussion with particular input from older persons them- selves, the helping professions and policy-makers. Actions already undertaken includes the holding of a seminar at the March 13-15 meeting of the Federal Council and the development of a Task Force on Services To the Frail Elderly. At the March meeting, the Council also invited Adminis- tration officials to share their thinking on the second priori- ty of the FCA. It is important that an income assurance sys- tem for this nation's elderly be developed which successfully integrates Supplemental Security Income, Social Security pay- ments, private pensions with appropriate Federal safeguards and other private income sources. The Council wants all older persons to have a solid income flow but it is imperative that financial security be assured to the most vulnerable and fragile of the nation's elders. RECOMMENDATIONS The Council urges legislative action to develop high standards of safety and care in nursing homes. At the same time, it is essential that assistance be provided to enable facilities to meet such standards especially those homes serving minorities and the poor. In a letter to the President on December 9, 1974 the Federal Council on the Aging expressed its deep concern about the financial burden that would fall upon the elderly as a result of the reductions proposed in the 1975 budget. In particular, the Council cited the additional costs that would have to be borne by the aged in relation to such programs as Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. 11. We continue to be distressed about the apparent lack of consideration for the economic plight of the elderly as re- flected in Administration proposals for the 1976 Fiscal Year Budget. Cutbacks in Federal monies for social services for the elderly and ceilings on benefit programs financed from Social Insurance Trust funds are particularly burdensome to this age group. Many of their financial assets are tied to fixed sources while their needs are mobile. We recommend that the President reconsider the serious effect of these fiscal proposals on the elderly of this Nation with their urgent humanitarian needs. FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 Chairman Executive Director Bertha S. Adkins Cleonice Tavani Federal Council on the Aging Assistant to the Chairman Room 4022, Donohoe Building 400 - 6th Street, S.W. F. Richard Williams Washington, D. C. 20201 Members of the Council For a term of one year (to 6-5-75) Bertha S. Adkins, of Oxford, Maryland, former Under Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Dorothy Louise Devereux, of Honolulu, Hawaii, former Member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Carl Eisdorfer, M.D., Ph.D., of Seattle, Washington, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry' and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington; past President of the Gerontological Society. Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor, of Syracuse, New York, Director of the Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and President elect of the American Association of Homes for the Aging. John B. Martin, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, former Commissioner on Aging, Special Consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teachers Association. For a term of two years (to 6-5-76) Frank B. Henderson, of Worthington, Pennsylvania, Director, Nutrition Services, Armstrong County Community Action Agency. Frell M. Owl, of Cherokee, North Carolina, Retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Member of the Indian Advisory Council of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. Lennie-Marie P. Tolliver, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Professor and Associate Director, School of Social Work, the University of Oklahoma. FORD LIBRARY is 2. Charles J. Turrisi, of Norfolk, Virginia, retired as General Superintendent of Mails of Norfolk. He is legislative chairman for the Norfolk Chapters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired Persons. Selden G. Hill, of Orlando, Florida, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Florida State Division on Aging. He was Assistant Director of the War Manpower Commission of the U.S. Civil Service Commission. For a term of three years (to 6-5-77) Nelson Hale Cruikshank, of the District of Columbia, President, National Council of Senior Citizens. Former Director of Department of Social Security, AFL-CIO. Sharon Masaye Fujii, of Santa Monica, California, Vice President of Gerontological Planning Associates. Hobart C. Jackson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Executive Vice President, Stephen Smith Geriatric Center and Administrator of the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged. Mr.. Jackson was the founder of the Caucus of the Black Aged and presently serves as Chairman. Garson Meyer, of Rochester, New York, former Chief Chemist, Eastman Kodak and the President Emeritus of the National Council on the Aging. Bernard E. Nash, of Camp Springs, Maryland, Executive Director of the National Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of Retired Persons. Ex-Officio Members The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare The Commissioner on Aging ENCLOSURE (1 FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 Statement of Work Study of the Combined Impact of Benefit Programs on Older Americans I. Introduction The Federal Council on the Aging has been directed by Congress, under the 1973 Amendments to the Older Americans Act, " to undertake a study of the interrelationships of benefit pro- grams for the elderly operated by Federal, State and local govern- ment agencies. At least nine major programs, operated by five Federal departments and agencies, impinge directly on each other. These include Social Security (OASDI), veterans benefits, old age assistance, medicare, medicaid, low rent public housing, Federally assisted private housing, food stamps, and manpower training. At present, problems occur when older people are eligible for assistance from more than one of these programs. For instance, when there is an increase in Social Security benefits, an in- dividual who receives both Social Security and old age assistance may, unless corrective action is taken each time there is an in- crease, receive no increase in total income since his or her old age assistance benefit is reduced to take account of the increase in Social Security". The Committee on Senior Services of the Council has the responsibility to oversee the conduct of this pro,ect, and to forward recommendations to the Council for its action upon such recommendations and its determina- tion as to what shall be sent to the President and the Congress concerning improvement of benefits for the elderly. The result of this contract is intended to satisfy this responsibility. Experience has shown that there are actual and potential difficulties with the current categorical systems of providing benefits to older Americans. Some attempts have been made, and others are in process, which are designed to improve the situation. No comprehensive review and analysis of these programs, and especially of their interrelation- ships, exists, however, and it is the feeling of the Federal Council that the study performed under this scope of work will provide a clear and basic analysis of the weakness and strengths of the programs, and will serve to point a positive corrective policy direction for the future. FORD is LIBRARY II. Scope of Work A. General The major goals of this contract are to provide an analysis of benefit programs affecting older Americans, and to provide a range of policy recommendations based on this analysis. Each of the seven tasks prescribed herein will have a product or products associated with it; the final product is to be the Federal Council on the Aging's report to Congress in fulfillment of its legislative mandate. For the purpose of this contract, "benefit" or "benefit program" shall be taken to mean not only direct payment, income-supple- menting, and income-maintaining ones (whether in-kind or in cash), but also to mean services provided which can be thought of as having financial value. The programs studied must include all Federal of Federally-supported ones, and must include, as appro- priate and so determined by the contractor and the Project Officer, other governmental (non-Federal) and private programs which may affect, by virtue of benefits obtained under them, the Federal or Federally-supported ones. The contractor shall review available literature and data on Federal and Federally-supported benefit programs for the elderly, shall organize these data in a clear format enabling comparison among the various programs, shall describe the in- terrelationships among the various programs, and shall analyze these comparisonsand interrelations in a manner which explains the programs in terms of their cash or income-supplementing values; a range of service programs is also to be discussed. The contractor shall also review programs from several States which are either related or supplemental to the Federal programs, or are dependent on them. The contractor shall make regular reports to the Project Officer and to the Committee on Senior Services, and will be totally responsive to their directions and decisions. Taking into account likely or possible changes in benefit pro- grams, and with the advice of the Senior Services Committee, the contractor shall describe a range of possible recommendations for correcting difficulties in the current benefit systems, based on the data collected and analysis performed under this contract. The changes in programs may be legislative, executive, or judicial in origin; the contractor must be and remain cognizant of such possible changes in programs of the type under study herein. For the purpose of this contract, "elderly" shall mean, in the case of multigenerational programs, persons aged 60 or over. For programs which are deemed for the aged, "elderly" shall mean whatever age limits are established in the program. 3. There are seven major tasks to be performed under the contract, including regular reporting to and meeting with the Project Officer and the Chairman and/or members of the Committee on Senior Services and a final report to Congress. The substance of the later tasks and of the final report will depend on the results of the earlier tasks. Each task will have some written product associated with it. B. Detailed Requirements 1. Task 1. The contractor shall identify and describe all Federal or Federally-supported benefit programs, and identify and review available data and literature describing them, their interactions, and their relation- ships with State, local, and private programs, as well as describe the general population of participants in the various programs. a. The identification and description shall include at least: authorizing legislation, governing regulations, general eligibility requirements and general benefit levels. The means of description will likely be largely determined by the model developed in 2, below. b. The review shall include Congressional studies, reports in professional journals, documents prepared by Federal (or in some cases State) agencies, program data (which might not be avail- able to the public at large, but may be obtained with the assistance of the Council), census data, and any other useful sources of information. Product: List and general description of benefit programs (7 copies, one reproducible master) (Draft to Project Officer within six weeks, completed within eight) 2. Tasks 2. Task 2a. The contractor shall prepare a model for collection of detailed data regarding benefit programs for the elderly which will, when completed and the data collected, provide information for use in the combined analysis of such programs required below, in Task 4. 1. This model must include procedures for gathering data on eligibility requirements, benefit levels, and their effects on one another; 2. This model must be applicable to both Federal and other governmentally-based programs, and must allow for the effect of private programs on public ones; 3. This model must be able to provide, when employed, some sense of the level and breadth of possible problems (that is, their number, effect, and degree) for elderly people which can result, and which exist, because of adverse program inter- action. It must provide these estimates both in dollar-equivalent and population terms. Task 2b. The preliminary model must be presented to the Project Officer to review during the third week of the award of the contract. After this review, the Project Officer, the Committee on Senior Services, and the Contractor shall agree on initial application of the model. Following this early testing of the efficacy of the model, it shall be refined by the contractor, in con- sultation with the Project Officer, within eight weeks of contract award. Task 2c. The completed model shall be used to gather and organize the complete range of data necessary to make the analyses and recommendation required under this contract. Product: 1. Preliminary, interim, and completed models (7 copies, one reproducible master) 2. Data summary based on application of model. (7 copies, one reproducible master) 3. Task 3. The contractor shall identify and describe benefit programs for the elderly in. four states. These programs, which are to be public, are to be chosen to be illustrative, not necessarily statistically representative, of State-level activities nation- wide. The intent here is to gain an understanding of several spectra of programs which might be a- vailable to individual recipients around the country. Therefore, it is particularly important here to consider the impact of governmental (non-Federal), and private benefit programs. 5. The contractor shall, within eight weeks of con- tract award, submit to the Project Officer for review the detailed plan for gaining the data (which may be directly related to the model de- veloped in Task 2). Following revision and approval of this plan, the data will be col- lected, organized, and presented. Products: 1. Projected plan for gathering State data (Draft within eight weeks, completed within ten weeks) 2. Description of programs, based on data collected under approved plan. (Within fourteen weeks) (7 copies, one reproducible master) 4. Task 4. The contractor shall analyze the data and illus- trative material from Tasks 2 and 3, using the review from Task 1 as background. a. This analysis shall emphasize and specifically identify the effects of changes in benefits under one or more programs (including private plans and newly-created plans) on continued or initial eligibility for the rest of the available range of programs. b. This analysis must include a discussion of the level and extent of the problem. That is, just how many people currently have their eligibility for some programs adversely affected by the level of benefits they receive under others, how much is this effect, and how many are even receiving benefits under more than one program? c. This analysis must also include, but might not be limited to, explanations of the various programs in terms of their cash or income-supplementary value. This analysis will serve as the primary basis for policy recommendations to be made in the Final Report. Product: Analysis of benefit programs (? copies, one reproducible master) (Draft within fifteen weeks, completed within seventeen weeks) 5. Task 5. The contractor shall prepare & Report to the Committee on Senior Services. This report must contain: 1. An executive summary of work performed. 2. An extended statement of facts and findings. 3. A set of policy recommendations regarding changes in benefit programs which the Federal Council might suggest to the Presi- dent and to Congress. A draft report is to be submitted to the Project Officer at least sixteen weeks after award of contract. This draft must include several alter- nate sets of recommendations for the Committee on Senior Services to consider. These recommendations must cover a range of possibilities within the context of contemporary legislative and administra- tive program development and feasibility. Product: Report to the Committee on Senior Services (7 copies, one reproducible master) (Draft within sixteen weeks, completed within eighteen) 6. Task 6. The contractor shall prepare the report or the Committee on Senior Services to the full Federal Council on the Aging. Based on discussion with the Project Officer and with the Committee, and under their supervision, the report from Task 5 will be revised so that it reflects clearly and completely the recommenda- tions and position of the Committee. This revision will then be presented to the full Council for review. Product: Report of Committee on Senior Services to Federal Council on the Aging (Twenty copies, one reproducible master) (Draft within twenty weeks, completed within twenty-two) 7. 7. Task 7. The contractor shall prepare the report to Congress of the Federal Council on the Aging Under Conncil direction, the report of the Federal Council on the Aging in fulfillment of its legislative mandate will be prepared by the contractor. This report to Congress must reflect fully and accurately the recommendation of the Federal Council on the Aging regarding interrelationships of benefit programs for older Americans, together with any minority Council views. The staff of the Council will personally deliver the report to Congress. Product: Final Report to Congress of the Federal Council on the Aging (Fifty copies, one reproducible master) (Draft within twenty-four weeks, completed within twenty-six) C. Reporting The contractor must report as defined below to the Project Officer, and through the Project Officer to the Committee on Senior Services. The contractor must also meet regularly with the Project Officer and (at least) the Chairman of the Committee, so as to obtain their guidance and direction. This guidance and direction are particularly important when Considering the final policy recommendations, and when likely or possible changes in benefit programs are reviewed (for example, the possibility exists that massive legislative changes in benefit programs will be considered, so this must be taken into account). 1. The contractor shall report by telephone at least every other week to the Project Officer, additionally as necessary. 2. Seven copies of drafts of work product reports shall be submitted to the P.O., as detailed above; these will be returned to the contractor within one week with directions and suggestions for revision (except for the final report to Congress). The final copies of these reports will then be due according to the schedule outlined in above. 8. 3. The contractor shall meet with the Project Officer and the Chairman and/or additional members of the Committee on Senior Services at weeks 6, 11, 16 and 18 of the contract; and also with the full Committee at week 18 and the full Council at week 22. These meetings will take place in Washington, D.C. D. Scheduling 1. The contract may not exceed 26 weeks. 2. The contract shall complete the tasks according to the following schedule: Task 1 - Draft within six weeks of award of contract, final within eight. Task 2 - Preliminary model within three weeks; Testing of interim model between weeks 5 and 7; Completed working model within eight. Task 3 - Draft of data collection plan within eight weeks, final within ten; Description of programs within fourteen weeks. Task 4 - Draft within fifteen weeks, final within seventeen. Task 5 - Draft within sixteen weeks, final within eighteen. Task 6 - Draft within twenty weeks, final within twenty-two. Task 7 - Draft within twenty-four weeks, final within twenty-six. FRANK CHURCH, IDAHO, CHAIRMAN HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., N.J. HIRAM L. FONG, HAWAII ALAN BIBLE, NEV. CLIFFORD P. HANSEN, WYO. JENNINGS RANDOLPH, W. VA. EDWARD J. GURNEY, FLA. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, MAINE WILLIAM B. SAXBE, OHIO FRANK E. MOSS, UTAH EDWARD W. BROOKE, MASS. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, MASS. CHARLES H. PERCY, ILL. WALTER F. MONDALE, MINN. ROSERT T. STAFFORD, VT. United States Senate VANCE HARTKE, IND. J. GLENN BEALL, JR., MD. CLAIBORNE PELL, R.I. PETE V. DOMENICI, N. MEX. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING THOMAS F. EAGLETON, MO. JOHN v. TUNNEY, CALIF. (PURSUANT TO S. RES. 51, 93D CONGRESS) LAWTON CHILES, FLA. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 WILLIAM E. ORIOL, STAFF DIRECTOR JOHN GUY MILLER, MINORITY STAFF DIRECTOR March JAMN 24, 1975 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On March 13 I wrote you endorsing Dr. Jack C. Routson to be appointed to the Federal Council on the Aging. I am pleased to call your attention to him again by way of his vita which is enclosed. As I mentioned before, Dr. Routson is well qualified to serve on this council and would be a great asset to it, and I again urge you to seriously consider his appointment. With best regards, Sincerely, Clifford P. Hansen USS CPH:me CC: Honorable John Marsh Honorable James H. Cavanaugh Honorable Donald Rumsfeld Honorable William N. Walker GERALD FORD LIBRARY VITA Dr. Jack C. Routson, Head Department of Business Administration College of Commerce and Industry University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming 82070 Birthdate: 9/4/22 Married: Wife, Eileen F.; three grown sons Health: Excellent Education: The University of Illinois, Ph.D. 1964 (Business) The University of Colorado, M.S. 1948 (Marketing, Management) The University of Colorado, B.S. 1947 (Marketing, Management) Administrative Experience: A. Head, Department of Business Administration, University of Wyoming, 1964 to date; acting head, 1958-1964. Responsible for: (1) department of 22 faculty, three part-time faculty; three clerical and 29 part-time employees. (2) administering to bachelors degree programs in Finance, Marketing, Management, General Business and Industrial Management; graduate programs including the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and M.S. degrees in Finance, Marketing, and Industrial Management. (3) Organization, implementation, and development of MBA program in business administration for Air Force Institute of Technology, Minute Man Missile Program, F.E. Warren Air Base, Cheyenne, Wyo- ming, administered by the University of Wyoming (1967-1971). FORD LIBRARY (4) Providing organization and direction for development of appropriate areas of research. B. Organizing and conducting management development conferences for foremen through senior executive levels of management since 1956 for organizations such as: Stauffer Chemical, National Highway Users Conference, F.M.C., Pan American 011, U. S. Steel, National Telephone Cooperative Association, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Highway Department, Wyoming Fish and Game Commission, and Wyoming Hospital Managers' Association; appointed by Governor Hansen as organizing and writing consultant for the State Title 19 Bill (Medicare Plan for Wyoming). Subjects treated in the above conferences were job security, compensation, geographic relocation for promotion as retirement age is approached and as these factors become the primary issues in setting policy, operating pro- cedure; superior-subordinate counseling procedure; and the handling of day-to-day operating problems. The work with the National Telephone Cooperative Association over a number of years involved predominantly board directors of telephone cooperatives, many of whom were at or approaching retirement age. The consultation for the Medicare Plan for Wyoming under Title 19 (1965-66) concerned the program formulation and budgeting within the parameters prescribed by the Federal Medicare Amendments and their effect on the Wyoming Department of Public Health. In part the assignment involved the interrogation of several interested organizations (doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, crippled children) which would be affected by a Title 19 state law; arbi- trating the inputs of the various interest groups and evaluating the anticipated results. The report ultimately presented to Governor Hansen became the basis for legislative action. Another dimension of these professional activities has been helping the lower income/educational level employees in solving problems dealing with adjustment to significantly reduced incomes, including maintaining life and health insurance programs, etc. Also served as advisor to the Wyoming Highway Department Promotion Board in screening and counseling, especially regarding problems of older personnel in accepting promotions involving relocation problems such as giving up home, friends, familiar work environment, and the impact of making such decisions. c. University Committees and service such as the Ford Foundation sponsored three-year Masters Committee (now the University Scholars Committee), Ad Hoc Committee for the Formation of the Faculty Senate, and the Graduate Faculty Advisory Council. Served as consultant in early stages of planning and management of Personnel Department on the University of Wyoming campus. Have also consulted informally from 1949 to present with campus employees, originally through contacts as manager of the campus Student Union (Summer, 1949) and member of Student Union Management Committee (1949-1964). This has involved advice on personal and family problems--budgeting, consumer economics, insurance programs, and independent contracting by retirees. Other Professional Experience: A. Teaching responsibilities in undergraduate and graduate classes in Manage- ment and Marketing, University of Wyoming, 1948-1975; supervision of graduate independent research. B. Participant in and contributor to National Marketing Theory Conferences (1952-58); S.B.A. Grant ($23,000) to conduct observational analysis of retail sales clerks (1959). Two Wyoming State Department of Education grants ($2,500 each) to conduct national biennial studies of demographic, academic and business experience characteristics of junior college business teachers; have been active in the National Council for Small Business Management Development. Membership in American Marketing Association (Regional officer), Academy of Management, and American Institute for Decision Sciences. Research interests in marketing, consumer behavior, leisure time, and management development. C. Granted sabbatical leave in 1973 to conduct research in Europe relating to: (1) study of curriculae, admission standards, library facilities, and faculty background of selected European business schools or management institutes in Greece, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, England, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Norway, and The Netherlands. The objective was to provide practical means of judging foreign student transcripts for those applying for admission to U. S. Schools. 3 (2) background information requisite to a multi- or transnational business-supported exchange program assuming the characteristics of an internship program. (3) establishing contacts for the conduct of cooperative research and instructional programs in transnational/multinational business. Spring, 1975 JCR needham THE WHITE HOUSE aging WASHINGTON March 21, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: DOMESTIC COUNCIL FROM: PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL Jul OFFICE SUBJECT: Federal Council on the Aging Attached is our proposed memorandum to the President in which we recommend the reappointment of five persons to the Federal Council on the Aging. Please contact Jocelyn Waggoner in Robin West's office (456-2941) with any comments you may have regarding these proposed actions. We would appreciate receiving your comments by Thursday, March 27. If we have not heard from your office by that date, we shall assume that you have no objections to this memorandum. Thank you. Please route through Deputy Duectors ok- PN 3/25/75 Attachment FORD is LIBRARY GERALD THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: DONALD RUMSFELD FROM: WILLIAM N. WALKER SUBJECT: Federal Council on Aging (PAS-WAE) This memorandum seeks your approval of five persons who are recommended for reappointment to the Federal Council on Aging. The Federal Council on Aging was established by P.L. 93-29 on May 3, 1973 (Legislation, Tab A). The purpose of the Council is to advise the President on matters relating to the special needs of older citizens, to review Federal policies that affect the aging, and to educate the public concerning the problems of the aging. Each year the Council makes three reports to the Congress. The Council consists of fifteen members appointed by you with the advice and consent of the Senate for three year terms. Members are representative of older citizens, national organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor, and the general public. At least five of the members are themselves older persons. (Membership list, Tab B.) On June 5, 1975, the terms of five of the original Council members will expire. Each of these persons has been an active and interested member of the Council during the past year, and each represents an important constituency. I therefore recommend that the following members be reappointed to serve full three year terms on the Council: Bertha S. Adkins (Resume, Tab C), a Republican from Maryland. Miss Adkins, 68, was Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare during the Eisenhower Administration. She was the Vice Chairman of the 1971 White House Conference on Aging and Executive Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. Miss Adkins has served ably as Chairman of the Council since its inception. Approve Disapprove -2- Carl Eisdorfer, M.D. (Resume, Tab D), a Republican from Washington. Dr. Eisdorfer, 44, is a past President of the Gerontological Society and former Director of Duke Univer- sity's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. He is presently Chairman of the Department and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Eisdorfer is a psychiatrist and psychologist whose major research interest concerns behavioral studies on aging. He is the only physician on the Council. Approve Disapprove Dorothy Louise Devereaux (Resume, Tab E), a Republican from Hawaii. Mrs. Devereaux, 63, is a professional volunteer with the handicapped and aged. She chaired the steering committee for Hawaii's first Conference on the Aging in 1954. From 1958 to 1972, Mrs. Devereaux served in the Eawaii House of Representatives. Senator Fong strongly supports Mrs. Devereaux for reappointment to the Council. Approve Disapprove Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor (Resume, Tab F) from New York. Although unregistered, Father Fahey was supported for appointment to the original Council membership konie by Senators Javits and Buckley. He is Director of Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, New York. Father Fahey, 41, is a member of the Board and Vice President of the American Association of Homes for the Aging and is endorsed by nursing home administrators across the country and by Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religious leaders. Approve Disapprove John B. Martin (Resume, Tab G), a Republican from Maryland. Mr. Martin, 65, is a former Commissioner on Aging and Special Assistant to the President on Aging, from Michigan. He also served as a member of the National Planning Advisory Committee for the 1961 White House Conference on Aging, and as the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Michigan Commission on Aging. Mr. Martin was supported by you for his original appointment to the Council. He is now serving as a special consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teacher Association. Approve Disapprove needham fill Aging THE WHITE HOUSE aging WASHINGTON March 21, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: DOMESTIC COUNCIL FROM: PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL Juli OFFICE SUBJECT: Federal Council on the Aging Attached is our proposed memorandum to the President in which we recommend the reappointment of five persons to the Federal Council on the Aging. Please contact Jocelyn Waggoner in Robin West's office (456-2941) with any comments you may have regarding these proposed actions. We would appreciate receiving your comments by Thursday, March 27. If we have not heard from your office by that date, we shall assume that you have no objections to this memorandum. Thank you. Please route through Deputy Directors ok- PN 3/25/75 Attachment FORD is LIBRARY 078870 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: DONALD RUMSFELD FROM: WILLIAM N. WALKER SUBJECT: Federal Council on Aging (PAS-WAE) This memorandum seeks your approval of five persons who are recommended for reappointment to the Federal Council on Aging. The Federal Council on Aging was established by P.L. 93-29 on May 3, 1973 (Legislation, Tab A). The purpose of the Council is to advise the President on matters relating to the special needs of older citizens, to review Federal policies that affect the aging, and to educate the public concerning the problems of the aging. Each year the Council makes three reports to the Congress. The Council consists of fifteen members appointed by you with the advice and consent of the Senate for three year terms. Members are representative of older citizens, national organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor, and the general public. At least five of the members are themselves older persons. (Membership list, Tab B.) On June 5, 1975, the terms of five of the original Council members will expire. Each of these persons has been an active and interested member of the Council during the past year, and each represents an important constituency. I therefore recommend that the following members be reappointed to serve full three year terms on the Council: Bertha S. Adkins (Resume, Tab C), a Republican from Maryland. Miss Adkins, 68, was Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare during the Eisenhower Administration. She was the Vice Chairman of the 1971 White House Conference on Aging and Executive Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Older Americans. Miss Adkins has served ably as Chairman of the Council since its inception. Approve Disapprove -2- Carl Eisdorfer, M.D. (Resume, Tab D), a Republican from Washington. Dr. Eisdorfer, 44, is a past President of the Gerontological Society and former Director of Duke Univer- sity's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. He is presently Chairman of the Department and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Eisdorfer is a psychiatrist and psychologist whose major research interest concerns behavioral studies on aging. He is the only physician on the Council. Approve Disapprove Dorothy Louise Devereaux (Resume, Tab E), a Republican from Hawaii. Mrs. Devereaux, 63, is a professional volunteer with the handicapped and aged. She chaired the steering committee for Hawaii's first Conference on the Aging in 1954. From 1958 to 1972, Mrs. Devereaux served in the Eawaii House of Representatives. Senator Fong strongly supports Mrs. Devereaux for reappointment to the Council. Approve Disapprove Charles J. Fahey, The Reverend Monsignor (Resume, Tab F) from New York. Although unregistered, Father Fahey was supported for appointment to the original Council membership by Senators Javits and Buckley. He is Director of Catholic Charities for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, New York. Father Fahey, 41, is a member of the Board and Vice President of the American Association of Homes for the Aging and is endorsed by nursing home administrators across the country and by Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religious leaders. Approve Disapprove John B. Martin (Resume, Tab G), a Republican from Maryland. Mr. Martin, 65, is a former Commissioner on Aging and Special Assistant to the President on Aging, from Michigan. He also served as a member of the National Planning Advisory Committee for the 1961 White House Conference on Aging, and as the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Michigan Commission on Aging. Mr. Martin was supported by you for his original appointment to the Council. He is now serving as a special consultant to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Retired Teacher Association. Approve Disapprove