August 16, 2007
Public Hearing on State Aging Plan Next Week
A MetNet teleconference public hearing on the recently completed four-year State Plan on Aging will be held Monday, Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in numerous communities across Montana. The Plan on Aging was put together by the Aging Services Bureau of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
Site locations for the hearing include Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Glasgow, Glendive, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, and Pablo. (Specific locations are listed below.)
According to Aging Services Bureau Chief Charlie Rehbein, the plan covers 2008 to 2011 and follows federal guidelines set forth by the Administration on Aging, but is catered to fit state needs. “The plan does have a Montana flavor,” Rehbein noted.
Specifically, the new plan has a strong focus on expanding services to rural communities and increasing access to legal services. “We are working with the State Bar to provide some legal services for seniors who need it,” he said.
In addition, as the senior population in rural communities increases, the demand for services rises as well. Some services include skilled nursing, respite care and transportation.
“It’s something we need to look at,” Rehbein said. “For example, some small Montana communities may only have a population of 200 people, but 30 or 40 percent of those residents are over the age of 65.”
By 2030, Montana is expected to have the third highest percentage in the nation of people over 65.
The teleconference hearing is open to anyone interested, but specifically targets seniors, service providers, Area on Agency staff, and senior center directors.
Those unable to attend the teleconference hearing are encouraged to submit written comments that will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 24. The draft of the plan can be reviewed on the DPHHS web site at the following link: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aboutsltc/whatsnew/index.shtml
Written comments should be sent to the following address: State Plan on Aging, Aging Services Bureau, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604.
Rehbein suggests those attending the public hearing arrive early as seating is limited at some locations.
The plan’s goals are as follows:- Expand the Aging Disability Resource Center model in Montana with focus on developing and implementing it to cover Rural/Frontier counties and communities.
- Increase the availability of Ombudsman services statewide to meet the increased demand based on increase of long term care facilities and the complexity of cases.
- Increase services to caregivers, especially in rural/frontier Montana.
- Support Montanans in their desire to stay in their own homes or live in smaller community based residential settings for as long as possible.
- Empower older people to stay active and healthy through Older Americans Act services and the new prevention benefits under Medicare.
- Increase access to legal advocacy and assistance for elderly Montanans
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Billings
Montana State University-Billings
Conferencing Center - Bozeman
Montana State University-Bozeman
EPS Building, Burns Telecommunications Center, Rm 126 - Butte
Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Engineering Lab
Classroom Building, Rm 225 - Great Falls
Montana State University College of Technology-Great Falls
Rm B133 - Havre
Montana State University-Northern
Hagener Science Center, Rm 202 - Helena
DPHHS Auditorium
Department of Public Health and Human Services
Sanders Building - Kalispell
Flathead Valley Community College
Learning Resource Center, Rm 120 - Miles City
Miles Community College
Rm 313 - Missoula
University of Montana-Missoula
Gallagher Building, Rm 104 - Pablo
Salish Kootenai College, Pablo - Glasgow
Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital - Glendive
Glendive Medical Center
For more information call Rehbein at 406-444-7788.
