By KELLY DAVIS
Anderson Independent-Mail
January 11, 2005

South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, in charge of the state’s Office of Aging, wants to make it easier for the growing elderly population to buy long-term care insurance and to get help with nursing home concerns as part of a five-part agenda for 2005.

In addition to tax credits to encourage long-term care insurance and adding five new long-term-care ombudsmen — federally mandated state employees who work in nursing homes to support residents and their families and to look into abuse and neglect — Lt. Gov. André Bauer would like to:

• reverse declines in tax collection of Bingo gaming, proceeds of which pay for senior center construction and home-based services
• get public support for his new Commission for Aging Review and Evaluation, a group intended to find ways to expand and reduce the costs of aging services
• hold a South Carolina White House Conference on Aging in April, in advance of a once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C., in October.

The state’s senior citizen population will double in the next 15 years and triple in the next 25, but the state is below the national average of one ombudsmen for every 2,000 beds, Office of Aging spokesman Frank Adams said. The state’s Silver Haired Legislature, a senior advocacy group, has made at least this rate of ombudsmen its priority recommendation to the state General Assembly.

Gov. Mark Sanford included money for that goal in his proposed 2005-06 budget. Tied to the issue of advocacy is health care access, and the Office on Aging also is calling for a loan-forgiveness program for medical students who go into geriatrics.

"Forgiving their loans removes at least one impediment," Mr. Adams said.

Kelly Davis can be reached at (864) 260-1277 or by e-mail at davisk@IndependentMail.com.

Copyright 2005, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.