The Council on Aging is an advisory composed of volunteer members representing the interest of older adults in the eight county NKADD region.  The Council on Aging has seven committees to assist with the mission of serving the older adult population of Northern Kentucky.

The Northern Kentucky Senior Advocacy Committee is one of those committees. The committee works to educate on issues and influence public policy affecting older adults and their families when needed, through partnerships among concerned individuals, agencies and community.  The committee is involved in an array of activities throughout the year.  The committee strives to become strong advocates for older adults in our communities. 

A recent advocacy effort includes the Legislative Community Luncheon Forum that was held October 2012 at the Boone County Extension Office.  The purpose of this Forum was to educate and bring together state legislators, aging providers and consumers about the needs that affect older adults.  Attendees included State Representatives Alicia Webb-Edington, Representative Addia Wuchner, Senator John Schickel, staff representing US Senator Rand Paul and local Campbell County Commissioner Ken Rechtin.  The forum provided information about trends for types of services needed from a local, state and national perspective, number of people currently served and increasing need for services due to the “record number of baby boomers” turning 65 years of age.  In addition to this information a cost analysis of typical services provided to keep independent older adults in their homes as long as possible versus moving into a nursing facility prematurely.  

In conjunction with AARP and the Kentucky Association of Gerontology the Advocacy Committee is currently involved with advocacy efforts in Frankfort during this current Legislative Session.  The committee traveled to the Capitol on March 20, 2012 to participate in discussions with state leaders and show our support for State Budget-House Bill 265-a $50 million dollar increase and protect existing funding for home and community based services and senior meals provided by Area Agencies on Aging.  The committee also discussed its opposition to Senate Bill 135-Phases out Public Service Commission’s authority to regulate affordable basic phone services and creates new limitations on investigating consumer telecom issues.  Rural communities, the poor and older adults could be among those left behind if basis phone service is limited or unavailable in less profitable areas.  Prior to leaving Frankfort the committee presented each legislator with “personalized paper plates” from older adults representing their regions.  The “paper plates” represented the “End the Wait, Fill the Plate” campaign for congregate and home delivered meals.