Delegates to the Silver Haired Legislature choose their priorities for 2017
Nov 9, 2016 | Clubs & Organizations |
Silver Haired Legislators are pictured, left to right, front row, John Murphy, DeKalb County; Freda Miller, NWMOAAA SHL Director; Shirley Pierce, Worth County; Lorraine Helm-Higgins, Gentry County; Kathy Roach, Andrew County; second row, David Martin, Livingston County; Walter Burnett, Daviess County; John Herndon, Linn County; Dick Logan, Nodaway County; Edna Foster, Grundy County; Bill Casey, Mercer County; Sharon Murphy, DeKalb County; Bill Hedge, Buchanan County; Larry Cady, Nodaway County; back row, Bill Minton, Buchanan County; Jim Crenshaw, Clinton County.
The 43rd Annual Conference of the Silver Haired Legislature took place at the State Capitol in Jefferson City October 18-20. The 118 delegates in attendance chose their Top Five Priorities and formulated plans to advocate for senior issues during the coming legislative session.
After spirited debates in the Legislative chambers, the delegates chose these issues as their Top Five Priorities for the 2017 legislative session:
Senior Services Growth and Development Fund
Increase funding for the Home Delivered and Congregate Meals provided by Area Agencies on Aging
Expand Mo HealthNet (Medicaid)
Provide financial assistance to seniors for medically necessary hearing aid devices, vision services, and dental care through MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
Reauthorize funding for MoRx Program
Anyone interested in learning further details about the priorities of the Silver Haired Legislature is encouraged to call or e-mail Freda Miller, Northwest Delegation at 888-844-5626 or [email protected] or SHL Delegate, John Murphy at 816-449-5759 or [email protected]
Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The SHL is composed of fifteen volunteers from each of the ten statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates, elected by their peers, identify and advocate for issues critical to older Missourians.
