The focus of the Southwest 8 Senior Services advocacy efforts is to educate seniors, their families, caregivers and elected officials about the needs of older adults, and to encourage seniors to advocate on their own behalf. For more information, to volunteer, or for public education, please contact Southwest 8 Senior Services at (712) 328-2540 or toll free at 1-800-432-9209.
Advocacy programs include:
- First Advocate
Political and social issues are important in our lives. When you register with the First Advocate Program you can gain tools to effectively communicate your concerns and messages to the Iowa Legislature and the United States Congress. You will also be kept informed on issues of importance to Iowa's elderly. Once you're a member, you can expect to receive:
- Action Alerts--members will be notified of advocacy efforts so that they may become involved.
- New Alerts--members will be notified of advocacy events.
- Tips on communicating with your representatives via the phone, mail or the internet
- Advocacy in Action
The Advisory Council serves as an information link between the Area Agency and the local counties. Members represent each of the eight counties in our service area and have an opportunity to advocate local concerns by giving input on the policies and direction of the agency. Members can also advocate with local, state and national officials on seniors concerns. By attending Advisory Council meetings and getting involved, members are informed and up-to-date on senior issues.
Southwest 8 Senior Services also sponsors a Committee on Aging (COA) in each of our 8 counties. The COA's are the information link between the local communities and the Advisory Council. The COA's identify the priorities and unmet needs of the elderly in their communities and transmit such information to their county Advisory Council delegates. Anyone interested in senior issues can attend a COA meeting.
- SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program)
SHIIP - can help you find answers to the important questions you have on Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, long term care insurance, and other health insurance issues. If you have questions concerning the insurance options to best fit your needs Southwest 8 Senior Services has volunteers prepared to assist you.
- SMP
Volunteers for SMP, educate others on Medicare Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention. If you have a Medicare concern, this is where you can report it. All information is confidential and will NOT be shared with anyone. Southwest 8 Senior Services currently has volunteers prepared to make presentations to groups of any size. To report suspected waste, fraud or abuse call: 1-800-423-2449
- Resident Advocacy Committee (RAC)
Each long-term care facility has a committee comprised of community volunteers who work to improve conditions for people who live in facilities. Volunteers work at a facility talking with the residents to understand conditions at the facility from the residents' point of view, then work through facility staff to correct problems or implement suggestions for improvement. For more information on the RAC program, please call the Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1(800) 532-3213.
- Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention
Elder abuse is one of the most under-recognized and under-reported social problems in the United States. Elder abuse may include physical violence, threats of assault, financial exploitation, physical or sexual abuse or self neglect.
To report Elder Abuse or Dependent Adult Abuse call:
1-800-362-2178
24 Hours a day, 7 days a week.
You may be the only one who notices a problem.
Reports of suspected elder abuse will be kept confidential.
