I just received an action alert regarding Senate Substitute 2320, a bill that will be voted on this Tuesday on the Senate Floor in Kansas. The bill is the only option to access federal funds to take great care of the long-term care residents of Kansas. If it does not pass, there may be possible reduction of staff and elimination of activities for our institutionalized elders.
The action alert which was submitted by the Kansas Health Care Association reads as follows:
Senators will be casting their vote on Senate Substitute 2320 (formerly SB 546) Tuesday.The Senators have been hearing from our opponents, but not from us. You can influence your Senator by contacting them before Friday. My friends we have to step up our efforts to let our Senator know we need their support. If this bill doesn’t pass some of you will be closing your doors, and others will be reducing staff and eliminating activities for your residents. You will have no other alternative. You MUST get your staff, residents and their families engaged in this effort. It takes a few minutes to call your Senator and ask them to support Senate Substitute 2320. Tell them the elderly of Kansas are expecting them to do the right thing. Their future well being lies in their hands. Pass this on to your staff, residents and their families.We can not let this bill fail, due to our unwillingness to make this a priority. The residents and their families are expecting us to do everything possible to make passage of this bill possible. They have entrusted us with their care. Let us not fail them. Our opponents are contacting their Senators in numbers. We MUST do the same. Start making those calls today.
I just called my Senator, Anthony Hensley, in support of the bill at 785-296-3245.
Speaking of “elimination of activities,”I think it’s interesting that the “icing on the cake” seems to be the first thing to go in these type of situations. Same thing in public schools – when expenditures must be reduced, we see the arts and educational field trip opportunities reduced or eliminated.
Remember the old adage, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die?” Imagine if it were only, “Eat, drink, and poop, for tomorrow we die.”
“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” – Steve Martin
Kareen King is a Registered Drama Therapist and founder of The Golden Experience™, offering keynotes, concerts, and workshops to enrich lives in long-term care. For booking information, contact her at kking@thegoldenexperience.com or visit www.thegoldenexperience.com. You may also signup for our newsletter and receive a free download.
