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The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows: Part 15 -- A Memo to Reno, re: The Old Grey Lady
The New York Times ^ | May 5, 2002 | summer

Posted on 05/05/2002 8:47:48 PM PDT by summer

The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows: Part 15 -- A Memo to Reno, re: The Old Grey Lady

Written by summer - a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher


Janet, As the NYT explains,
some people in FL are too old
to drive around in a red truck.


MEMO

To: Janet Reno

From: summer, a independent FL voter

Re: Jeb's VERY positive mention in today's Sunday New York Times, Health Section


Janet:

Bad news here.

Today, Sunday, the NYT [aka "the Old Grey Lady"] ran a very upbeat story mentioning your opponent, the GOP candidate, Gov. Jeb Bush.

Now, I realize such news will be meaningless to some people. Some people may be busy -- standing on street corners shouting into bull horns, or following you around in a tank, or doing whatever they think is necessary to get my attention, but to tell you the truth, Janet, I am not interested in all that.

I am interested in the future of my elderly parents. Not a glamorous subject, I know. Bullhorns are louder and tanks make a bigger entrance. But, as it happens, my parents are my only parents. And, my parents are elderly and live in Florida.

That's what the NYT article was about: my parents. So, it really caught my eye.

I noticed the article didn't mention any ideas you have to help my parents in FL.

But, it did give credit to Gov. Jeb Bush and a program he started in 2000. He is leading our nation in creating what is called "Elder Ready Communities."

And, as a FL independent voter - you know, the kind of voter who actually decides the outcomes of elections here in FL - this article really caught my eye.


----------------------

May 5, 2002

Florida Redoubles Effort to Accommodate Aged

By DANA CANEDY

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Evelyn Kusk used to fret about crossing a busy intersection here on her way to the bank and the grocery store. She is 85 and not as speedy as she used to be.

"Every time, I'd run even to make it halfway," said Mrs. Kusk, a retired seamstress from Brooklyn. "I'm getting old, so I don't run that fast."

But Mrs. Kusk has been able to relax a bit lately. In recent months, the city has begun adjusting its traffic lights to give pedestrians 15 seconds more to cross the street. It has also been putting in wider sidewalks, shelters for bus stops and stop signs with bigger, easier-to-read letters.

That is not all. Elderly residents like Mrs. Kusk, who walks and cycles around town and insists on being independent, can now find emergency call boxes on sidewalks and a ready supply of church volunteers to escort them on errands and visits to the doctor. In addition, Mayor Tom Anderson says, a $1.7 million center for the elderly, largely state-financed, will offer computer and fitness classes, a dinner theater and line dancing. The city has also begun providing many low-income elderly residents property-tax breaks beyond those allowed by the state.

What has gotten into Dunedin (pronounced duh-NEE-din), a town of 35,000 on the Gulf of Mexico 25 miles west of Tampa?

The answer is that it is in the middle of a half-million-dollar effort to make life safer, easier and more appealing to people 65 and older. The reasons have to do partly with some hard generational truths, partly with enlightened self-interest.

Dunedin is one of more than 40 Florida communities working to be certified as "elder ready" under a program introduced in 2000 by Gov. Jeb Bush and the state's Department of Elder Affairs. The program, Communities for a Lifetime, is the country's most comprehensive effort to encourage independent living by older people, whom Dunedin and the rest of Florida have in abundance.


Communities that meet the program's guidelines will get state help in marketing themselves to retirees, who will then, the thinking goes, buy homes there, pay taxes there and stimulate the local economy.

"Once you explain the concept to people - that the whole purpose is to allow elders to remain in their homes with dignity, security and purpose in an elder-friendly environment - then it makes sense for a community to begin to prepare," said Peg Cummings, Dunedin's coordinator.

Cities in Florida and elsewhere have for years been making adjustments for the elderly, like adding handrails to showers in hotels and, since adoption of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990, ramps to buildings. But under Florida's program, communities are making comprehensive changes.

"In the 50's, people said, `We need to set up an infrastructure to handle all these children,' " said Bentley Lipscomb, director of the Florida AARP. "Well, now it's the reverse."

Florida often confronts issues concerning the aging long before the rest of the country, and for good reason. By at least one measure, it is the nation's oldest state: in the 2000 census, its 2.8 million residents 65 or older accounted for 17.6 percent of its population, compared with 12.4 percent for the nation as a whole. In Dunedin, 40 percent of the residents are at least 65.

Census projections put Florida's figure at 26.3 percent by 2025, with the national figure 18 percent.

"Florida is looked at as the incubator as to what the rest of the country will look like in 20 years," said Terry F. White, secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs. "Because of this, we need to be better prepared than the rest of the nation."

To gain "elder ready" status, a city must demonstrate that it has made changes to help the aged in categories including transportation, medical services and law enforcement. A city that wins approval will be permitted to post signs proclaiming itself elder-friendly and receive promotional support from the state.

Under guidelines issued by the Department of Elder Affairs, the participating cities themselves assess everything from ambulance response times to whether the police department trains officers to spot schemes that bilk the elderly.

The state also encourages communities to look for ways to make everyday life easier for older people, like asking banks to install A.T.M.'s with large buttons and encouraging grocery stores to include checkout lanes exclusively for the elderly.

"This is the most comprehensive program I've heard of," said Charles Jarvis, chairman of the United Seniors Association, an advocacy group. "When Florida moves in a particular direction, other states follow."


Cities seeking certification are permitted to pick and choose among the state guidelines.

"This isn't a `one size fits all' state," said Cathy Brown, executive director of the Council on Aging of St. Johns County, which includes St. Augustine, one of the participating cities. "The whole point is to have each community say, `This is what we need in our community.' "

So communities begin by evaluating what changes would most improve the lives of elderly people locally. St. Augustine has refurbished its senior citizens' center and added new services there.

The city also plans to build low-income housing for older residents, and strengthen in-home services for them, she said.

Other cities, however, are still deciding whether to join the initiative. But in the cities where changes are already under way, people like Donald Blades voice appreciation.

"This isn't just elder-friendly," said Mr. Blades, 83, of Dunedin. "It's just plain friendly."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; elderly; fl; florida; jebbush; reno
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BTW, for more info on FL's Elder Ready Communities, click here.

And, I realize bull horns and tanks may appeal more to some voters. But, I also believe programs like the above appeal to other voters. And, who can FL citizens thank for leading the nation in helping seniors lead independent lives? As the NYT reported, here's who gets the credit:

Dunedin is one of more than 40 Florida communities working to be certified as "elder ready" under a program introduced in 2000 by Gov. Jeb Bush and the state's Department of Elder Affairs. The program, Communities for a Lifetime, is the country's most comprehensive effort to encourage independent living by older people, whom Dunedin and the rest of Florida have in abundance.

How many elderly people are you related to in FL who may know nothing about this program? Maybe there are times when the pen really is mightier than the sword....
1 posted on 05/05/2002 8:47:48 PM PDT by summer
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To: Jeb Bush; *Florida
For index.
2 posted on 05/05/2002 8:48:24 PM PDT by summer
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To: Spookbrat; not-alone...
FYI. And, if you have a moment, please bump this thread so others will see it too. Thanks! :)
3 posted on 05/05/2002 8:52:39 PM PDT by summer
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To: Amore
Amore, Just wondered if you are familiar with this program to help the elderly...
4 posted on 05/05/2002 9:30:31 PM PDT by summer
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To: Khepera; OldFriend; GretchenEE; Sungirl; Utah Girl; codder too; FairWitness; eureka!...
FYI. :)
5 posted on 05/05/2002 9:34:52 PM PDT by summer
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To: LarryLied; PJ-Comix; Dog GOne; Miss Marple; PhiKapMom; RightOnLine
I am hoping people think more about the elderly! They are an important part of any FL election. Maybe you could bump this thread. Thanks. :)
6 posted on 05/05/2002 9:41:21 PM PDT by summer
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To: harpo11, christine11...
FYI. :)
7 posted on 05/05/2002 9:55:30 PM PDT by summer
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To: summer
BTTT
8 posted on 05/05/2002 9:58:59 PM PDT by sport
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To: summer
Bump! Thanks for an interesting read.
9 posted on 05/05/2002 9:59:14 PM PDT by sunshine state
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To: sunshine state
Gee, thank you so much, sunshine state! :)
10 posted on 05/05/2002 10:12:54 PM PDT by summer
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To: summer
No, hadn't heard of it. Interesting. But I'm sorry, I disagree on one small point. I think "encouraging grocery stores to include checkout lanes exclusively for the elderly" is a bit much. They're the one group that actually has the time to shop. Some go shopping practically every day as a way to get out and socialize. And they're supposed to get a speed lane ahead of the rest of us who still have to work for a living? That's a bit much.
11 posted on 05/05/2002 10:14:57 PM PDT by Amore
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To: sport
Thank you, sport! :)
12 posted on 05/05/2002 10:17:41 PM PDT by summer
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To: Amore
LOL....Amore, maybe that IS the lane for socializing! :)
13 posted on 05/05/2002 10:18:50 PM PDT by summer
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To: summer
I really love what you are doing. I saw him on the news the other night, and the Senior Bushes can be very proud of their sons.
14 posted on 05/06/2002 12:48:52 AM PDT by Angelique
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To: summer
Bush bump! :O)
15 posted on 05/06/2002 2:35:16 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: summer
BTTT!!!!!
16 posted on 05/06/2002 3:21:44 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: summer
No Jeb Bushes were harmed at a Dunedin intersection in the posting of this reply.
17 posted on 05/06/2002 3:52:11 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
So what has Reno done? I mean besides harm children!
18 posted on 05/06/2002 5:07:55 AM PDT by Khepera
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To: summer, JulieRNR21, floriduh voter

Bullhorns are louder and tanks make a bigger entrance…
Not to mention MP5 submachine guns.


19 posted on 05/06/2002 5:11:08 AM PDT by Joe Brower
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To: summer
Thanks for the article summer. My mother is too old (and stubborn) to move from Wisconsin (though I wish she didn't have to cope with those winters anymore), and I'm not quite ready for this kind of community yet, but it is interesting.
20 posted on 05/06/2002 5:18:21 AM PDT by FairWitness
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