Diane Menio, Executive Director of CARIE, the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders, discussed their work, advocating for health, safety and dignity, and navigating the health and social services systems to ensure they receive their due entitlements.  We discussed the two major battles for elders, many of whom live in poverty, safe and secure housing and access to medical care.  She talked about the difficulties facing many elders in self-management, including lack of transportation and no digital access.  CARIE helps these elders with arranging appointments, legal services, insurance and benefit claims, they investigate elder abuse and fraud and they operate as ombudsmen for nursing homes.  She also spoke of the ongoing problems with long term care, the privitatization of nursing homes has created an unsafe environment with an insurmountable price barrier for most.  She cites the death rates for COVID as an example of the issues elders face, more than 25 times the non-resident population, and they were trapped with no ability to leave or to access family or any oversite services.    While their service region is Philadelphia County CARIE will do referrals for any who reach out to them.

CARIE.org

Call 800-356-3606