Coleman, Franken and Barkely: Thoughts on Innovation in Aging Services

A very close U.S. Senate race is occurring in Minnesota between Republican candidate Sen. Norm Coleman, the Democratic candidate Al Franken and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkely, who served in the U.S. Senate filling out the late Paul Wellstone’s term.How do these candidates stand on innovating in aging services?Here at Changing Aging we provide a glimpse through an AARP Magazine question answered by Coleman and Franken. Changing Aging also sought to interview all three candidates. Franken answered our questions, Barkely provided a statement and we haven’t heard from Coleman’s campaign although we’ve made several requests. If we receive information from the Coleman campaign, we will post it. You can read Barkley’s response here and Franken’s here.Below are the responses from Coleman and Franken to this question posed by AARP:How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?Sen. Norm Coleman:As a member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging I’ve strongly supported efforts to enable seniors to continue to enjoy the dignity of independent living, including more opportunities to remain in the workplace. In fact, I’ve introduced legislation to to bring together stakeholders to help build a vision in which older Americans can stay independent, live active and mobile lives, and contribute to their communities through employment opportunities. I’ve also cosponsored S. 1980, the Long-Term Care Quality and Modernization Act of 2007. This bill will enhance long-term care quality and will remove barriers to care for long-term residents.Al FrankenIt is imperative that we develop a long-term care system that allows seniors to make choices about the care that works best for them. We should give seniors choices that are consistent with their needs, while making long-term care more affordable for seniors and their families. No one is better equipped to ensure that seniors are treated with the dignity they deserve from their families. Current long-term care options are geared toward institutions that remove the patients from home. We must develop a program that allows patients to remain in their homes, and family members to become as involved as possible in care. Home-based care options are often more personal, comfortable, and affordable than caregiving institutions and must always be available.