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By Max Greenberg

About this blog: I developed a special interest in helping seniors with their challenges and transitions when my dad had a stroke and I helped him through all the various stages of downsizing, packing, moving and finding an assisted living communi... (More)

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Top 6 Issues Affecting Seniors to keep an eye on as Donald Trump takes over

Uploaded: Jan 19, 2017

1. Services funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA) such as Meals on Wheels, adult day care, and information assistance could all be targeted.
2. Significant changes/repeal of the Affordable Care Act could affect how care is delivered through Medicare and Medicaid. The changes may increase out-of-pocket Medicare costs for seniors. Possible cap on federal spending for Medicaid, a program that benefits very poor and very sick older adults and people with disabilities, as well as low-income mothers and children
3. Senior services programs may be in jeopardy in part because Congress will be looking for ways to finance what is likely to be a significant tax cut.
4. Trump promised to leave Medicare benefits untouched. But since the election he has promised to support efforts to “modernize” the program — Washington code for restructuring the way the program is financed. Paul Ryan and many House Republicans would cap the government’s share of Medicare, a step that could lead to huge jumps in premiums for seniors.
5. Social Security has been seriously discussed as a program that could be privatized. Something to consider: If you are below the full retirement age, taking Social Security at an earlier age (ie 62) before something dramatic happens to it.
6. On the horizon could be repeal of the Endangered Species Act. This could be an early step towards the sell off of National Park land, and affect the level of access and cost to access these national treasures.

Anything else you want to add to the list, please make a comment. Good luck everyone!

Comments

Posted by Anon, a resident of Crescent Park,
on Jan 19, 2017 at 1:21 pm

I think the headline should use the word "affecting" rather than "effecting".

Thank you for this helpful summary of issues.

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Posted by musical, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Jan 19, 2017 at 9:42 pm

No need to worry about a federal tax cut. Say the IRS drops the 33% bracket down to 30%. Then California could raise our 10.3% bracket up to 13.3% without impacting anyone's take-home pay. Sacramento would have enough money to replace whatever federal programs are cut here. I've seen claims that California only gets back 78 cents of each dollar we send to Washington, so we get even more bang for the buck by keeping that money in-state.

Of course the real world is more complicated...

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Posted by Max Greenberg, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on Jan 20, 2017 at 4:40 am
Max Greenberg is a registered user.

Thanks Anon. Change to headline implemented.

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Posted by More Scare Tactics, a resident of Evergreen Park,
on Jan 21, 2017 at 3:33 pm

Stop the scare tactics Max. Enough already with the biased liberal scare scenarios. [Portion removed.] You just don't get it! Most of America is struggling. Do you know what it is like to not be able to eat everyday, and to sleep in the rain? We will be better off 8 years from now, than anything done in the past years. Those unemployment figures are not true, and you know it due to we have the lowest worker participation rate since The Great Depression!

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Posted by musical, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Jan 21, 2017 at 4:27 pm

Interesting. The pessimists have become optimists, and the optimists have become pessimists.

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Posted by Resident, a resident of Greendell/Walnut Grove,
on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:32 pm

I live in Palo Alto. I live in the Bay Area. I support President Trump 100 percent. I encourage everyone else here to stand by your beliefs. Do not be bullied by these hostile rioters who can't face reality.

To the Social Justice Warriors of the Left: stop bullying. STOP BULLYING US. It is cruel, destructive, and unacceptable. We are being bullied.

Have courage, stand up, speak your mind, don't be afraid.

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Posted by Midtown Mom, a resident of Midtown,
on Jan 24, 2017 at 9:54 pm

Thank you Max for your consistent advocacy for the older members of our community. You do a great job of bringing topics to the table for discussion. Keep up the good work!

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Posted by Max, a resident of Midtown,
on Jan 25, 2017 at 8:26 am

Thanks Midtown Mom for your kind words. And thanks for everyone who takes the time to comment, no matter if your comments are based on facts, or alternative facts. You are all welcome (please identify when you are basing your comments on alternative facts.)

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Posted by resident, a resident of Charleston Meadows,
on Jan 25, 2017 at 1:27 pm

Being a retired resident I have the luxury of watching Fox News all day so I can see the daily news briefings and rack the status of goals - which seem to be moving forward at breakneck speed. Suggest that you all look at what is happening in realty as opposed to someone who has an agenda to tell you what they want you to hear. Any topic that is currently up for discussion has a number of contributors - both R and D. I get 4 papers a day and each takes a different interpretation of what was discussed. It is all to the good unless you are an illegal person with a criminal record - you are wasting taxpayer money. There are shows all day and duplicated at night which report on the events of the day and you can see history as it is happening.

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Posted by musical, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Jan 25, 2017 at 11:02 pm

@res, "what is happening in realty" -- Palo Alto's primary theme.

(sorry, had to point out Freudian slip)

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