Hands to Help Seniors
Monterey, CA Veterans Administration Having Difficulty Finding Qualified Hires That Want To Work There
by Richard Kuehn on 11/09/14
As the Veterans Administration looks to reinvent itself, one issue it has is finding qualified employees who want to work there in light of its recently tarnished reputation. The VA is now offering
good starting salaries, well-financed research opportunities and
rewarding work with patients in great need, according to the New York Times. However, many people just don't want them. Robert A. McDonald, the new head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, admits hiring is a challenge at the massive 330,000 employee agency. However, with the spotlight focused on the agency, it appears ripe for change. I'm just glad that they are admitting their failures and trying to move on.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/us/politics/needing-to-hire-chief-of-va-tries-to-sell-doctors-on-change-.html?emc=edit_th_20141109&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=3627188&_r=0
Monterey, CA Veterans Administration Admits 5,000 Employees Being Disciplined
by Richard Kuehn on 11/08/14
The Department of Veterans
Affairs has admitted that more than 5,000 employees are currently subject to disciplinary proposals over the much publicized scandal over care delays. VA Secretary
Robert McDonald
has told the media that his position on disciplining employees is trying to walk
the line between quick action and treating employees fairly. However, he has
left both veterans advocates and employee groups upset with the middle
ground he has staked out. Although this may seem like a wishy-washy position, let's all be thankful that this remains in the front page of the mainstream press. There is no question that his every move is being watched and he will be doing what he can to fix the situation quickly.
Monterey, CA Gap Between Rich And Poor Continues To Widen
by Richard Kuehn on 10/20/14
View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez,
Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas,
Seaside And Soledad California
The stock market has been volatile but is
still near record levels. However, most
of the wealth which has been created since the recession is going to the
top 10% of families in the country. A report
from the Federal Reserve Bank said that the average pretax income for the
wealthiest 10% of U.S. Families rose 10% in 2013 from 2010, but families in the
bottom 40% saw their average inflation-adjusted income drop during the same
period. The report also found that there
was little change in average take-home pay for middle and upper-classed
families. The top 3% of families saw
their share of total income rise to 30.5% in 2013 from 27.7% in 2010 while the
bottom 90% saw their share fall. These
are sad statistics, and with the Social Security Cost of Living Increase (COLA)
expected to be announced on Wednesday at just 1.7% for 2015, the low-income
elderly population is having an extremely difficult time.
Please note that this blog reflects my
personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help
Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.
Monterey, CA Poor Seniors Forgo Medical Care, Good Diets To Make Ends Meet
by Richard Kuehn on 10/17/14
The tiny cost of living increase (COLA) that seniors have been getting on their Social Security checks have had many scrambling to make ends meet as their typical daily expenses like food, gas and medical costs have been rising rapidly. A new study found, not surprisingly, that Americans' eating habits have improved, except among the poor. The report, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found that on an index of healthy eating where a perfect score is 110, adults averaged only 40 points in 1999 and 2000 but that metric rose to 47 points in 2009 and 2010. Scores for those with low incomes, many of whom are seniors, were lower than the average and barely moved during this time frame. Unfortunately, these poor eating habits increase the risks of diabetes and heart disease and end up costing all of us money.
Monterey, CA Homeless Still A Big Problem In The County : Art Exhibit In Carmel To Highlight This
by Richard Kuehn on 09/14/14
View From Nonprofit Serving Senior Citizens In Carmel,
Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific
Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California
Homeless
men are the subject of an exhibit at the Carl Cherry Center for the
Arts. Called "Inherent Worth and
Dignity: Living Portraits of Homeless Men, the multi-media exhibit includes
photographic portraits, essays, a book and video interviews of men who have
been homeless in Monterey County during the past two years. They also present "Dignity Under Stress:
Conversations with Homeless Men " at 4:00 p.m. on September 27. Hopefully, this will raise awareness of this
important issue. Dorothy's Place in
Salinas is a great non-profit which feeds and shelters the homeless, and they
report that many of their transient residents are female seniors.
Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.
