This year has been challenging for so many. Many areas of our country were ravaged by hurricanes and fires, several of which are still burning furiously in California. Member organizations, staff, residents, clients and families have had their lives upended. And you rose to the occasion.
The overwhelming generosity of the LeadingAge community has allowed us to provide financial support to many. Disaster relief funds have covered insurance deductibles, relocated a resident to be with his family after being evacuated, replaced flooded cars so staff could get to work, helped many rebuild their lives, purchased supplies, and so much more. The needs are great and the response has been heartwarming.
But all is not back in order. The New York Times this week reported on the devastating situation in Puerto Rico. Many older adults are still without power, and food and medicine remain in short supply. Earlier this week, Nancy Hooks and LeadingAge board members Roberto Muniz and Mike King, along with staff and leaders of members National Church Residences and VOA, traveled to Puerto Rico to deliver checks to affordable housing communities and learn first hand what else we can do. We’ll post photos on our website following their visit.
As I think back on the year, there have been moments of triumph and moments of despair, but never a second in which we have given up hope. Despair at the inability to move CMS to reconsider burdensome regulations for nursing homes, despite our best efforts. Despair at the growing number of older adults on waiting lists for affordable housing—numbers that will continue to grow without Congressional action to provide for new production. Despair at the prospect of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, threatened as a result of the deficit spikes caused by the tax bill that is working its way through Congress this week.
Triumph, on the other hand, is personified by the compassion of the LeadingAge community to help our fellow members in difficult times. Triumph resulting from the unprecedented outpouring of grassroots support (over 32,000 letters and phone calls to Congress from LeadingAge members) to stop the proposed changes to Medicaid that would be so devastating. And triumph embodied by the unwavering commitment of members and their staff to provide the best for their residents, clients, and families.
Your work doesn’t get easier; it just gets harder. New regulations, competition, staffing challenges, fragile business models, funding cuts are just few of the hurdles you face every day. And yet, you keep at it.
You reassure families who are worried about the health and safety of their parents and grandparents. You engage volunteers who lovingly devote thousands of hours to your organizations. You cultivate donors to support your mission. You foster strong governance with board members who care deeply about your purpose. You train and reward staff for their dedication. You build and nurture partnerships that contribute to the success of your organization.
You do this all day, every day, all year long.
On behalf of the staff at LeadingAge, thank you for inspiring us. Thank you for riding the waves of triumph and despair with us. I look forward to 2018 and trust that, working together, hope will prevail and our Power of Purpose will continue to guide us in the weeks and month to come.
I offer a very heartfelt season’s greetings to you all.
Warmly,
Katie