Senate Special Committee Research Articles

Testimony to the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging at a Hearing on Guardianship and Alternatives: Protection and Empowerment

These remarks are from Dr. Shogren’s written testimony on March 30, 2023, at a hearing of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging on “Guardianship and Alternatives: Protection and Empowerment.” These remarks and a video of Dr. Shogren’s oral testimony is publicly available at https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/guardianship-and-alternatives-protection-and-empowerment as well as in the Congressional Record.

From Barrier-Free to Universal/Inclusive Design: How Far Have We Progressed During These 60 Years in Japan?

It is sixty years since ASA A117.1 was introduced in 1961, and fifty years since the US Senate Special Committee on Aging hearings on barrier-free environment in October 1971. During these years, the word "barrier-free design" was replaced with universal design, or inclusive design, with the notion that the need is not limited to people who have disabilities, but that more people will be affected by poor design. How far have we progressed in these years to solve the problems? This paper tries to examine what we have now and what still need to be done, on environments, products, and services. To sum-up major findings, the built environment is more considerate to people than before thanks to ADA and other similar laws and regulations, but improvement of existing infra/structures is slower than desirable.

FUTURES OF GAMING: HOW CASINOS AND GAMBLING MIGHT EVOLVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE

FUTURES OF GAMING: HOW CASINOS AND GAMBLING MIGHT EVOLVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE

A Study on the Cannabis Decriminalization of Canada

이 연구는 캐나다가 의료용 대마초의 제한적 사용 승인정책에서 벗어나 레저용 대마초의 소지, 재배, 거래 등을 포함한 전면적인 대마초 비범죄화 정책전환의 배경 및 그 과정, 그리고 특징을 분석한 것이다. 트뤼도 캐나다 총리는 2015년 12월 4일 취임 의회연설에서 대마초 합법화 방침을 선언 하였다. 이어서 캐나다는 2016년 유엔총회마약문제특별회의에서 2017년부터 대마초 비범죄화 계획을 발표하였다. 이에 따라 캐나다는 2017년까지 입법적, 제도적 정비를 마치고, 2018년부터 전면적인 대마초 비범죄화 정책을 시행한다. 이에 따라 캐나다는 OECD국가 중에서는 유일하게 국가적 차원에서 의료용 및 레저용 대마초를 허용하게 된다. 캐나다의 대마초 사용의 전면적 허용방침은 유엔의 대마초 규제정책의 완화 경향과도 맞물려 있다. 한편으로는 캐나다는 그동안 대마초 규제가 개인의 기본권을 침해하고, 나아가 형사사법비용이 너무 크다는 인식 하에 의회의 르댕위원회(1972), 상원불법약물특별위원회(2002), 비의학적약물사용위원회(2002) 등에서 해결방안을 모색해왔다. 결국 캐나다는 대마초합법화및규제태스크포스(2016)를 통하여 대마초 전면적 합법화의 기본적인 틀을 마련했다. 캐나다의 대마초 합법화 정책 전환의 특징을 첫째, 의료용 대마초와 레저용 대마초의 이원화 전략, 둘째, 지속적인 의회 및 연방, 주정부 등의 피해를 최 소화한 대마초 합법화 전략 연구, 셋째, 체계적인 대마초 사용 실태파악, 넷째, 규제약물관련 법령의 정비와 장기적 로드맵, 다섯째, 대마초의 전면적 합법화에 대한 공중보건적 대비책 강구 등으로 정리할 수 있다.The purpose of this study is to analyze the background and process of the so - called cannabis legalization policy change of Canada, which is not only medical cannabis, but also decriminalization of leisure cannabis. Canada officially announced the decriminalization of cannabis since 2017 at the 2016 the UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem. And Canada will complete legislative and institutional arrangements in 2017, and will implement a full legalization of cannabis in 2018. Finally, Canada is the only OECD country to allow medical and leisure marijuana at the national level. Canada s legalization of marijuana is also in line with the trend towards a relaxation of the UN s cannabis control policy. The Canadian government, on the other hand, has recognized that cannabis regulation infringes individual rights and criminal justice costs are too high. This was studied through the LeDain Commission(1972), the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs(2002), and Committee of Non-Medical Use of Drugs(2002). Canada has provided a framework for the legalization of cannabis through Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation(2016). Canada s marijuana legislative change policy is characterized by the following: (1) a strategy of dualizing cannabis for medical purpose and leisure purpose, (2) A study on the strategy of cannabis legalization with minimal damage by Parliament, the federal and state governments, (3) Analysis of systematic use of cannabis, (4) Improvement of controlled drugs-related laws and long-term roadmap, (5) Development of public health policy corresponding to full legalization of cannabis.

How generational differences will impact America’s aging workforce: strategies for dealing with aging Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how generational differences impact America’s workforce as it changes and to provide strategies for companies to address aging Millennials (born 1982-2000), Generation X (born 1961-1981) and Baby Boomers (born 1943-1960). Design/methodology/approach The author's approach was based on research on behalf of the US Senate Special Committee on Aging; insights and expertise from her 20 years at the helm of Generational Targeted Marketing, LLC; her teaching at New York University; her experience working with clients and organizations in a wide range of diverse industries; and the insights from her book Marketing to the Millennial Woman. Findings Every generation is unique. Practitioners, employers and managers of human resources (HR) who understand and respect the differences between Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers can develop strategies from a generational point of view and thereby enable these employees to perform at their peak regardless of age. Research limitations/implications Practical examples are given for HR practices in employee retention, benefits, performance management and review, work-life balance, digital and technology applications and for meaningful corporate outreaches. Originality/value This tried and true approach to dealing with distinct generations in the workplace leads to increased employee motivation and satisfaction, so that employees not only remain longer at a job but also are eager and happy to report to work each day; they are more productive; and the company’s bottom line benefits as a result.

Price Hikes of Old Prescription Drugs Affect Physicians, Hospitals, Patients

Sudden price hikes of decades-old prescription drugs represent a market failure with far-reaching consequences, Sen Susan Collins (R, Maine), chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said at a series of hearings on the subject (http://1.usa.gov/1rezDbf). At the April hearing, retiree Berna Heyman described what happened when Valeant Pharmaceuticals bought the 2 main drugs for treating her Wilson disease, a potentially life-threatening genetic disorder in which the body cannot remove extra copper.

Under fire

In the past two weeks, a couple of well-known firms in the pharma and biotech industry have been under fire from politicians, regulators, and the media. Valeant Pharmaceutical Industries faced scrutiny from the Senate Special Committee on Aging around its drug pricing policy, R&D spending, and patient assistance program. In a hearing that took place last Wednesday, outgoing Chief Executive Officer J. Michael Pearson faced tough questioning over Valeant’s modus operandi, which involves low R&D spending combined with aggressive acquisitions followed by price hikes. The committee is looking into price increases imposed by Valeant, which is also under investigation by the House of Representatives for the same issue, and other firms. Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) was leading the charge against Valeant’s controversial pricing policies, and her opening statement was strongly worded: “Pigs get fed; hogs get slaughtered. It’s time to slaughter some hogs.” The website Business Insider called it

Aging in rural America.

For older Americans, accessing high-quality care can be a challenge. For those in rural communities, it's even harder.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging at 50: Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges

Journal Article The Senate Special Committee on Aging at 50: Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges Get access Robert B. Hudson Robert B. Hudson Editor Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Public Policy & Aging Report, Volume 21, Issue 4, Fall 2011, Page 2, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/21.4.2 Published: 01 September 2011

Standing for, Not Standing by: The Senate Special Committee on Aging's First 50 Years

Standing for, Not Standing by: The Senate Special Committee on Aging's First 50 Years

Health Reform Was Only an Opening Act

Health Reform Was Only an Opening Act

Elder Abuse in Long Term Care: A Growing Problem

Introduction/Objective: Elder abuse, first noted in medical literature in the 1970's as “granny battering”, is becoming an increasingly recognized national problem. The Senate Special Committee on Aging estimates that as many as five million older Americans may be victims of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation every year, which is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars annually in health care, social services, and investigative and legal costs, as well as lost income and assets. Elder abuse in long term care facilities has long been recognized and continues to gain the attention of both regional and national regulatory committees and administrators, medical professionals, and the media. Elder abuse in nursing facilities has been documented in several surveys. One example is an October 2010 report by the University of California, San Francisco using data from the federal On-Line Survey and Certification System (OSCAR) from 2004 to 2009, in which 15,658 nursing homes with 1.66 million beds were surveyed by state agencies. The report notes that in 2009, 24.7 percent of the nation's nursing facilities received deficiencies for poor quality of care causing direct harm or injury to residents and 45 percent of nursing homes failed to ensure a safe environment for their residents, representing a 3 percent increase since 2004. Another study surveyed 577 nurses and nurses aides from 32 nursing homes and showed 70 percent had witnessed a fellow nurse or aide yelling at a patient in anger and 33 percent had done this themselves. A survey of 80 non demented nursing home residents revealed that 44 percent felt they had been physically abused and 48 percent felt they had been handled roughly by nursing home staff. Recognizing risk factors, understanding the definitions of, and knowing how to report elder abuse through the education of nursing home employees has become an accepted form of intervention and warrants the attention of healthcare professionals both nationally and locally.

Changing Laws Make for Interesting Times

Changing Laws Make for Interesting Times

Maximizing the Health of Older Adults

Life expectancy continues to rise in the United States whereby older adults are living to be 80 years old on average (Weiss & Mushinski, 1999). The fastest growing segment of the elder population constitutes individuals 90 years of age and older. Projections show that this group will increase from 1.2 to 9.6 million by 2050 (Weiss & Mushinski, 1999), with a 90-year-old male expected to live an average of 3.85 years while a 90-year-old female will live another 4.67 years (Centers for Disease Control, 2002). The estimates underscore the fact that the majority of these elders will be women (U.S. Congress Senate Special Committee on Aging, 1988). This stunning growth in the number of the oldest old population calls for making independent living a major priority for clinical and public health professionals. But it is difficult to define healthy aging as this is a developmentally occurring phenomenon that occurs at different degrees at different times for each aging adult. Because aging, particularly health decline, frequently happens insidiously, elders on any given day are faced with the idea that their current quality of life may be As Good As it Gets. In the 1997 movie, the obsessive– compulsive writer Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson) asked this rhetorical question when he becomes frustrated with the events of his life. Many older adults may never contemplate their life’s path, instead they allow life to happen and eventually they submit to giving in to a lesser quality of life, that is, their independence. For some reason, many grow older with the idea that the last train stop in life is the nursing home. A paradigm shift needs to occur so that more elders take on life akin to the two older adults in the movie Bucket List, that is, living life to its fullest and independently as possible. Health care providers also need to rethink the aging process; not every elder is doomed to a nursing home in his or her last decade of life. With individuals living longer, the health care system needs to focus on the embodiment of maintaining health and vitality. According to Gawande (2007), the nursing profession needs to rethink this developmental life stage. Greater value should be placed on maximizing independent aging such that elders need not trade their independent living arrangement for an institutional bed that centers on rigidly scheduled routines. Unfortunately, there is very little research in this area and the research that does exist is relegated to safety and attending to chronic illnesses.

AMDA Is Watching Prescription, Pay Policies

AMDA Is Watching Prescription, Pay Policies

Republicans Push for Malpractice Reform

Republicans Push for Malpractice Reform

LTC Community Wants Inclusion in Reform

LTC Community Wants Inclusion in Reform

Stimulus Act Could Boost LTC Technology

Stimulus Act Could Boost LTC Technology

Legislation Addresses LTC Workforce Shortage

Legislation Addresses LTC Workforce Shortage

Backers Warn of Major Fallout if Industry CME Funds Banned

Backers Warn of Major Fallout if Industry CME Funds Banned