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2013 -- S 0481 | |
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LC01880 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN | |
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SERVICES TO PROVIDE ENHANCED LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND BENEFITS | |
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FOR RHODE ISLAND VETERANS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Cote, Bates, Pichardo, and Ottiano | |
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Date Introduced: February 28, 2013 | |
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Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs | |
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WHEREAS, In its February 2012 annual report to the General Assembly, the Division of |
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Veterans Affairs predicted an increased demand for long-term nursing and dementia care |
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services, emphasizing that Rhode Island’s veteran population of 72,835 is aging; and |
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WHEREAS, Half of all veterans in this state are over 65 years of age; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2012 annual report concludes that the increase in older veterans will |
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increase the need for veterans services; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2012, over 75 percent of Rhode Island voters approved a state ballot to |
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provide $94,000,000 for the construction of a new Veterans’ Home and renovations to existing |
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facilities; and |
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WHEREAS, Not all senior veterans meet the eligibility for the State Veteran’s Home or |
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instead desire to remain in their home environment; and |
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s increase in older veterans will substantially increase the |
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need for long-term care services, particularly for nursing home and dementia placement; and |
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Senate has resolved and requested that the Congress of |
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the United States pass legislation to establish funding for individual states, including Rhode |
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Island, to implement a home and community based veterans program; now, therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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respectfully requests that the Rhode Island Department of Human Services: |
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1. Further explore joint State and United States Veterans Administration funding |
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opportunities to implement recommendations from the President’s Joining Forces Initiative, to |
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strengthen behavioral healthcare systems and supportive in-home long-term care services for our |
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Veterans and their families. |
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2. Provide additional training programs for frontline healthcare and case managers on |
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veterans’ long-term and behavioral care benefits. |
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3. Develop clear and concise information about veteran’s benefits for long-term care |
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services and options; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Veterans' Home Bristol, |
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Rhode Island. |
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LC01880 | |
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