MEDIA ADVISORY: Concord legislators' forum highlights issues related to aging population


Contact: Julie Moser
Institute on Disability
603-862-3603

Oct. 20, 2003



WHAT: Home Based Care: Does Increased Access Equal Increased Cost? NH’s Real Choice Systems Change Project is coordinating a forum for legislators that will highlight issues related to the aging of the population, the demand for home based services and the experience of other states in shifting from institutional to home based systems of care. The latest Real Choice Policy Resource Center Brief, titled “Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care Financing and the Woodwork Effect,” will be distributed at this forum.

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003; 9 a.m. –1 p.m.

WHERE: St. Paul’s Church, Center Street, Concord, N.H.

DETAILS: Panel moderated by Representative Peter Batula. Panelists include Stephen Bartels, M.D., M.S., NH Division of Behavioral Health and Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center; Wendy Fox-Grage, National Council of State Legislators; Julie Fralich, University of So. Maine; Michelle Winchester, Franklin Pierce Law Center

BACKGROUND: The Real Choice Systems Change Project is designed to create and implement improvements in community-based care systems in order to improve health and long-term care services and supports that assist people with disabilities and long-term illnesses to live in the community. Forum sponsors include senators Jane O’Hearn and Lou D’Allesandro and representatives Peter Batula and Jim MacKay. Other collaborating organizations include: AARP, the National Council of State Legislators, the Elder Rights Coalition, Seniors Count, Granite State Independent Living, Easter Seals, and the Senior Collaboration Committee.