What to give Mom for Mother's Day?

Flowers?

Nice.

Dinner with you?

Of course.

Assurance that long term care and prescription medications will be available and affordable should she need them?

Essential.

The Wisconsin Women's Network Task Force on Women and Aging has sent its third annual Mother's Day greeting to Wisconsin legislators, urging them to celebrate the contributions of older women by maintaining two state programs essential to many older Wisconsinites, SeniorCare and Family Care.

"The 2000 U. S. Census reports that 411,043 women over 65 live in Wisconsin, and their median income was $10,899," reported Carolyn Brandeen, Task Force member. "That's about half of the income of men over 65. That highlights how critical both these programs are to many older women."

SeniorCare is Wisconsin's program to assist low income elders with some of the costs of prescription medication. Though a Federal Medicare administrator recently assured State legislators that SeniorCare would be enabled to continue when the recently enacted Medicare drug program begins, the Task Force urges state legislators to maintain vigilance in ensuring that this happens.

Family Care establishes "one stop" information and assessment centers for older persons who may need support services to maintain them in their homes and communities. The program also provides services to seniors who qualify on the basis of income and medical need.

Family Care has been successfully piloted in five counties. The Task Force urges legislators to protect these existing programs and to extend them to other counties.

"For your mother and all older women this Mother's Day," says Brandeen, "call the toll-free legislative hotline (1-800-362-9472) to express your support of these two important programs."

The Wisconsin Women's Network Task Force on Women and Aging is a statewide coalition established three years ago to ensure, through research, education, and advocacy, that older women have access to programs and services which will enable them to live with dignity and safety.