Good morning, and welcome to the Senior Spotlight! I’m your host, Gary Emmert, bringing you the latest news, stories, and insights specially curated for our senior community.
Every Saturday, we delve into the topics that matter most to you, from health and wellness tips to local events and national headlines. Whether you’re looking for thoughtful discussions, inspiring stories, or simply want to stay informed, Senior Spotlight is here to shine a light on the issues that impact your life.
Voting is underway in Central Texas and here is where our listeners can go:
- In Harker Heights, the polls are at the Harker Heights Recreation Center, located at 307 Miller’s Crossing.
- Voting in Belton will take place at the Harris Community Center 401 N. Alexander Street.
- In Temple, voting is at the TISD Admin Building, 401 Santa Fe Way.
- Salado residents are to go the Civic Center, located at 601 N. Main Street.
Last week, Dr. Linda Timmerman and Gary Gerstenhaber from the Texas Silver Haired Legislature (TSHL) sat down to discuss key legislative priorities aimed at improving the lives of older Texans. The TSHL, a volunteer-driven organization, works to advance policy initiatives that address the needs of senior citizens across the state.
Top Legislative Priorities
Among the topics we discussed most recently were:
- Backup Generator Bill – Advocates are urging increased support for ensuring essential facilities maintain power during emergencies. For inquiries, contact Andria.Franco@ltgov.texas.gov.
- (SL-19) Increase Funding for the Texas Ombudsman Program
The resolution calls for increased state funding for the Texas Ombudsman Program to protect the rights and well-being of nursing facility and assisted-living residents. The program investigates complaints, monitors conditions, and provides support such as attending resident meetings and training facility staff. In 2023, ombudsmen conducted 25,794 visits to 3,025 facilities and investigated thousands of complaints, including issues like unmet requests for help, involuntary discharges, and medication management.
Currently, staffing levels are below a previous recommendation from nearly 30 years ago. The program has 87 full-time employees, equating to one employee for every 2,500 licensed beds. With an aging population and increasing healthcare challenges, the resolution argues that staffing should meet or exceed past recommendations.
Despite its essential role, funding for the program has remained unchanged since 2018, and federal COVID-related funding will end in 2025. The resolution urges the 89th Texas Legislature to approve funding for 28 additional full-time ombudsmen within local offices of the Area Agencies on Aging.
- (SL-09) Set a Minimum Direct Care Staffing Ratio for Alzheimer’s-Certified Assisted Living Facilities
This resolution calls for a minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratio in Alzheimer’s-certified assisted living facilities (ALFs) to ensure residents receive adequate supervision and care. Currently, Texas Health and Human Services oversees certification standards for both ALFs and nursing facilities (NFs) that serve individuals with Alzheimer’s and related disorders. However, staffing requirements differ significantly between the two.
While Alzheimer’s-certified NFs must maintain a 1:6 staff-to-resident ratio during daytime hours, Alzheimer’s-certified ALFs with 17 or more residents are only required to have two staff members immediately available, regardless of facility size. Given that some ALFs house up to 96 residents, this staffing level is insufficient to meet the needs of individuals with dementia.
Residents in Alzheimer’s-certified ALFs often live in locked environments, making them vulnerable to inadequate supervision. The resolution argues that matching ALF staffing standards to those of NFs would improve care quality, safety, and overall well-being.
The 20th Texas Silver-Haired Legislature urges the 89th Texas Legislature to pass legislation establishing a sufficient minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratio for Alzheimer’s-certified ALFs.
These legislative efforts aim to protect senior citizens, improve healthcare resources, and promote safer living conditions.
As a nonpartisan group of senior leaders, the TSHL works to recommend legislation that enhances the quality of life for aging Texans. Members analyze important issues, draft resolutions, and directly influence state lawmakers in Austin.
If you’re age 60 or older, have a passion for advocacy, and want to make a difference, TSHL is your opportunity to serve and empower seniors across Texas!
For information about joining the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, visit their website at TSHL.org.
The dust is set to fly and the adrenaline to surge as the 78th Annual Rodeo Killeen returns to the Killeen Rodeo Arena from May 15th to the 17th. This PRCA-sanctioned event promises to be one for the record books, drawing 545 professional cowboy and cowgirl athletes, including numerous world champions ready to showcase their skills.
Tickets are on sale now at the Killeen Civic Center, Nyle Maxwell-Killeen, Murdoch’s Ranch & Home, and Cavender’s. Prices are $15 for adults in advance ($17 at the gate) and $10 for children in advance ($12 at the gate). Children six and under get in free.
- Official Rodeo Killeen merchandise is available only at the rodeo. Scammers may post fake merchandise for sale in the comments section—beware.
- They do not sell tickets online. Scammers may claim they have tickets for sale, but official tickets are only available at the gate, Murdoch’s, Nyle Maxwell, Cavender’s, and the Killeen Civic & Conference Center.
- Mutton Busting sign-ups begin at 6pm for each night’s performance. Slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The next Seniors Living Smarter seminar is this Thursday, May 8th from 10 to 11:30am and the topic this month is Real Estate Update 2025. These series of seminars are designed to educate, equip, and inspire you to be prepared and live your life to the fullest. Hosted by Texas Realtor and Certified Senior Downsizing Coach, Virginia Lazenby, these sessions are offered monthly at the McKinney Christian Ministry Center, located at 1205 Ash Street in Georgetown. Register for these free seminars at seniorslivingsmarter.com/seminar or by calling (512) 862-7339 and be sure to leave a message.
For you vinyl enthusiasts out there, the Austin Record Convention is this weekend.
Whether you are a music lover, vinyl collector, nostalgia seeker, or all of the above, there’s no event quite like the Austin Record Convention—the largest recorded music sale in the United States.
General Admission is $5 and the doors open at 10am on Saturday and Sunday at the Palmer Events Center, located at 900 Barton Springs Road in Austin.
The Bell County Museum is bringing history to life with its final Spring Lecture Series event, welcoming Dr. Jon Lohse, a renowned archaeologist, to present Beyond Gault: Understanding the Peopling of the Americas. The lecture takes place May 8th from 6 to 7:30pm at the museum in Belton, Texas, and admission is free. Given the rising interest in the Gault Archaeological Site, attendees are expected to gain fascinating insights into one of North America’s most significant excavation sites.
Visitors eager to attend Dr. Lohse’s lecture can pre-register through the museum’s website (bellcountymuseum.org) or call (254) 933-5243. Whether you’re a seasoned history enthusiast or simply curious about the origins of early human migration, this event promises an enlightening and engaging evening.
The Bell County Museum is located at 201 North Main Street in Belton and they are open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Thank you for stopping by and we would love to see you every Saturday morning at 9:20am for the Senior Spotlight. And if you have any questions or would like to let us know about an event or news that would be of benefit to our listeners and followers, please visit our blog website at myKNCT.com/seniorreport.
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