For Immediate
Release: October 26, 2005
Senator Leftwich addresses the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature
on creating an aging agency.
Sen. Leftwich Promotes ‘One Stop Shop’ Legislation
for Aging Services
With all the difficulties many older Oklahomans
face each day, getting needed state services shouldn’t be
so hard. That’s according to State. Sen. Debbe
Leftwich, who announced plans for legislation to create a
“one stop shop” for Oklahoma seniors.
“The problem right now is that there are at least eight
agencies older people have to deal with when it comes to aging
services. It can be extremely frustrating and there may well be
some individuals who simply don’t get the services they
need because it is too difficult for them,” said Leftwich,
D-Oklahoma City. “I’ve tried to help constituents
work their way through this maze of agencies and I know how hard
it can be.”
Leftwich has authored legislation to create a Department on Aging
which will consolidate all the services and funding for aging
programs. Leftwich discussed her bill with the Silver Haired Legislature
which met at the State Capitol on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Charles Campbell of Bethal Acres is the past president of the
Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature’s Alumni Association.
He said his organization has been calling for a single aging agency
for the past four years. Campbell said this is exactly what older
Oklahomans need.
“Absolutely—this is the vehicle that needs to be in
place so that the seniors can have their own department. Many
other states already have this,” he said.
Campbell said it was especially frustrating when
seniors call what they think is a hotline at a state agency only
to find an automated answering system on the end. He said when
they do finally speak to a live person, they’re often transferred
several times and many give up in frustration.
Campbell said there are already 600 thousand Oklahomans over the
age of 60 and that by the year 2010 it is estimated there will
be over a million. He said that makes it even more critical to
address the issue this coming session.
“We’re the ones who built this state—we’re
the ones who made it what it is today. We need to make sure our
seniors are taken care of,” Campbell said.
