The threat of cutbacks in government program's exists in the United States and most Western countries. It will grow larger in the next 20 years as the global boomers reach age 65. The social welfare for the elderly people have often been taken for granted. Those who are affected responded by joining forces and asserting their need to improve their situation. The depression had wiped out the pensions ans savings of millions, leaving elders in the most desperate poverty of any age group. Then came the Townsend plan. Named after the retired physician, Francis E. Townsend, who headed the program the Townsend plan was organized through local clubs. ( OAA) is designed to alter state and local priorities to ensure that older people's needs are represented in social services allocations. This program helped expanded program's. their are other program's and services that help the elderly. The political power of elders is stronger than ever before, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. President Reagan and Bush both played a part in the seniority system in Congress insurs power to elder members. I really feel sorry for my children and their children, because by the time they reach the age of the baby boomers their will be an uncertain outcome for their later years of living. I hope they have a social movement like that of the Townsend plan or the Ham and Eggs movement.
Reference: AGING the individual and Society Susan M. Hillier Georgia M. Barrow
Charlene,
ReplyDeleteIf we start now improving and increasing the programs available for the elderly, then by the time our children reach that period in their lives, things may okay. As future social workers, it is our job to advocate for better programs and services that will benefit the different populations we will be working with, and since there is soon going to be many more elders than before, we need to begin now, because this generation of elderly is already in need of more and better services. We should be joining forces now to try to minimize some of the cut backs that are already in the works.