Lyford in Sacramento Bee: Older Adults Shouldn’t Have to Lose Their Teeth
They fought our wars, taught our children and built our roads. Yet many older Californians spend their golden years struggling to afford healthy food, a safe place to live or quality health care.
Fortunately, federal lawmakers have taken bipartisan action to help them meet these challenges.
Congress and the president just reauthorized the Older Americans Act, which provides nearly 12 million low-income seniors in California and across the country critical services, including nutrition, transportation and care-giving.
For the first time, the act also sets aside money to cover oral health screenings for seniors. This new provision is crucial, as older adults’ dental health can significantly impact their overall physical and mental well-being ….
Please click here to read the full opinion in the Sacramento Bee.
Shelley Lyford is president and CEO of the Gary and Mary West Foundation. She can be contacted at Slyford@gmwf.org.