by Jatara Allen
CARIE stands for the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly. CARIE was founded in 1977 by a coalition of groups and individuals who were looking for a solution to and an understanding of how can they be a helping hand and stepping stone for elderly citizens to find affordable health care and stability. CARIE’s programs extends throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. CARIE provides direct assistance to the elderly, their families, and professionals.
“If I had actually known about them when I was in jail, I would have called right away,” Eugene Stackhouse said. Stackhouse was in jail and had nowhere to turn to find out about affording his health insurance and the stability he needed, then he found CARIE. They were the support system and push that he needed top get back on his feet. His counselor was with him every step of the way, at that moment CARIE showed their loyalty and proved their mission.
Diane Menio is the executive director of CARIE. She has worked for nearly four decades to help older individuals like Stackhouse navigate the complicated healthcare system.
Finding affordable health care is not as easy as many people may think. This is true for older and younger Americans. In fact, older Americans are about as likely to be uninsured as younger Americans. This problem hinges on two variables – education and income. For older Americans 65+ with low to no income, the struggle for affordable healthcare is particularly pronounced. This is because older Americans are not properly educated on the different healthcare choices within their financial constraints.
According to Urban Institute, “about 10 percent of near elderly Americans lacked health insurance coverage in 1988.” Lack of coverage at ages 55 to 64 is prevalent among Hispanics, Blacks, and those with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
CARIE has many options and resources to make sure older Americans get the healthcare they need.
“We don’t really have any limitations,” Menio said. “We help people with any problem they have. It isn’t really easy to be this way, but this is a way that CARIE works. CARIE recognizes the different issues that are going on and they want to make it a priority to address everyone’s needs.”
CARIE assists clients with their questions concerning Medicaid and Medicare, elder abuse, caregivers, as well as nursing homes. CARIE has a hotline number that is available at all times where knowledgeable individuals are readily willing to answer questions any caller may have. These calls can last anywhere between 60 seconds to an hour, according to Menio.
In addition to directly serving clients, CARIE works to reform the service system and make it more equitable. In fact, reports show that CARIE’s “community education program works to raise public awareness through informational brochures, a speakers’ bureau, a periodic newsletter, and public service announcements. Advocacy is also accomplished through its many members and committees.”
“I said if I ever came across some money I would donate it to CARIE because they are wonderful and they can’t do it all because they’re limited,” Lucy Crawford said. Lucy Crawford was a woman who was lost before she lost CARIE. She had medical bills through the roof and knew she wouldn’t be able to afford it. After discovering CARIE and receiving all of the help that she did she knew this was a program everyone should know about. Lucy enjoyed the CARIE so much that she wanted to donate money because she knows CARIE has limitations and they can’t do it alone.
According to CARIE, “In the fall of 2004, CARIE was recognized by Citizens Bank and NBC 10 as their “Community Champion” for the Elderly, the first of these quarterly awards to be approved unanimously. In March of 2005, CARIE was s16 -06. 24 VRL MAG IMG_8192elected to receive its second Community Health Impact Award presented by Glaxo SmithKline. Its first IMPACT award was received from then SmithKline Beecham in 1999, a year in which CARIE also received the Governor’s Silver and Gold Award for Enhancing the Image of Older Persons.” CARIE’s programs extend to the entire state of Pennsylvania and beyond. CARIE is a leader in providing direct assistance to the elderly, their families, and professionals in the aging field.
Solutions to Unite 