American Geriatrics Society Honors Senator Blanche Lincoln Of Arkansas

In recognition of her tireless efforts to support the health, independence and well-being of older Americans, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) will present its inaugural "Congressional Leadership Award" to Senator Blanche L. Lincoln (D-AR) on May 1, during its Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC. The meeting, which runs from April 30 through May 4, is the premier conference on aging research.

Sen. Lincoln, who first took office in 1992 as US Representative for Arkansas' First Congressional District, was the youngest woman ever elected to the United State Senate when she won a seat in that chamber in 1998. An active member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, she has long demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of older Americans.

Sen. Lincoln's leadership efforts on behalf of the Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act (GACCCA) -- a bill she is championing in the Senate i- exemplify that commitment. The legislation, for which Sen. Lincoln has long advocated, would fill a major gap in Medicare by covering comprehensive geriatric assessments and healthcare coordination for beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses. She is also supporting a proposed Medicare demonstration program modeled on the GACCCA and has co-sponsored additional legislation to protect the elderly from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Sen. Lincoln has led initiatives to improve access to and the quality of long-term care. She was a key supporter of the 2007 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), which funds numerous programs for older people, including senior center services, meals, transportation, home care, and caregiver support for those caring for older adults. She was also instrumental in increasing funding for OAA initiatives last year.

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Hope we have some one like her in Indian Politics,Wake up Indian Politicians and HELP the cause of Elderly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!