Volunteer Group Advocates For Seniors
“We learn how much help a lot of our senior citizens need. Some of them are in situations that are just not where you’d want to see your grandma or your grandpa.” Barb Ittner Missouri Silver Haired Legislature
Barb Ittner of Noel is president of the Missouri Silver Haired Legislature, a volunteer group of individuals, age 60 and older, that advocate for issues of concern for senior citizens.
Ittner said the organization holds a mock legislative session each year to address concerns. In May of every year, the Area Agency on Aging hold an election in which representatives to the Silver Haired Legislature are elected. They come together and come up with proposals they would like to see enacted by the state’s legislature, Ittner said. They start out with 70 proposals and narrow it down to five priorities, about which they contact their elected legislators and ask them to introduce them into legislation.
“This year, we did get passed our farmers market bill, which was a priority in 2016,” Ittner said. “We had another one which was to maintain the property tax credit, also known as a circuit breaker, that individuals 65 and older can get if they meet certain requirements. That one was maintained at the 2016 level, which was our proposal, which made a whole lot of people happy in the state.”
Ittner continued, “The Silver Haired Senate and House of Representatives elect their own chamber officers. The Senate has a minority and majority leader and pro tem. And the house has a minority and majority leader and house speaker pro tem. We’re all volunteers. We’re allowed to have 150 delegates. With our age group, it varies, but that’s our goal, is 150.”
The group’s accomplishments over the years have included removing the sales tax on prescriptions, increasing the asset level for nursing home residents, strengthening the pre-need funeral regulation, protecting volunteers from civil suits, revising the guardianship code and increasing the dependency deduction on Missouri income taxes, Ittner said.
Missouri was the first state to have a Silver Haired Legislature, and not all states have one, she said. The organization is nonpartisan and a nonprofit.
Ittner shared how she became involved with the Silver Haired Legislature.
“I was recruited by the Silver Haired coordinator at the Area Agency on Aging when I was 60. I was reluctant at first, and she kind of talked me into it and I talked a
friend into it as well. That was 12 years ago.
“I originally served in the House of Representatives, and then I moved over to the Senate and now I have held all the Senate offices. Senate minority, Senate majority and now Senate pro tem.”
She went on, “We learn how much help a lot of our senior citizens need. Some of them are in situations that are just not where you’d want to see your grandma or your grandpa. What we see in our region may be different in the Kansas City region or the Boot Hill, but there are health issues, transportation is a big issue — many can’t drive or can’t afford a car. Getting to the doctor or to the grocery store is a big hardship for these seniors.
“A lot of our seniors are food compromised. That’s why our meal program is so important to the homebound — delivered meals as well as the congregant meals at the senior centers. Elder abuse is an issue. That can be both financial, physical and mental. Funding for senior programs is always an issue.”
She said the five priority issues this year were funding for senior services, revision of the Missouri Rx program, increasing funding for home-delivered meals, maintaining the property tax credit and approval of medical marijuana.
Ittner said that right now this region is underrepresented.
Those interested in the Silver Haired Legislature may contact Ittner at 417-436-2351 or bjittner454@gmail.com or Charlotte Foust at 417-7817562.