UNITED UTAH PARTY MAKES SIGNIFICANT INROADS IN 2018 ELECTION
Candidates perform well throughout the state
The new moderate party in the state defied expectations in its share of the vote in 2018. The United Utah Party didn’t win any elections in 2018, but several of its candidates far exceeded the typical performance by third parties.
“Tens of thousands of Utah voters cast a vote for a brand new party,” said Richard Davis, United Utah Party chair. “We’ve gone from a party that didn’t exist two years ago to a party that outperformed every other party in the state other than the Democrats and Republicans. These results show genuine momentum that will carry us to victory in 2020.”
The party faithful gathered at the Hilton Homewood Suites in Draper to watch election returns. Jim Bennett, who ran as the UUP’s first candidate in last year’s special election, echoed Davis’s sentiments.
“Eric Eliason is on track to get significantly more votes in his congressional race than I did in mine,” Bennett said. “We only had one candidate last year; this year we had 18. We will have many more in the years to come.”
Eliason’s vote totals are also significant in that they will guarantee that the United Utah Party will be on the ballot for the next two years. Utah law requires that parties get 2% of the total congressional vote to maintain ballot access, a threshold the UUP is likely to cross.
Several UUP candidates did well, exceeding 30 percent of the vote. These included State House candidates Michelle Weeks and Amy Martz and State Senate candidate Alexander Castagno. Eric Eliason is likely to get in double digits.
“There’s no question that building a political party takes time,” Davis said. “We’re already talking to a number of great potential candidates for 2020. We’re in this for the long haul.”
For more information, visit unitedutah.org.
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By Carol Marak
Chief Public Relations Officer, Aging Alone Spokesperson & Advocate
Published: Oct 26, 2018.
Aging happens naturally, but aging well takes careful planning. Take steps to ensure that your financial, living, and medical needs are met in old age.
When thinking about the elderly years and how they will play out usually starts after caregiving. It's when people understand the difficulties of growing older. Some see their parents deal with heart problems while others confront dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Observing decline is heart wrenching. Caregivers feel parents are invincible but soon find out the contrary.
What families learn about growing older is that getting organized and prepared for the golden years will help them the most when navigating aging services. And to better understand the services covered, I've outlined below:
Professionals believe that people need to learn the issues they'll face in the later years.
Older adults face many decisions in the last decades of their lives. Taking time to look at the issues ahead and plan accordingly can make the future easier and more enjoyable for both you and the family.
Carol Marak, aging advocate, syndicated columnist, and editor at Seniorcare.com. She earned the Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.
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By Carol Marak
Chief Public Relations Officer, Aging Alone Spokesperson & Advocate
Published: Nov 6, 2018.
Recently, a reader asked, "If you can't afford to live in a senior care facility, or have family to take care of you what other options does a person have when they can't take care of yourself?"
For many seniors, they survive on Social Security from month to month. The retirement years is challenging and enjoying the golden years and living comfortably is only a dream. And once they retire, they struggle. They are in survival mode. Others, like the 10,000 Americans who turn 65 every day, are just now facing the reality.
When seeking care on the limited income of Social Security, there are a few options available for the personal help you need or for additional income to pay for care. Here are a few ways to make that happen.
If you are receiving Social Security alone, consider applying for SSI. This federal benefit is available to those 65 and older, the disabled and the blind who have limited income and resources.
The average monthly benefit for an individual is $710 (2013) and $1,066 for a couple. Some states add small supplement to these amounts.
In addition to Medicare, qualifying people 65 and older with limited resources can receive Medicaid. It provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient care, including costs that Medicare does not cover such as nursing home care and personal care services.
State Medicaid plans or state plan amendments often indicate what types of services are covered under Medicaid. Contact your state's Medicaid office and ask them about LTSS coverage - long-term care coverage. To find contact information for your state's Medicaid office, visit the State Resources Map at https://www.cms.gov/, click on your state, and click the Medicaid agency link.
The program allows individuals to have active roles in the services they receive. Self-directed personal assistance services allow participants to:
States can target this program to people who already receive services under 1915(c) waivers and may want to direct their own care. States can limit the number of people who self-direct their care and can decide whether this program will be statewide or limited to certain areas.
Medicaid also offers nursing home stays for seniors on a limited income. For more information, contact your local Area Agency on Aging, Department on Aging, or the Ombudsman office in your city or community.
Carol Marak, aging advocate, syndicated columnist, and editor at Seniorcare.com. She earned the Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.
Get on the waitlist for my Facebook subscription group and learn how to plan for aging well. Send an email to carol@seniorcare.com and say you're interested in the group.
