By James Maroney
State Sen., District 14
James Maroney
In many cultures, one of the most important responsibilities is that of caring for your elders. Seniors are revered for their past contributions to their family and community. Being that Connecticut has the seventh oldest population in the country, it is critical that we adopt policies to care for our elders and make it possible for them to stay in the communities that they love.
Seniors are an important part of our state, economy and our families. This is why I am proud to report I championed and supported several policies which prioritize quality of life for our seniors.
We are accomplishing this by providing Social Security and pension tax breaks. Individuals earning $75,000 or less and couples earning $100,000 will be fully exempted from state income taxes on Social Security.
As for pensions and annuities, we’re phasing out the state income tax over a seven-year window. You will see increases each year to your pension from 2019 to 2025, when state income tax on pensions and annuities will be eliminated altogether. This year individuals earning $75,000 or less and couples earning $100,000 or less will have 15 percent of their pensions exempted from state income tax. We have also expanded tax exemptions for our state’s veterans.
I’ve heard seniors’ concerns that they will not be able to afford to stay in their homes and the state they love. These tax breaks will strengthen the financial stability of our seniors.
While these policies improve quality of life for seniors in Connecticut, there is still more to do.
Therefore, we took bold action to protect seniors from abuse. The National Council on Aging reports that, despite some estimates ranging as high as 5 million elders being victims of abuse each year, only one in 14 cases are reported. Additionally, elders who have been victims of abuse have a 300 percent higher risk of death compared to elders who have not been abused, according to the NCOA.
We must protect our state’s seniors from these heinous acts. As co-chair of the Aging Committee, I am proud to have championed legislation banning individuals convicted of crimes of assault and/or abuse from gaining employment at nursing homes or long-term care facilities, and a bill establishing an elder abuse registry website.
Twenty-six states currently have these registries, as they are an effective tool in preventing senseless acts of abuse from transpiring. The state’s Department of Health will publish it on its website and the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors will provide a portal on its website, too.
In addition to cultivating safe environments for seniors, we must also give nurses and doctors the tools to provide the best care. I championed legislation which will increase training opportunities to detect Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and create the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Plan. The plan establishes the necessary infrastructure to build dementia-capable programs for the 78,000 people living in Connecticut with Alzheimer’s. Early detection is the key.
Seniors contribute greatly to our state. Enacting policies that positively affect them is more than just rewarding – it is a necessity.
James Maroney, a Democrat, is the state Senator for the 14th District, which includes Milford and Orange. Maroney lives in Milford.