On January 31, 2024, 70 Missouri Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) delegates and coordinators participated in a regular meeting of the Board of Directors, received words of encouragement from various luminaries, and delivered advocacy messages to their respective Legislators. Delegates highlighted SHL’s past achievements as well as its current priorities listed in the 2024 SHL brochure.
Last fall, SHL delegates came together for their 50th Annual Conference and chose these issues as their Top Five Priorities to support for the 2024 legislative session:
1. Increase funding for transportation services to provide additional options for seniors.
2. Increase accessibility to public buildings for individuals with disabilities.
3. Require special dementia training in long-term care facilities.
4. Increase the Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) to $100 per month with an inflation rider.
5. Money recovered by MO HealthNet to be returned to the MO HealthNet Program.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Silver Haired Legislature is encouraged to e-mail info@agingahead.org or call 636-207-0847.
Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first such organization in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The SHL is composed of fifteen volunteers from each of the ten statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates are elected by their peers and identify and advocate for issues that are critical to older Missourians.