As a United States Senator, Charlie Crist will take the message to Washington that we are fed up with the partisan gridlock and work to provide common-sense solutions to the issues important to the people of Florida. Charlie Crist will always do what is right for the people he proudly serves.
Governor Crist understands that Florida's seniors have been an integral part of Florida's rich heritage. He is firmly committed to honoring seniors with the utmost respect and dignity, and he continues to fight to secure the safety and affordability of health care, to protect seniors from fraud, and to create opportunities for seniors to live active and enriched lives.
Keeping Florida Affordable - Governor Crist understands that high property taxes and property insurance rates are especially challenging for seniors on a fixed income and has led Florida’s effort to cut property taxes and lower the cost of property insurance.
Access To Affordable Prescription Drugs - Governor Crist launched the Florida Discount Drug Card on December 20, 2007, in order to help Florida’s seniors afford their lifesaving prescription drugs. Individuals may apply for the card if they are age 60 and older and do not have prescription drug coverage or if they participate in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Gap.
Federal Stimulus Dollars - Governor Crist worked to secure more than $7.2 million to support senior nutrition programs in Florida through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funding includes $4.8 million for congregate nutrition services provided at senior centers and other community sites and nearly $2.4 million for home-delivered meals to help homebound elders. The funds are expected to provide more than 1.8 million additional meals to an estimated 13,486 low-income seniors within 18 months. Another $1.1 million will help with the placement and the attainment of jobs for low-income seniors.
Keeping Seniors in the Community - In 2009, the Governor signed the General Appropriations Act which gave seniors and disabled individuals who currently reside in a nursing home a choice regarding their long-term care needs. These individuals will now be able to choose whether to remain in a nursing home or to transition-out and move back into the community. The Governor's action will allow even more seniors to regain their independence while receiving long-term care services in their own homes or in the home of a caregiver.
Silver Alert Program – Governor Crist created the Silver Alert Program to alert the public about missing and endangered seniors.
In 2009, the Governor vetoed legislation that would have reduced the budget for the Community Care for the Elderly program by $1.9 million. As a result, the Governor's actions helped to restored personal care services for seniors age 60 and older and who are at risk of being placed in a nursing home.
Paid for by Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate.