Bill aims to help elderly, disabled

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    AUGUSTA — State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) has introduced a bill to the Maine Legislature that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to meet with residents in Piscataquis County to address complaints about the department’s services.

    The bill, LD 525, “Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Report on Efforts to Reach in Rural Areas Persons Who are Elderly, Disabled, or Mentally Ill” is currently before the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee.
    Davis said he submitted the legislation to address a problem with seniors accessing services in Dover-Foxcroft. Several years ago, the state closed the DHHS office in that community, replacing it with an electronic kiosk. Since then, numerous constituents have complained about difficulty using the kiosks for services that were once handled by a live person.
    “Most of the people I have heard from on this issue are elderly,” Davis said. “Not everyone grew up with the technological advances we have grown accustomed to today. There are several generations that have never been taught how to navigate a computer, or kiosk, in this case. Many of these people rely on the state services they receive, but they have no access to a computer, Internet, and have very limited contact with the department.”
    The legislative resolve would direct DHHS to hold a public meeting in Piscataquis County in order to allow citizens to weigh in on the quality of services DHHS is providing for the elderly, disabled, and mentally ill. Following the meeting, the Department would be responsible for reporting back to HHS Committee by Jan. 1, 2016.
    LD 525 was approved unanimously by the HHS Committee. It will now go before the entire Legislature.