Reports - Mississippi Renewal

THE GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION REPORT | 137The ElderlyMany of South Mississippi’s oldestcitizens were hard hit by the hurricaneand are physically unable to meet thecurrent challenges. This short-rangeconcern, which is likely to exist forthe next few years, is exacerbated by alarger, long-range problem. The BabyBoom Generation, the largest in thenation’s history, is nearing its retirementyears and will make the senior populationthe fastest growing segment incommunities.The Commission recommends thatDHS develop a resource center for theaged that would provide informationand services including home-based services,independent living services, volunteerism,physical activity and wellnessprograms, vocational training, housingoptions, long-term care planning, andinformation related to the Medicareand Medicaid programs. Based uponthe experience of the DHS Division ofAging, it is estimated that the resourcecenter would require an annual budgetof approximately $350,000, whichwould be funded by the United StatesDepartment of Human Services’ Administrationon Aging and only requiresa 5 percent state match.The Commission also supports thedevelopment of senior wellness centersthat are designed to be hubs of activityfor the senior community. The centerscould be designed to efficiently convertto special needs shelters during a disaster.The anticipated cost of constructionis $1.5 million per center and might beavailable through a Community DevelopmentBlock Grant or Social ServicesBlock Grants for which Congress recentlyappropriated $550 million. Thecenters should be developed by theDHS Division of Aging in partnershipwith local governments.Other Recommendations■ The Commission proposes that appropriatestate legislative committeesregularly review regulations involvingthe reporting of diseases, isolation, andquarantine laws contained in MississippiCode Annotated Section 41-23-1, et seq., specifically with regard totheir effectiveness in natural disasters,bioterrorism events, and pandemicdisease.■ Because of the extensive damage doneto the South Mississippi RegionalCenter, which serves all six coastalcounties, the Commission suggeststhe Department of Mental Healthconsider establishing a permanentfacility north of I-10. If constructed,the facility could also serve as a specialneeds shelter for other mental healthpatients in the event of a disaster. TheCommission recommends that theDepartment of Mental Health andthe governor’s office seek congressionalfunding for the centers.■ The importance of health educationfor the children of Mississippi cannotbe overemphasized. The Commissionstrongly supports expansion of publichealth education in the classroom andrecommends substantially increasingour school children’s access to publichealth education through the developmentof a statewide curriculum.The long-term goal is to prevent baddietary and other habits which causesecondary disease that are prevalent inMississippi. The Commission recommendsthat the DOH and Departmentof Education work togetherto prioritize funding for this criticalinitiative, which can offer substantiallong-term health and financial benefitsto the state.■ The Commission also recommendsthat all hospitals regularly review theirbylaws to ensure that appropriatephysician coverage will be availablein-house during future hurricanes.These plans should address physiciancoverage in the days and weeksthat follow such a disaster, with theemphasis being on long-term needswhen major disasters strike.The Commission’s objective with regardto health and human services wasto make recommendations that wouldrestore and improve quality health services.Through preparation for futuredisasters, the utilization of technology,and the creation of a health care environmentconducive to the recruitmentand retention of health care providers,the physical, social and mental healthneeds of the citizens of Mississippi willbe met.