New survey shows 79% of seniors worry that they are not represented in Washington

Oct 20 2009

As the nation continues its debate on health care reform and Social Security COLA, a new survey taken by RetireSafe finds that over 79 percent of more than 626 seniors responding to a poll expressed concerns that they were not represented in Washington.

"After visiting two senior expos and meeting hundreds of seniors, reading surveys and emails and listening first hand to our supporters, we confirmed that no one is listening to older Americans. We are going to correct this travesty," said Thair Phillips, RetireSafe's president.

RetireSafe collected the surveys at senior expos September 29 and October 13 in Pennsylvania. Seniors were asked about health care reform. The full results of the poll are listed on RetireSafe Listens at www.retiresafe.org.

To listen to seniors and represent their real voice in Washington on issues such as health care reform, RetireSafe today launched its RetireSafe Listens campaign. The campaign kicks off with a new listening post for seniors on RetireSafe's website, where seniors can go to hear and be heard.

According to Phillips, older Americans who are interested in getting their real voices heard are invited to complete surveys online at www.retiresafe.org or at various locations across the country. Seniors can hear the voices of others as RetireSafe shares the unfiltered results of the surveys on the website and with The White House, Congress, the media, and with everyone else that needs to hear the voice of older people.

Phillips said, "RetireSafe Listens is the one place where the experience and lessons learned in a life of service and honor to America is sought out, heard, and shared, especially with the leaders who determine the laws that affect the very core of our lives and freedoms. RetireSafe is listening. Your opinions matter and your ideas will be shared. Your voices will be heard."

He said, "These are the first steps in what we hope is a much bigger campaign to listen to seniors."

RetireSafe has met with some senior White House advisors to tell them about the RetireSafe Listens campaign and health care reform survey and to invite their participation.