When it comes to issues affecting senior citizens, both candidates battling to win the race for state Assemblyman from the 48th district support expanding long-term care, drug benefits and energy assistance.

That’s according to results of a survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which shows both candiates agree almost completely on issues affecting senior citizens.

Earlier this week, incumbent Democratic Sen. Darrel Aubertine blasted Republican challenger Patty Ritchie for not responding to the AARP questionnaire. The AARP survey indicated she failed to respond to their requests for her opinion.

After the story appeared on NorthCountryNow.com Wednesday, Ritchie maintained she did respond, but AARP never posted her reply.

Responding to Ritchie's claim, AARP Spokeswoman Kristin Legere said today Ritchie's campaign failed to respond to the online survey questionairre by the extended Oct. 22 deadline. However, AARP did receive an e-mail from the Ritchie campaign on Oct. 25, but "not through the automated system and past the deadline," she said.

Today, at the request of NorthCountryNow.com, Ritchie has answered all of the AARP questions, and results show both candidates support increased funding for long-term care services, creation of a comprehensive “single-point-of-entry” long-term care system and increasing resources for the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program.

Ritchie also said she advocates expanding drug benefits and home energy assistance for seniors, despite her pledges to not increase taxes. “High taxes and Albany’s runaway spending are making it tough for hardworking Upstate families to make ends meet,” says her campaign website.

Both Aubertine and Ritchie also endorse seeking federal funding to help the state shift its Medicaid long-term care spending from institutions to the community.

AARP asked both candidates, “Do you support or oppose making the long-term care system in New York more responsive to the preferences of New Yorkers to receive services and supports in their homes and communities as opposed to nursing homes?”

Ritchie’s response: “I support incentives to encourage more in-home long term care service. Most long term care already is provided in-home by family members. But far too often, families are forced because of economic strains or family situations to admit loved ones to nursing home care sooner than they might like. I believe that extending in-home care could provide cost savings to insurers and taxpayers, while helping to maintain an elderly patient’s quality of life among family, friends and familiar surroundings, ultimately leading to better care. I also support efforts to improve respite services for family caregivers.”

Aubertine’s response: “I support making long-term care more responsive to New Yorkers’ desire to age in their own home and increasing funding for non-institutional care services to achieve this goal. It is less expensive for everyone, the senior, the county and the state. I supported increasing Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly program and in the 2009 budget I secured an additi9onal $2 million to allow older New Yorkers to remain at home. Most people want to receive care in their homes and communities; however, a majority of taxpayer dollars goes towards more expensive institutional care. If block grants were used to enable localities to determine specific unmet needs and to shape the way the delivery system is organized, we may see better results”

HOUSING

In regards to housing, both Aubertine and Ritchie support expanding housing options for older New Yorkers to allow them to remain in their homes, even if their housing needs change over time. Ritchie said she supports implementing Universal Design and Visitability features. Aubertine took no stand on the issue.

AARP asked both candidates, “What steps would you take to ensure Older New Yorkers have independence, choice, and control of their living situation?”

Aubertine’s response: I believe no senior citizen should be taxed out of their home. For this reason, I have repeatedly supported the senior STAR program, a property tax cap and the implementation of a circuit breaker program, which takes into account individuals’ income and ability to pay their taxes instead of just looking at property value I also recognize that there needs to be a full continuum of care, including in-home, naturally occurring retirement communities and nursing homes. I also created the Community Assisted Living Corporation in the North Country to look at ways to better coordinate senior housing and assisted living.”

Ritchie’s response: “As much as possible, consumers should be able to choose their own type of care, and living situation. The primary focus of state regulators should always be on preserving the rights, dignity and independence of consumers. Certainly, people should be able to make up their own minds, and not be denied care or coverage because of their choice that does not conflict with sound medical advice.”

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

In regards to prescription drugs, both candidates endorse the ban on the sale of doctors’ prescribing data, support the Elderly Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (EPIC) to more New Yorkers in need and support the state “bulk-buying” drugs.

AARP asked, ”What efforts do you support to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to New Yorkers?”

Ritchie’s response: “I support, and will work to protect the current EPIC program. As much as possible, I would exempt EPIC from budgetary cuts resulting from the state’s current fiscal emergency, and would support expanding the program to benefit even more consumers when the state’s finances have stabilized sufficiently.”

Aubertine’s response: “I have been an ardent supporter of the EPIC program that saves enrollees an average of 90 percent on their prescriptions. To further keep prescription drugs more affordable, I stood up to the governor and prevented him from making changes to the EPIC Part D wrap-around program which covers prescription drugs that Medicare Part D does not. I also support expanding the EPIC program and voted for S.1839, which expands income eligibility levels to more seniors can take advantage of this program. Lastly, I support expanding the number of people who are eligible for the state’s bulk purchasing pool, which will lower drug costs for all that are in it.”

ENERGY

Ritchie and Aubertine support creating greater accountability, transparency and oversight of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), expanding the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to include moderate-income New Yorkers, and increasing the size of regular HEAP grants.

AARP asked the candidates, “What proposals would you support to help New Yorkers struggling under the burden of overwhelming energy costs?”

Aubertine’s response: “I support HEAP, which helps seniors struggling under the burden of overwhelming energy costs. I’ve pushed for increased income guidelines for HEAP recipients so more people will qualify. I authored the Green Jobs/Green New York bill to assist people in weatherizing their homes and cut their energy costs. I support increasing the size of regular HEAP grants, especially for areas like the North Country that have longer and colder winters. I’ve also pushed our federal legislators to increase our HEAP allotment. I’ve stood up to Department of Environmental Conservation’s plan to severely restrict outdoor wood boiler owners’ ability to use their cost-effective heating sources and I also sponsored a bill (S.7822) to provide greater accountability and oversight of NYISO.”

Ritchie’s response: “I support immediately reducing the taxes on electric utility bills, including the tax increases enacted over the past two years. I will support legislation that exempts all home heating fuel from sales and other taxes. A consequence of recent environmental rules concerning home heating may result in higher taxes. I would actively work to change that law. I opposed proposed regulations on outdoor wood boilers which would make many models obsolete and increase costs of heating, particularly affecting rural areas. I would support efforts to promote energy efficiency with an emphasis on elderly consumers and those living on fixed incomes.”

TRANSPORTATION

Both candidates said they support complete streets legislation, which takes into consideration all users including motorists, bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities, when designing and operating roadways.

AARP asked them, “What would you do to ensure the safe access for all users: bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and passengers, motorists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities?”

Ritchie’s response: “I believe that better efforts at education should be undertaken to help make drivers—especially younger, inexperienced drivers—aware that they must share roadways with bicyclists and pedestrians. I believe that we should ensure that accessibility remains firmly embedded as a key and required factor in considering new public projects.”

Aubertine’s response: “Previously I secured $500,000 for the City of Watertown to make streetscape and road improvements which will make the downtown safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. I regularly work with local groups to make our community more accessible to seniors and the disabled. For instance, I secured funding for the Fulton Public Library to ensure safe access by adding an elevator to the historic public library without major renovations.”