|
|
"Late October"
Carefully
the leaves of autumn
sprinkle down the tinny
sounds of little dyings
and skies sated
of ruddy sunsets
of roseate dawns
roil ceaselessly in
cobweb greys and turn
to black
for comfort.
Only lovers
see the fall
a signal end to endings
a gruffish gesture alerting
those who will not be alarmed
that we begin to stop
in order simply
to begin
again.
- Maya Angelou _________________
Paid Leave at a Tipping Point?
Building on the growing national conversation about paid leave, the Dept. of Labor has a new fact sheet outlining benefits to businesses and employees on the topic.
Anne-Marie Slaughter says House Speaker Paul Ryan has the opportunity to talk about the value of parenting given his insistence that he keep weekends free for family despite the pressures of the job.
 Ageism Hurts Women More than Men in the Job Market
New research finds that r�sum�s of older women get far fewer callbacks than those of older men and of younger applicants of either sex
Most homecare workers will now have the right to minimum wage and overtime; employers will have to track weekly hours, the pay earned, and deductions taken from wages.
NIH Still Not Doing Enough for Women's Health
A recent GAO report says that because of poor data collection
it's impossible for anyone to "determine whether women are sufficiently represented in individual trials or research on specific diseases."
|
|
|
|
|
Bipartisan Budget Agreement Staves off Medicare Cost Increases for Beneficiaries, Potential SSDI Cuts
"OWL is pleased to be able to thank the members of Congress who this week crafted an agreement that -- once it is approved by the Senate --will save the country from another year of contentious budget battles," said OWL Executive Director Bobbie Brinegar. "We also thank all of the organizations whose supporters -- including ours, of course -- made it clear to their elected officials that they needed to act to stop the imminent cost increases in Medicare premiums and deductibles."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had this to say: "Working with our Republican colleagues on a compromise enabled us at long last, to bring to the Floor a bill, a bill with which we have broken the sequester stranglehold on our national defense and our investment in good-paying jobs and the future of America. "
Report Shows Huge Retirement Savings Gap Between Top CEOs and American Families 
A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies and the Center for Effective Government is the first detailed look at the gap that exists between the retirement assets of Fortune 500 CEOs and the rest of America. According to the report, the company-sponsored retirement assets of just 100 CEOs equals the retirement account savings of 41% of American families (50 million families in total). The 100 largest CEO retirement accounts are worth an average of more than $49.3 million - enough to generate a $277,686 monthly retirement check for each executive for the rest of their lives. The report includes new analysis by the Government Accountability Office highlighting just how unprepared most workers are for retirement. It shows that 29 percent of workers aged 50-65 have no pension or retirement savings in a 401(k) or IRA. The report also note that more than half of people aged 50-64 will be forced to rely almost solely on Social Security, which averages $1,233 a month. Read more about women and retirement here.
OWL a Proud Partner in First National Obesity Care Week 
A recent report from JAMA Internal Medicine found that 75 percent of men and 67 percent of women are now overweight or obese -- a sharp increase from 20 years ago when 63 percent of men and 55 percent of women fell into those categories. Women were more likely to be obese than overweight, with 37 percent of women in the former category and 30 percent in the latter. Altogether, two out of every three women in the U.S. were above a normal weight. This is why OWL is a partner in the Obesity Care Week, which runs from Nov. 1-7. The campaign has a range of goals, including:
- Generating broad awareness of the complexity of obesity as a serious disease, and reinforce the tremendous unmet needs among those who struggle
- Sensitizing people to the overt and nuanced role bias plays in preventing access to respectful, adequate medical care
- Encouraging use of resources and tools to improve providers' and patients' understanding of the full range of treatment options
- Increasing comfort of providers and patients in discussing and/or treating obesity in medical settings
The campaign is sorely needed; although the American Medical Association in 2013 classified obesity as a disease, too many people -- including health care professionals -- still view it as a lifestyle choice.
"Many individuals living with obesity may avoid seeking medical care because they feel alienated and uncomfortable," says patient advocate Michelle Vicari,. "Finding a doctor who is engaging, compassionate and committed to working with patients to develop a comprehensive weight-loss plan can be life-changing."
The Lung Cancer Alliance has Ideas on How You Can Make a Difference this Month 
Attend an Event- With close to 200 lung cancer events taking place across the country, chances are, there is one near you. Find an event.
Write a Letter - You can share your story and the facts about lung cancer through a letter to the editor of your local paper. Here is a sample to get your started.
|
|
|
|
|
|
"We do not have to become heroes overnight."
Eleanor Roosevelt
|
What makes OWL unique is our sharp focus. We are the only national organization that works solely on the economic security and quality of life issues impacting women 40+, who account for almost one-quarter of the U.S. population. Our vision is of a society where women are financially secure and able to live long, healthy and independent lives. Nonpartisan, pragmatic and focused on solutions, OWL makes sure the challenges specific to this demographic are heard and understood when policy is being made.
|
|
|
|
|
