Now it is Easy to Call Your US Elected Officials
5 CALLS CIVIC ACTION
AAUW members wanting an EASY way to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives can use www.5calls.org . 5 Calls Civic Action is a non-profit that helps the public make their voices heard on numerous critical issues. Here’s how:
-
Go to 5calls.org. Set your location. This step brings up photos, names, and phone numbers (D.C. and local) of your U.S. Senators and Representatives.
-
Click on an issue from the list displayed on the left. The system displays a summary of the issue and where the issue currently stands in Congress.
-
Dial the phone number of the elected official displayed below the summary. (If you do not want to contact that person, click the blue SKIP button to go to the next official in the list.)
-
When the call is answered, speak to the person or leave a voicemail. A brief script is provided by 5 Calls. You may read the script verbatim, or customize it. If you leave voicemail, provide your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.
-
When finished, click the blue button that represents the result of your call (Unavailable, Voicemail, Contact, or Skip). The system now displays the phone number for the next elected official. Continue until you have finished all your contacts.
That’s all there is to it! Research has shown that elected officials pay attention to phone tallies on issues. As the 5Calls website explains, congresspeople use call tallies and personal stories from constituents to support their positions when talking to colleagues. Congresspeople get regular call tally reports, letting them know how strongly their constituents feel about an issue.
You can also sign up to receive email updates from 5 Calls Civic Action. They also have an app you can download on your mobile phone.
Colorado’s Office of the State
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
AAUW members may be concerned about the safety and welfare of family members residing in Long Term Care situations. The Older Americans Act requires every state to have an Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP). Colorado’s LTCOP serves residents in long-term care.
To learn about Colorado’s LTCOP click here: https://www.coombudsman.org/
On that webpage you can learn about the program, find the Ombudsman for your county, file a complaint, learn about LTC residents’ rights, and access numerous Resources.
Colorado’s LTCOP produced a series of 10 informational videos as part of the office’s Elder Abuse Act Project. The videos include interviews with experts who provide information and tools to help identify different types of abuse and neglect and explain what to do about it.
The series begins with a summary of the elder abuse and neglect problem and an overview of the video series. The next video explains what an ombudsman is and does, giving a history of the ombudsman program and explaining their legal authority. Subsequent videos describe the family dynamics of placing an elder into institutional care, an explanation of services provided by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Colorado’s counties, a description of the State Adult Protective Service’s role, an explanation of how crimes against seniors are prosecuted, and a final video on financial exploitation of the elderly in LTC facilities and/or by family members.
To view the videos, click here and scroll down: https://www.coombudsman.org/resources/elder-abuse-act-project/
The phone number of Colorado’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is: 303-862-3524.
