Politics & Government

Standing up for Seniors

Brenda Kelley Nelum was invited to speak alongside Rep. Nancy Pelosi last month to recognize the 46th anniversary of Medicare.

Brenda Kelley Nelum was raised by her grandmother and now, at 68, she has spent decades advocating on behalf of the elderly.

Nelum was a speaker at a press conference in late July held by U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recognizing the 46th anniversary of Medicare.

Pelosi herself introduced Nelum, who spoke about her own experience with Medicare and how it had paid for medical bills that she and her husband would not have been able to afford. Nelum said that with talk flying about cutting Medicare, she wanted to speak up on behalf of the good the program had done.

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“I just thought the public should know that this was the anniversary of a program that, as far as I can see, has been a success,” Nelum said. “If we didn’t have it, I don’t know if we could even afford our medicines. I’ve heard from seniors who take half their medicine because they can’t afford it.”

Nelum said her concerns are not just for people her own age, but for future generations as well. “It’s not that we’re selfish,” she said. “We would like to see the program there for younger people.”

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Nelum said she opposed raising the retirement age for Social Security even though it would not take effect for 23 years. “This is setting the stage for my grandson,” she said. “It’s not just us.”

As a former auditor, Nelum said she recognizes that there is probably a lot of waste within the program, but said, “I see them tightening up on it quite a bit.” She added that the problem of waste does not outweigh the good that Medicare does.

The trip was not Nelum’s first time being recognized in Washington. In December, Nelum was to attend the ceremony where President Barack Obama signed legislation to stop a pay cut for doctors treating Medicare patients. “I’m still bragging about that,” Nelum said. “Hugged by the President of the United States!”

Nelum takes every opportunity to advocate for seniors. She is a member of the Commonwealth Council on Aging, and previously served on the Prince William County Commission on Aging for more than 20 years. She also serves as a volunteer with multiple organizations, including AARP, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse and the Northern Virginia Aging Network.

Nelum said she used to get angry because she thought that seniors should be more passionate about aging issues, but now she doesn’t mind as much. “Some people are tired,” she said. “I still have a little fight in me.”


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