Lawrence resident Sandy Praeger has made a political career out of trying to expand access to health care, including for the senior population. Kansas Advocates for Better Care are honoring her for that commitment by giving her the 2014 KABC Caring Award.

Praeger, the Kansas insurance commissioner, has been advocating for long-term-care issues since she joined the state Legislature in the 1990s. She worked with KABC to pass laws to expand independence, choice and services for seniors living at home, as well as quality and choice for nursing-home residents. Among the legislation she was involved with were laws that expanded access to assisted-living services to allow people to age in place and offered tax credits for purchasing long-term care insurance.

Praeger gives much of the credit to KABC’s late founder, Anna “Petey” Cerf, who worked alongside her on many of these issues.

“I knew that she’d be watching, she’d be making sure we did the right thing by the folks who need those services,” Praeger said. “She’s still a force to be reckoned with, and she’s been gone for quite a while.”

KABC will present Praeger with the award at its annual Stand by Me benefit in Lawrence on Oct. 26. Praeger, a former Lawrence mayor and city commissioner, served in the state Legislature from 1990 to 2002, when she was elected insurance commissioner.

Praeger said that while she’s honored by the award there is still work to be done. “The concern is making the facilities have the ability to hire and keep good workers,” she said. “It’s a constant struggle in long-term care to provide the quality, attract people and get the salaries where they need to be when so many of these facilities are reliant on Medicaid reimbursement.”