Budget Proposals Turn Back Clock 30 Years in Long-Term Care Services for California Seniors

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Description:
This policy note details how the 2010-2011 California budget proposal released in January by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office proposes deep cuts in community-based services available to low-income seniors and low-income Californians of all ages with disabilities. The cuts will make it much more difficult for many older adults to continue to live safely in their own homes, create hardships for their families, lead to a loss of jobs and health insurance by direct service providers, and close many adult day care centers. Increased use of emergency rooms, hospital in-patient care and nursing facilities by affected older adults are likely to erode the financial savings of the reductions. This policy note analyzes the likely consequences of the January 2010 proposals for seniors, their families and service providers. We find that the proposed reductions would reduce support for home care in the state to levels not seen for almost 30 years.