Sunday, June 14, 2009

Services for the Elderly

Advocates for the elderly in California say recent budget cuts are dramatically affecting the ability of social service programs to keep up with demand at a time when the state's elderly population - and the incidents of elder abuse - are exploding.

One example is Contra Costa County, where the Aging and Adult Services Program laid off two-thirds of the staff who investigate abuse complaints of elderly and dependent adults. The county is now turning over virtually all of its self-neglect cases to some other agency - often, the police.

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell is proposing to allow an additional 30,000 seniors to enroll in the state's prescription-drug program for older residents, a move called essential to helping them survive the difficult economic times.

Rendell says he is working with House Democrats to push through legislation that would raise the current income eligibility limits for seniors to qualify for the state's popular PACENET program. The money for the program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania lottery would be augmented by requiring pharmaceutical companies to give the state the same drug rebates that it gives to the federal government's Medicaid program.

Full Article and Source:
As Calif. Budget Shrinks, Services For Elderly Slip

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am torn by cut backs for "protection" services for the elderly.

Surely, they save many elderly people who are being abused or living in squalor.

But, on the other hand, they do so much harm to innocent people and families by paving the way to unnecessary guardianship.

Anonymous said...

Whenever there is a budget cut, they start at the elderly -- it's an indication that elderly people have no worth to society.

Anonymous said...

I'm in favor of the prescription drug program and the Pharmaceutical intustry to assist.

Anonymous said...

Of course the pharma companies should give the state the same rebates that they give to the Medicaid program!