In summary

Nursing home placement caused by the defunding of senior Services will destroy independent lifestyles of needy seniors.

By Deane Dana

Newsom is wrong on this call and should review the programs on their merit, results and consequences. He obviously has not done his homework yet. Our seniors deserve better.

Re “ ‘Might as well have them walk the plank’ – Cuts may force many seniors into nursing homes”; May 19, 2020 

The article by Barbara Feder Ostrov deserves a thankful recognition of the serious negative impact Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget revise will have on the most needy and still independent seniors in our state. 

Nursing home placement caused by the defunding of the Adult Day Health Care and Multipurpose Senior Services Program will destroy independent lifestyles of needy seniors and dramatically increase costs for government providers.

I worked at the California Department of Aging in 1984 and at the federal Department of Health and Human Services in 1989. I worked with dedicated aging advocates in establishing the Adult Day Health Care program and expanding the Multipurpose Senior Services Program with federal waivers supported by bi-partisan legislative and congressional leaders.  

While I acknowledge that both of these programs have had hiccups over the years, the foundation of these programs with dedicated volunteers and program staff, focus on staying independent as long as possible. 

Newsom is wrong on this call and should review the programs on their merit, results and consequences. He obviously has not done his homework yet. Our seniors deserve better.

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