Budget Cuts in California

We've all been hearing about the budget crisis at both the Federal and State levels. Cuts to funding of programs dealing with our elderly hit many people especially hard at this time of recession when caregivers and family and friends look to these services for help. In California, our Governor has outlined some of the cuts he signed. In an update from the Alzheimers Association, here is what our State Government has proposed:

Governor Brown Signs Legislation that includes $6 billion in cuts to Health and Human Services programs. Who will lose funding? Late in March, Governor Brown approved the following budget cuts:

1. Elimination of Medi-Cal reimbursement to Adult Day Healthcare (ADHC) programs (effective6/1/11)

2. Cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) (effective 7/1/11)

3. Additional ge neral Cuts to Medi-Cal (effective 7/1/11)

What does that mean and why should you care?

4. Adult Day Health Care loses Medi-Cal Funding As many as 80-85 percent of the low-income participants in adult day health care (ADHC) programs are there because the program receives funding from Medi-Cal to serve these individuals. This means ADHC programs must be condensed; days shortened; staff let go; become social, private pay programs; or possibly close their doors completely.

Every ADHC in the state is now considering what populations they can serve including whether they will continue to serve people with Alzheimer's disease -- who are often the most service intensive and who need extensive supervision and support.

IHSS - $486.1 million reduction in funding.

Governor Brown eliminated domestic services from outside providers (i.e. cleaning and meal preparation) for recipients who are living with a care partner. The reduction requires all participants to be reassessed and to obtain certification from a licensed health-care professional that says without in-home supportive services, the recipient is at risk of being placed in a skilled nursing facility. This costly measure to reassess each and every individual will be a barrier of many days, weeks or months for frail or disabled people to receive needed services.

Medi-Cal - $584 million in savings, achieved through new mandatory co-payments on prescription drugs, physician and dentist visits, emergency room visits, and hospital stays.

What's Next?

We can't be sure, but we do know that these cuts are going to become law. The hope that a ballot initiative will be prepared immediately and allow for new revenue is no longer an option. It appears increasingly likely there will be an initiative to gather signatures for a November ballot measure; however, that would be about NEW tax increases that expired in July. This will almost certainly create a great deal of controversy.

In the absence of other alternatives to solve the continuing budget shortfall, the legislature and governor may be forced to implement further cuts. Elimination of some programs is a very real possibility in the absence of revenue-creating solutions.

What Can You Do?

Know your legislators and their websites, emails and phone numbers Call or email your representative. Tell him or her your story and how Alzheimer's impacts your life. As a constituent, make it clear that complete elimination of programs and services is unacceptable for you and other millions of Californians who rely on these programs.

The Wisdom of Age

"Old age is no place for sissies" Betty Davis Studies show that the brain may shrink as far as a decade ahead of the symptoms of Alzheimers appearing. Although these tests are not yet ready for use on the general public, the hopes of researches are that this could lead to another tool of diagnosing this terrible disease as early as possible. Brain Shrinks a Decade Before Alzheimer's Appears Source Fox News http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42580059/ns/health-aging/from/toolbar Source msnbc

The Wisdom of Age

"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in your life you will have been all of these." Dr. Robert H Goddard We may, at one time or another, be each of these in our lifetimes. It's when we grow older that we can actually empathize with each. Our compassion with the aged can help us achieve all these goals. Show this compassion with an elder in your life -the rest will come.

When a Loved One Gets Violent

The caring for a loved one with Alzheimers or dementia is difficult enough. Now add violence to the mix-it's just gotten more difficult. Anger, violence, temper tantrums---these are all very real possibilities, perhaps probabilities, when dealing with these terrible diseases. The personality of someone we know can drastically change as Alzheimers and dementia progress. I have personally dealt with this as my mother became, shall we say, articulately profane. She was never one to use profanity or swear words - that is, until her dementia was in the latter stage and she had some small strokes. Suddenly, it was as if a completely different person was using her mouth. One minute, she was swearing at my father, my siblings, me, her caregivers, her doctor and nurses; the next, she didn't remember speaking those words. For my mother, I got her to her doctor and he was able to medicate her. This was of tremendous help and although I do not believe in medicating to the point of catatonia, the medications he prescribed for her helped her live a much calmer, more enjoyable life. Yes, it took some time to get the right prescriptions to work for her. We had to pass on the newest medication at the time due to its likely side effect of kidney stones. But we kept working together with her doctor and finally achieved a level of comfort for her. The attached article from CNN helps to explain this aspect of the diseases and gives some tips for dealing with this change. I hope it can help someone out there. When Alzheimer's turns violent - CNN.com

Finding the Right Care for Your Elders

There are many options for care for our elders. Many are unknown to most of us, but the following link has an expansive listing of options for care, regardless of what stage you might be in. The Golden Journey can help you find the option best for you and your loved one.

http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/oct2006/pi20061016_810088.htm?chan=search

Caught in a Caregiving Squeeze

The Baby Boomers are in a sandwich---not ones made for a meal, but one which put them in the middle of taking care of their parents AND their children. This stress and tension can cause health problems, not to mention, what they miss raising their own children.

From CBS News, (February 19, 2007)the following article shows what one family in Lancaster, California, is going through. They are not alone

Maryann Winchell can't slow down for a minute-driving to her parent's home, shuttlinghem to the doctor, taking them to the pharmacy - getting them back home.

"Every day, I'm there," Maryann says. "Some days I'm there for four hours; some days I'm there all day.

Her 65-year old mother, Mary Saavedra, has rheumatoid arthritis. Her 82-year old father, David, has Alzheimer's.

"I have to be there for them, I feel like I have to be there for them," she says.

Maryann and her husband, Stacy, are snadwiched between ailing parents and teen-aged kids who need attention, too.

"There are so many different people my parents have to look after and take care of and help," says their daughter, Suraida. "So there's not a lot of leftover time."

Or leftover money.

Stacy bears the brunt of the finacial load, working several jobs as a nurse practioner - believe it or not, in geriatrics.

He says that he does not foresee having any money put away for retirement - or an easy way to pay for the kids' college.

The Winchell family isn't alone. About 25 million baby boomers say they help their parents financially - and if their parents become seriously ill, the burden is bigger.

That's because Medicare isn't always enough. Only about 53 percent of all seniors' health care costs are covered, leaving more and more of the financial burden on their children.

For instance, Maryann's mom's arthritis responds only to a drug called Enbrel. Each month, it can cost up to $1591.99. That cost almost wiped out her parents' $2,000 monthly income, mostly social security. Then there's their $900 rent, R$260 for utilities, and the co-pays for her mom's other medication. Mayann and her husband has to take up the slack. So she spends hours doing research. That how she found a Medicare-approved HMO that will charge her just $330 co pay for that arthritis drug - but only for three months.

And what if her dad needs a nursing home that could cost $6,000 a month and more? Does Medicare pa? No.

"About 50 percent of nursing home care resident paid for their nursing home care with out-of-pocket resources. That's either their savings or family savings," says Gerald Krominski of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Maryann's parents aren't there yet and thy're ljucky to have a committed advocate working the system for them.

"Don't take no for an answer and find a way out, because it's a business. Everything is a business," Maryann advises.

It's an exhausting full-time business for boomers still caring for kids - and now caring for dependent parents, too.

Walk for a Cure

Help walk to cure Alzheimer's!




I will be joining a walk for the cure for Alzheimer's on Friday, August 24th, 2007, in Santa Barbara, California. There are many walks being organized and if anyone might be interested in great exercise for a great cause, log onto www.alz.org/memorywalk/ to see if there is one near you.



You can set up your own Alzheimer's Walk Website. This easy and fun-to-use site lets you track donations, email friends, family, work and organizations asking for their help in donations and posts your donors on the "Honor Roll" showing who donated for someone special you want to walk for.



So exercise your legs while raising money for a cure for this devastating disease. We will all be touched by Alzheimer's in one way or another---let's work and WALK to cure it!