Increased Home and Community Care Block Grants Help Seniors; More Needed
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-07-27 12:05:45.521292-04:00
Despite a nominal funding increase recently passed by the North Carolina General Assembly, there are still thousands of older North Carolinians on the waiting list for home and community services that help them stay in their homes as long as possible—and out of adult care or nursing homes.
"I'm told about $19 million was needed to really pare down a 10,000- person waiting list, but the General Assembly only put four million into the budget," said caregiver S.Y. Mason-Watson of Charlotte. S.Y. and her husband, George Watson, care for her 82-year-old mother, Lossie Mason, who lives with them. Mrs. Mason has been on the waiting list for Home and Community Care Block Grant-funded adult day care for 3 years.
Mason-Watson, a 47-year-old attorney, is currently staying home to care not only for her mother but for the couple's first child, Zane, who's less than a year old.
"Being able to send Mom to adult care a few days a week is so important to our being able to continue this level of care," she said. "Illness has depleted Mom's resources, and now that she's living with us, we've taken a big financial hit, too - especially since we also have a sort of unexpected newborn."
The Home and Community Care Block Grant is made up of federal, state and local funds, as well as consumer contributions. Prior to this year, the $24.9 million state share had not increased since 1998-99.
AARP and other organizations, along with Reps Debbie Clary (R) of Shelby Beverly Earle (D) of Charlotte, fought hard to have the final budget allocation raised from $3 to $4 million.
In a recent AARP survey of North Carolinians age 50-plus, over three-fourths of the respondents favored increased funding for home and community-based services, even if it means higher taxes.
"This year, it looks like a Band-Aid was put on the problem," said Mason-Watson.
AARP lobbyist Bill Wilson added, "We need considerably more money, and with our survey showing strong public support for an increase, we'll hit the issue hard again next year."
preview