More Aid for Older Mainers Sought

AUGUSTA -- Advocates for the elderly plan to expand legislation requesting an additional $1 million for aid programs, despite state budget shortfalls. Brenda Gallant, the state's long-term care ombudsman, said difficult budget times make this the right environment to broaden effective programs that could save the state money in the long term by keeping people out of nursing homes. "With the budget crisis we're in, it's really important to stress cost effectiveness and quality," she said. Next week, Gov. John Baldacci is scheduled to release a $140 million supplemental budget to address a budget gap in the current state spending plan. In January, he will release a new two-year state budget estimated at $6.3 billion that will include cuts totaling $838 million. The basis for the elder-care legislation comes from a blue-ribbon commission report released last month. Among the recommendations: * Eliminate waiting lists for home-based care and homemaker services by fiscal year 2010. Right now, there are 870 people on a waiting list for homemaker services, which include help with grocery shopping, laundry, housekeeping and errands. And there are 375 people on a waiting list for home-based care, which includes homemaker services plus bathing, dressing and other personal needs. * Spend $300,000 per year so more people are served by Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The centers provide information and referral services for the elderly and adults with physical disabilities and their families. * Spend $500,000 per year in the Priority Social Services Program, which includes Meals on Wheels and a program in which volunteers give rides to medical appointments. * Spend $200,000 per year for the family caregiver program, which provides assistance to the elderly, and adults with disabilities, to help them stay in their homes. Graham Newson, executive director of the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, said he's well aware of the budget problems facing the state. "Any discussion at the Statehouse is a matter of priorities," he said. "Money is very tight. I really see our role is to alert the Legislature to programs that are working and making a difference to Mainers." Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, served on the blue-ribbon commission and has been a member of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee. A conservative, he said there may be ways to fund some of the requests, but that the money would have to come from savings elsewhere in the Department of Health and Human Services budget. "It would be foolhardy to think we could implement them all," he said. He said it should be a priority to get people off the waiting lists and thinks that by moving other people into less costly programs, it would free up money for those needs. When it comes to juggling budget requests, Millett said this is one area where the state should play a key role. "I think it's high in the overall scope of priorities of what state government is all about," he said. "We have a serious state responsibility and I think we should take it seriously." Senate Majority Leader Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, also a member of the elder commission, said these proposals will be part of a larger discussion about "providing care in the least costly setting at every stage of life." "Can we come up with money today to save us money down the road?" he said. "We didn't think we should let the session go by without having that conversation." The advocates for the elderly say even if the Legislature puts off funding until better economic times, the needs of Maine's elderly will continue to grow. Maine has the oldest median age in the country, and it's far more expensive for someone to live in a nursing home than to stay at home with some state-supported services, they said. The state Office of Elder Services estimates the monthly cost for a MaineCare-eligible person in a nursing home is nearly $4,000 compared to $1,686 for those who get help at home. Gallant said many times, the state provides some assistance to families who are already serving as primary caregivers. In some instances, a $1,000 investment by the state to build a ramp or pave part of a driveway will mean someone can stay at home longer. "The dilemma is, if they don't get services, some of them will end up in a more expensive nursing facility," Newson said. Susan Cover -- 620-7015 Kennebec Journal, December 10, 2008