— Elder Care —
::: Legislation Pending :::
Background
In-home and family care-giver support services/policies have not kept pace with escalating population growth of residents over 65. This past July, the Legislature passed two important bills to bring more long-term care options into the home and community. Several GBIO congregations joined allies from throughout the State to push hard for these new laws.
Equal Choice Bill
Current MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) regulations favor institutionalized nursing home care. The “Equal Choice” bill will provide a more balanced approach to the delivery of care for Medicaid-eligible seniors and persons with disabilities allowing them to receive a variety of services at home in their own community. In a word, the money will follow the person to the most appropriate care setting, changing as the person's needs change.
Personal Care Attendant Quality Home Care Workforce Bill
State-wide projections (2000-2025) show a 48% increase in elders potentially needing home care and a 7% decrease in personal care attendants (PCAs). In some areas, the disparity is expected to be more acute. Even when a person with disability or senior finds a PCA to hire, they have little guarantee that the PCA is qualified or will maintain a long-term commitment.
This bill creates a “Quality Workforce Council,” a quasi-public agency led by consumers that will oversee all PCAs. For the PCAs, this bill will improve working conditions and provide more training and financial security. For consumers, this bill will:
- Provide a directory to ease and streamline the process of finding an appropriate PCA, and
- Provide an emergency backup system to help a senior or person with disability find a substitute when their PCA cannot come.
Looking Ahead
As baby-boomers reach retirement age, Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads. The new Governor and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) needs to make implementation of these two long-term care bills a top priority. Now is the opportunity to invent—and invest—in policies and programs that will meet the demands of a growing number of older adults and those who care for them. GBIO will work to see that the next Governor of Massachusetts fully implements the Equal Choice and PCA bills, and expands home and community based long-term care services for moderate-income elders.