Nora Duncan is AARP Connecticut’s state director.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s cuts to home care and respite services are as distressful as they are illogical. That’s because they are based on a false assumption that every cut automatically results in a savings. Not true.
In practical terms, the governor’s proposed cuts to home and community-based care for our seniors is the equivalent of someone on a tight budget skipping an oil change to save $120 only to pay $4,500 at the end of the year for a blown engine. Sure, it sounds tempting to have an extra $120 today, but would anyone call this a “savings?”
Cutting cost-effective home care services that support independent living for seniors is exactly the opposite of what we need. With an aging population and long-term budget challenges, the prudent move is to make more investment in home care — not less. Programs like the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders and Alzheimer’s Respite Care for family caregivers help keep seniors safe and out of costly nursing homes.
See the complete story at CT News Junkie.
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