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- Celebrating the Older American
Give seniors a
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Elder Services
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Advantage: is it right for me?
Give seniors a choice
Bu State Senator Andrea Nuciforo, Jr. (D-Pittsfield)
The Legislature is currently debating a bill that would allow Medicaid eligible disabled seniors the opportunity to receive health care in their own homes rather than being placed in a nursing facility. An Act Regarding Equal Choice of Long Term Care Settings(S 676), also known as the Equal Choice Bill, is both compassionate and fiscally sensible, and will improve the lives of families and individuals who require nursing services.
For many of the Commonwealth’s senior citizens who do not require the higher level of care that nursing homes provide, the Equal Choice Bill grants freedoms that will have a profound impact on their daily lives. The bill will allow many seniors to choose whether to receive care in an institution or home setting, providing that the cost of home care does not exceed that of institutional care. Moreover, if the legislature is enacted, the state would have to spend at least half as much on community, or home-based care, as it does on nursing home care.
Seniors and their families should have the option of receiving meaningful health care in their own homes. This would greatly enhance the quality of life for many, and would contribute to our communities as a whole. I firmly believe that it is a disservice to promote institutionalization when, in many cases, appropriate care can be administered at home. The simple pleasure of waking up in one’s own bed or enjoying an evening in front of a familiar fireplace cannot, and should not, be ignored.
In 1998, the state Medicaid program spent $1.18 billion on institutional medical care, compared to $118 million on home care. These numbers show that the state has clearly favored nursing homes over community-based alternatives. While nursing homes will continue to play an integral role in providing an array of important services, we must open the doors to greater flexibility for the benefit of our seniors and our communities.
The Equal Choice Bill is geared to those who would not otherwise require institutional care, but who are in need of some medical assistance. The legislation is a way in which the Commonwealth can provide parity of medical services for seniors. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that the unjustified segregation and institutionalization of people with disabilities is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The state is violating the "equal choice" ruling when it steers senior citizens into nursing homes without providing alternatives.
The Equal Choice Bill allows us to support those who wish to remain living in an independent setting, all the while maintaining their comfort and dignity. Establishing this option is another positive step toward sensible health care, which I am pleased to support.