When I first started talking to people about serving in the state Senate, one set of issues came up time and time again: those affecting our seniors. As the “boomer” generation ages and enters retirement, we will face unprecedented challenges in making sure our seniors receive quality care and have a voice in decisions that affect them.
When I arrived in the Senate, I didn’t forget what I had heard on the campaign trail. I sponsored legislation to make home health care available to thousands of seniors through the Long Term Community CHOICES Act, which I sponsored in 2008. Under CHOICES, seniors choose who gives their home care and how it is given. The care providers work for the patients, who can hire, train and schedule the workers. Seniors are able to hire people they trust, at a lower cost to the state and no additional cost to the patient.
CHOICES services include help doing everyday activities like bathing, dressing, preparing meals or doing chores. Other services include pest control, household errands and even minor home modifications like wheelchair ramps and grab bars. Since passing CHOICES, I have worked to double the number of enrollees from 6,000 to 12,000 by the end of this year — all while using existing state dollars. I intend to work harder to expand the program next year, so that even more at-home services can be offered regardless of the level of need an individual requires.