SPEAKING UP ABOUT LONG TERM CARE
As members of Ashby Village we have access to a smorgasbord of social activities that make aging a more pleasant process. To name a few, community involvement, planned activities, ability to pursue interests, assistance with rides and help with household handyperson needs. But what Ashby Village does NOT provide is personal assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like dressing, nutrition, hygiene, toileting, and mobility. Such assistance must be individually purchased and can be prohibitively expensive.
Governor Newsom, realizing that the senior population is California will double between 2015 and 2030, has commissioned a Master Plan on Aging with a commitment to address the Long-term Services and Support (LTSS) system.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that the average person over the age of 65 will need at least one year of personal assistance, and many can expect to spend upwards of $138,000 in long term care. Most middle-income persons do not have the resources to afford such care, and must rely on unpaid family care or become impoverished to qualify for the low-income program Medicaid/Medical, which does provide for LTSS.
Elder Action, an Ashby Village interest group, is working to assure that LTSS will be included in the Master Plan for Aging and will:
- Be affordable and accessible to all who need it, regardless of income.
- Be sustainable (has a revenue mechanism that is stable and solvent).
- Offer flexible benefits (a range of supports and services that respond to what a person needs to live and participate in their community).
- Promote quality of care and supports the needs of direct care workforce.
Ashby Village members have an opportunity to participate in this movement by:
- Circulating a petition to the Governor requesting that LTSS be included in the Master Plan as stated above.
You can pick up petitions at Ashby Village or from a member of Elder Action
- Sharing stories about yourself or someone you know who has needed LTSS and who had to either rely on family members or become impoverished.
- Please send stories to mjpconsulting1@comcast.net , (510) 525-0545, or by regular mail to:
Mary J Powell
7709 Ricardo Ct.
El Cerrito, CA 94530