Joanne's Letter
January 18, 2005
Director Kim Belshe
Department of Health Services
714 P Street #1253
Sacramento, CA 95814
Via Facsimile: 916-657-5183
Dear Ms. Belshe,
I am writing to you as a plea for your help. As I'm composing this e-mail I'm almost in tears because of sadness and frustration over the situation with my mom. I'm sad over her history, her health and now, in the forefront of my mind, I'm wondering how I can find my mother a decent place to live without having to hold my breath and tell her the only option for her is a nursing home.
My mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy and has been dealing with her body and mind breaking down around her for the last 7 years. She is only 65 years old.
I really think she deserves a break.
I'm not an expert on the government-assisted care housing as it stands now, but I'm getting more educated every day. I recently found out that nursing homes in California are reimbursed at about $3,500/month for low-income folks with disabilities who live in this setting. But, the California state government isn't willing to pay for a low-income individual with perhaps the same disabilities to have the dignity of living in an assisted facility – even though that type of housing would cost the state so much less per month. Again, I'm not an expert, but this just doesn't make any sense to me.
My family and I cannot afford to help subsidize my mother's care, nor can she continue to live at home (even with IHSS) because she needs 24-hour care. I have followed with interest these many months the development of the Assisted Living Waiver Pilot Program (ALWPP) hoping that at some point this would be of use to my mother who would like to live in a small board and care home. From what I understand now, my mother would not be eligible for ALWPP since she has only custodial care needs (help with dressing, bathing, help out of bed, etc.) and does not need care by a nurse.
The more I look into nursing homes, the more depressed and overwhelmed I get. I am not the only one who faces this dilemma. With its huge budget crisis wouldn't subsidizing board and care homes for people at risk of pre-mature institutionalization make sense for California? Government reimbursed nursing homes (at least in my area) are twice the cost of private paid board and care settings.
And, why even after the Supreme Court Olmstead decision, is California continuing to do nothing to help people like my mother stay out of nursing homes?
I would appreciate your assistance.