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1999 Home and Community-Based Services |
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The Alzheimer's Association supports appropriation of funds sufficient to enable older Virginians to remain at home and function effectively for as long as possible. Specifically, the Alzheimer's Association recommends a $5.42 million increase in the fiscal year 2000 appropriation for home and community-based care programs.
Background: Each quarter, Virginia's 25 area agencies on aging report to the Virginia Department for the Aging on older Virginians' assessed unmet needs for supportive services. These reports are tallies of actual requests for service from eligible older Virginians who go without needed services because there is insufficient public funding. Many older people throughout Virginia who need services are at severe risk of being unable to remain in their own homes if services are unavailable. To meet these acute needs, the Alzheimer's Association strongly urges the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $5.42 million from the General Fund in FY 2000. "Assessed need" reflects the total amount of documented need in Virginia not met by other services.
Studies nationwide show that, in the early and middle stages of dementia, home and community based care better meets the emotional, social and physical needs of families and care recipients. "Keeping long-term care in the home and in the community is a cost effective and socially beneficial option for consumers." (McDonald, I., "The Cost of Home and Community-Based Care," Innovations in Aging, National Council on Aging, Issue 1, p. 25, 1998) States such as Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington that have made strong commitments have achieved savings in overall long-term care costs (McDonald, p. 26-27).
Last updated: September 24, 1998
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© 1997, 1998 & 1999 Alzheimer's Association, Northern Virginia Chapter. All rights reserved. |