by: Katie Bolin
February 27, 2009
Every year Mass Home Care and other elder advocacy organizations ban together to visit the State House and to lobby for elder support. This year the passion was even higher as a result of the $4 million 9c budget cuts that took place last fall that has generated a waiting list for both home care and the Enhanced Community Options Program.
Boston Senior Home Care sent sixteen staff members to the State House last Thursday to join 250 other elder advocates from organizations across the Commonwealth. Together they filled Nurses Hall leaving no empty seats and a crowd as far as the eye could see.
Al Norman, Executive Director of Mass Home Care, led the day with a “Home Care First” chant that was so thunderous all the politicians in their offices could hear it. A line up of lawmakers and elderly rights group voiced their concern about the wait lists and the great need to restore the funding to its previous level. Many also reminded the crowd that their persistence is imperative because one day of lobbying is not enough to get the message across. Everyone was encouraged to return to the State House and to keep this issue on the forefront.
After this rally, the attendees formed a line to resemble what the home care waiting list would look like if it came to the State House. Since the home care wait list has reached 953, index cards were passed out with the statement “Please take a number: 954”. The effect was to simulate what it would feel like for someone who needed home care services today. As in the words of Frank Manning, an elder advocate, “being put on a waiting list for home care is like dialing 911 and being put on hold.”
After snaking through the State House, everyone divided up to speak with their specific representatives and governors about ending the home care waiting lists. We explained that restoring funding is not only necessary for the elders across Massachusetts but is also the smart choice as it has saved the Commonwealth approximately $436 million since 2000. Specifically, we requested that money be returned to home care, care management & operations, protective services, and meals on wheels, that money be allocated to the Equal Choice bill that was passed but never funded, and that MassHealth line items removed from Elder Affairs be restored to EOEA.
The day certainly caught the attention of many in the State House and there is sure to be more action until the severity and irony of the home care wait list is realized.