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Support and Protect North Carolina's Older Adults!
NC Women United believes that all seniors have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and that government policy should support these values.
Therefore, NCWU supports Ratings Systems for Adult Care Homes and Increased Funding for the Home and Community Block Grant as critical issues for Women's Advocacy Day 2008.
Rating System for Adult Care Homes
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, legislation was passed to create a rating system for adult care homes that would serve as a guide to those looking for placement in a home offering good care.
Rules for a rating system of zero to four stars were adopted by the Medical Care Commission.
Owing to a number of letters from providers opposing the rules, the system cannot go into effect until the General Assembly during this short session has a chance to change the rules.
Adult care home providers are putting forward some suggested changes. Advocates for the rating system oppose any consideration of changes before the system has been put into operation and tried out. A reconsideration of the legislation might result in doing away with it entirely.
Increase Funding for the Home and Community Care Block Grant
House Bill 2184 “Home and Community Care Block Grant Funds” (sponsored by Representative Farmer-Butterfield; companion bill Senate Bill 1643, sponsored by Senator Vernon Malone) would provide an increase of $2.5 million for the block grant.
Increased funding for the Home and Community Care Block Grant would reduce the waiting list for those elderly persons needing services in order to stay in their homes.
The Block Grant can fund eighteen different home and community-based services (counties choose which ones they will fund). These services include Meals on Wheels, adult day care and adult day health care, transportation assistance, respite care for family caregivers, and personal care services by an in-home aide.
With such help, many seniors can live at home even when family members go out to work.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Help NC's Seniors Live Healthier, Happier Lives!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As a member of NC Women United and a participant in Women's Advocacy Day, I'm writing to urge you to put your support behind two critical measures that will help older adults in North Carolina maintain their quality of life.
The first bill is the Rating System for Adult Care Homes. I ask that you put the rating system in place and give it a "trial run" as adopted by the Medical Care Commission in 2007 before making any changes.
Further, I would ask that you support creating an award system for adult care homes that achieve high ratings to provide an incentive for facilities to give better quality care.
I also urge you so support the increased funding of the Home and Community Care Block Grant as proposed by Rep. Farmer-Butterfield (HB 2184) and Sen. Malone (S 1643).
These funds provide essential services for seniors living at home without which they could be forced into institutional care. The waiting list for these services is already very long and the Block Grant must be increased in order to even begin to meet the need.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my views on these issues.
Sincerely,
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