Kay Bierwiler (Executive Director, at right) and Jane Militello (Assistant Director) of SeniorCare in Nurses' Hall during the rally.

A delegation of interested advocates from SeniorCare and other organizations made their way to Beacon Hill for the Home Care Rally recently.

The Equal Choice Bill (now called Chapter 211 of the Acts of 2006) was signed into law on August 3, 2006. This legislation states that a person deemed eligible for long term care under MassHealth is to be given "the choice of care setting that is the least restrictive and most appropriate to meet his needs." Still, 75% of our current long term care funds go to institutional care.

A preadmission counseling program for individuals being referred to nursing homes was also established under this legislation. This pre admission counseling is to "include an assessment of community based options". 80% of individuals entering nursing homes come from hospitals. The preadmission counseling program would assist these individuals to make a choice appropriate to their needs.

The third part of the Chapter 211 mandated the filing of an 1115 research and demonstration waiver for the elderly and disabled that raises the income and asset test to get long care services from MassHealth. This waiver was filed in December of 2006 and it is projected that it will begin in January 2009.

In addition to educating legislators about the need for funding and implementing these important provisions of Chapter 211, information was provided to legislators concerning various line items in the current budget, including a desired increase in funding for the Enhanced Community Options Program, as well as insuring sufficient funds to enable Adult Protective Services to investigate all allegations of abuse and neglect. Currently, the program is severely under-funded, and monies that make up the shortfall mean that other programs suffer. Advocates also want the Money Management Program fully supported, including a full time coordinator, and they want to insure that the line item covering the Family Caregiver Support Program, which leverages a federal match, is increased.

Supporters filled Nurses' Hall, spilling out into the lobbies and up the marble stairways, clear evidence that people are supportive of elders' desire to be cared for at home if at all possible.