SeniorCare, Inc. Explains How “Equal Choice” Helps Seniors

SeniorCare, Inc. says that seniors and disabled individuals, who might once have been forced into institutional care, will now have an “equal choice” of care at home, or care in a nursing facility.

The recently passed “Equal Choice” Bill, shifts the focus from institutional care to a system where the “dollars follow the individual”, and enables people to receive their care in the least restrictive environment possible.

According to Al Norman, President of Mass Home Care, a network of 30 “AGE INFO” Centers around the state, including SeniorCare, Inc., during his visits to elders at senior centers, no one raises their hand when he asks how many would like to receive their care in a nursing home. While everyone understands that skilled care is sometimes necessary, almost no one opts for it if they can remain safely at home with community-based care.

Importantly, the Bill also provides a pre-admission process, so that individuals who are being referred to skilled facilities will be made aware of community-based alternative care.

And, the state will be required to submit a so-called “waiver” to raise the income and asset levels for the MassHealth program, hopefully enabling the Commonwealth to receive a federal fund match.

“We have learned that a community-based approach to care delivery is cost effective and that it honors the preferences of elders and people with disabilities to remain members of the communities that they helped to build, for as long as possible,” said Jennifer Davis Carey, Secretary of Elder Affairs.

During the signing ceremony, Governor Romney spoke of his own family’s ability to pay for care for a disabled relative, and said, “Many people don’t have that kind of financial ability, and we need to afford to them the same opportunity to choose their own course, because we love them, they’re the “Greatest Generation”, and they deserve the kind of respect and dignity which is associated with being able to make a free choice in your own life.”

Since 1972, SeniorCare has provided services to seniors in nine Cape Ann and North Shore communities: Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham. The Agency is one of 27 Aging Services Access Points around the Commonwealth. ASAP’s provide and coordinate services that enable seniors to live independently. Interim Executive Director, Kay Bierwiler, said that passage of the Bill is an “important protection for elders and disabled people”. She said, “Care at home should be available as a first option.”

The Romney Administration estimates that the taxpayers will save $134 Million in the first five years after implementation of the new law.