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Schwarzenegger Cuts Funding for Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Californians in Proposed State Budget

$4 billion annual program currently serves 400,000 elderly, blind or disabled consumers; projected caseloads expected to reach 500,000 by 2012

By Jovan Agee
Political and Legislative Director
United Domestic Workers of America

Governor Schwarzenegger today dismissed any possibility of new state revenues to close a growing budget gap and instead proposed cuts to a popular state program that allows more than 400,000 California seniors and people with disabilities to receive home care and avoid unnecessary, expensive and unwanted institutionalization.

"We understand the magnitude of the budget deficit and that tough choices must be made,” said Evan LeVang, Co-Chair of the Quality Homecare Coalition. “However, we do not believe that the health and welfare of seniors and people with disabilities should be compromised in order to balance the budget.”

Since elected in 2003, Schwarzenegger has made it an annual practice to cut funding to the state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, attempting to balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, blind and people living with disabilities.

"The Legislature would be well-served to automatically dismiss these cuts as foolish and short-sighted, since the IHSS program ultimately saves state tax dollars compared to costly alternatives, including institutional care,” said Herb Meyer, 76, a disabled consumer of IHSS services in Marin County. “We are forced to remind lawmakers of this simple fact every year.”

“As the Legislature is forced to demonstrate each year in response to the Governor's budget, there is ample research and bipartisan recognition that it is far cheaper to provide in-home services than to pay for those same services in institutions,” said Deborah Doctor of Protection & Advocacy Inc. “The Governor has started off 2008 with another hypocritical spending plan; giving lip service to the most vulnerable Californians while cutting crucial state funding that allows those same Californians to live independently.”

“We need a fair balancing of this deficit crisis with a combination approach that includes some revenue raising as well as targeted program cuts to non-essential services (as opposed to across the board),” said Frances Gracechild, Co-Chair of the Quality Homecare Coalition and Executive Director of Resources for Independent Living. “Some of the tax relief that was prematurely given during the early Schwarzenegger administration should be returned by the wealthiest Californians that benefited.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut taxes when he first came into office by what is now nearly $5 billion annually, and he has never made up the revenue loss. His “car tax” cut now will total over $20 billion since the governor took office in 2003.

Schwarzenegger's spending plan severely cuts the state's funding for home care services that provide care for IHSS consumers in their homes, most of whom are seniors with disabilities. IHSS helps those seniors and people with disabilities avoid unnecessary, expensive and unwanted institutional alternatives. The Legislative Analyst estimates that the annual spending on each IHSS recipient is $9,924, whereas disabled nursing home patients cost about $60,000 annually.

“Does Governor Schwarzenegger really want his legacy to be that he’ll fly to China to support Olympians with disabilities, while proposing cuts which would institutionalize people like those athletes here at home?” said Bill Young, an IHSS consumer in Sacramento County.

Individuals eligible for IHSS services are disabled, age 65 or older, or blind, unable to live safely at home without help and have very low income. The IHSS program uses state, county and federal funding to enable IHSS consumers to hire a caregiver.

County social workers assess people for IHSS and can authorize up to 283 hours per month of services. Services include housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care services (such as bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming, paramedical services, accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for individuals whose mental status or cognitive functioning poses a threat to their safety and well-being). IHSS is the largest publicly funded nonmedical program in the nation designed to help people with disabilities, the elderly, and blind—and with limited resources—live safely at home.

Recipients of federal funds—called Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—and state funds—called State Supplementary Payments (SSP)—are eligible for IHSS benefits if they demonstrate an assessed need for IHSS services. SSI is the sole source of income for more than 1.2 million blind, aged and disabled persons, who must rely on the SSI grant for all their living expenses.

The IHSS program has always received bipartisan support, and is widely praised as a model state program for helping the elderly and disabled live independently.

When you have Republicans and Democrats working together to protect the IHSS program, it’s obviously foolish to continue proposing drastic cuts in state funding to that program. IHSS is fiscally and morally responsible—the kind of program California taxpayers want to see more of, rather than dismantled.

“The Governor should remember that this IHSS program touches all types of Californians—regardless of gender, ethnicity, language or ability,” said Janie Whiteford, President of the California In-Home Supportive Services Consumer Alliance. “We cannot stay silent when he repeatedly proposes cuts that affect so many California families.”

“The Governor has an overly simplified approach to dealing with our state’s budget deficit by only proposing cuts,” said Tyrone Freeman, President of SEIU United Long-term care Workers Union and Chair of the California Homecare Council. “The Governor should join lawmakers in examining new revenue options before pushing cuts to programs that provide essential, accessible, and affordable health care for the people with the greatest needs – especially cost-effective programs like IHSS.”

“The Governor and the legislature surely know that we will flood their offices with real-life stories spelling out the impact on the lives of people with disabilities, their families, friends and caregivers based on the proposed cuts to IHSS,” said Teresa Favuzzi, Executive Director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. “Hear us loud and clear, we will not be forced into nursing homes and institutions.”

“The Governor this week made it abundantly clear that he now sees our state’s true budget problem, and now that he cannot fix it with borrowing, he’s resorted to cutting the most successful state programs,” said Joan Lee, Legislative Liaison of Gray Panthers California. “He should go to the homes of those who receive care under IHSS. Perhaps then he would realize the full impact of what he’s doing to nearly one-half million voters in California.”

“We can always rely on Governor Schwarzenegger to chop away at the budget of the In-Home Supportive Services program,” said IHSS consumer advocate John Wilkins. “He has not learned that his obsession with cutting these funds is ultimately undermining all of our attempts to bring California in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.” The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that people with disabilities have a right to receive care in the most integrated setting appropriate and that unnecessary institutionalization is in violation of federal law.

"Ask California taxpayers which programs they want their tax dollars to fund, and I cannot believe that they’d support cutting IHSS in favor of the more expensive option of institutional care,” said Ed Andreas, Chair of the Nevada Sierra Regional IHSS Advisory Committee.

“This Governor is bound and determined to punish the workers who care for people with disabilities, including seniors,” said Carolynn Heilig, a provider of IHSS services for 14 years in Marin County. “He proposes these cuts that mean consumers in the IHSS program will not be receiving proper service. They will be put at great risk, and the Governor needs to do his homework before including these cuts in his spending plan.”

Jovan Agee is the political and legislative director for the United Domestic Workers of America in Sacramento.

Posted on January 10, 2008

Comments

I understand the magnitude of the budget deficit and that tough choices must be made, “However, I do not believe that the health and welfare of seniors and people with disabilities should be compromised in order to balance the budget.”

Posted by: Anthony L. Morris at January 10, 2008 04:54 PM

Yea, then who and what gets cut? To be fair everyone should get cut the same.

Posted by: Jeff at January 10, 2008 11:09 PM

OH ! YES TAKE IT OUT ON THE POOR AND THE SICK

Posted by: rymc at January 11, 2008 12:01 PM

We can subscribe to the the seemingly logical assumption that everyone needs to share in the pain with regard to budget cuts but we need to remember that the IHSS program is *cost effective.* Implementing the cuts will just result in certain individuals being sent to an institution, which is far more costly. Cutting the program will cost more, not less. If services are cut are we going to throw those who can no longer reside in their own homes out on the street? I think not. That is not the purpose of good government.

Posted by: Michael Tetreault at January 11, 2008 11:01 PM

Posted by: Michael Tetreault at January 11, 2008 11:02 PM

As usual the major cuts are to the most vulnerable
of our California citizens. Isn't this typical
of a Republican Governor who is loyal to the
rich elites and corporate interests? Little or nothing is said about why we have deficits out of control.
The war in Iraq is one factor and Republicans
in power who say "NO MORE TAXES" is another one.
There should be an instant revolt in this state
against the inhumane budget cuts that this governor and his friends are proposing. Putting
the budget cuts on the backs of the middle class
and the poor is inhumane and sinister. We should
never tolerate this.We should contact our Democratic Legislatures and demand more fair
and humane budget cuts that will not harm the
most vulnerable of our state!

Posted by: KALE1 at January 12, 2008 10:51 AM

Posted by: KALE1 at January 12, 2008 10:52 AM

Posted by: KALE1 at January 12, 2008 10:54 AM

Posted by: KALE1 at January 12, 2008 11:00 AM

As an IHSS provider, my wife and her brother who both have Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy which has both Physical and Mental/cognitive factors depend on my being in the home because they are both subject to sudden falls and memory lapses. They are also unable to perform many everyday chores such as laundry, cooking larger meals and house cleaning. If the Govenor were to cut or take away their IHSS hours/eligability I would be forced to find an outside job which would put them at greater risk of injury. Bottom line: they both need me and the only reason I am able to be here for them is the IHSS program.

Posted by: R K Savage at January 12, 2008 01:14 PM

Arnold, because you will not have to worry about your care in your golden years should not make you insensitive to the needs of those who do not have resources like yourself or other legislatures and government officials. Think about conditions in Europe and your native country - how do they guide your thinking. Many of the athletes who competed with you in the 60's & 70's are also part of this group in need of home health care or end up in nursing homes, with poor care and dying because of misdiagnosed illnesses as my former husband was. I am also and IHHS provider for my grandmother. Think hard Arnold.

Posted by: C Orsini at February 6, 2008 11:27 AM

I am a 65 year old disabled woman who lives alone on SSI/SSA and have no other people to help me except my IHSS worker who comes twice a week to do my laundry, vacuum, dust, take out garbage and get my mail, and take me shopping for otc medical supplies and food. I cannot do these things by myself. If Arnold cuts my hours, I will have to go to a convalescent home which will cost the government a lot more. I have neuropathy in all 4 limbs from a c-spine injury and am in a power wheelchair. I also have fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic active epstein-barr virus (duration 4 and 1/2 years), and chronic depression. Raise taxes, Arnold. Don't cut the helpless. God will remember at your day of judgement. And He will hold you and the legislators responsible. Whatever you did or did not do to the least of my brethern you did (or did not do) unto Me.

Posted by: P Brady at February 18, 2008 02:59 AM

Arnold is probably the most unqualified person to make these kind of budget decisions. Cutting back on IHHS is not beneficial to California's economy or its citizens. I am a provider to my wife who is a quadriplegic and she cannot provide for herself. She constantly needs my help with the simplest tasks. We have recently received a letter stating the discontinuance of IHHS for my wife. I've never had this problem in the past. All I can say is do the math Arnold!

Posted by: Tavo G. at March 19, 2008 04:49 AM

IHSS JUST CUT MY HOURS TO ONE OF MY TWO SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN! 57.2 Just because the Law makers says you can not have two in the same household for Protective Supervison! Guess what God gave me $ children That need special supervision one with ADD and AHDD, and a 15 year old now. Ages 15, 25, 29,32 the two oldest are the special needs.I have deacated my life, being for them every minute. I have no weekend off, no vacation? what ever that is? and I just went threw cancer, lung operation and still I keep on taking care of them. IHSS in Santa Maria County, were the ones that did this to my family I cannot work outside our home and giving my hours to a man that now because of this now is in my house taking my hours from me. I do the work! No one else but they took the hours someone help me! I cant afford to take care of my family if this Law ot code as they say continues.My worker is Dawn( no last name)! Call IHSS at 1 346-7220 ask for the supervisors, tell them to reinstate the 57.2 hours I need for my son 29 years old bring me peace in my life. I have never asked for one thing in life. I am now ? I am begging>>>>>>>>>>>>>> shirley shaw in Santa Mara Calif 93455

Posted by: shirley shaw at February 7, 2009 02:32 PM

Posted by: shirley shaw at February 7, 2009 02:33 PM

I am an In Home Care Provider for a beautiful 84 yr old woman who has many medical problems that are only compounded by her recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

She is not my mother, or my sister or my grandmother. We are not related...

But for $10.40 an hour I spend 10 hours a day with this sweet lady. I take care of her every need.

I bathe her, feed her, lay out her medicines, diaper her, give her oral hygiene, scrub her dentures, put them in and take them out. (yes, food sticks to them)

I completely change her bedding when she has an accident with her bowels that she can no longer control. I change her bed with her in it. (this is quit a feat that I have quit mastered, thank you)

She can no longer get out of bed. I turn her and reposition her every 2 hours to prevent bed sores from developing on her aged body.

On good days I lift her into her wheel chair and lift her back into bed. I talk to her when she is blue or feeling lonely. I read her scriptures to her when she needs a little pick-me-up. We have become very close.

The Lord says "We come to Love those that we serve". Never has that scripture been more true.

Despite the 30 year age difference, some days we laugh and giggle like girlfriends do, but just as many times we have cried together. Her road is long and her road is hard, but she has taught me way more then I could ever give back. She has taught me pride and dignity in dying. She has taught me to notice the smallest of Gods creations. She takes time to live, even though they say she is dying.

I put a cold rag on her head when the head aches get real bad, and I get a warm feeling in my heart when I am lucky enough to catch her with a quick smile on her face.

On those days, I remind myself that her dignity is still in tact, and maybe I have a small part in that.

CONCLUSION:

1. I either do this for $10.40 an hour because I am crazy.

2. Or I am doing this to save The State Of California The $55.000 it would cost to put my dear friend in a nursing home.

Only those who do this type of work, know that the answer is neither #1 or #2

Posted by: Constance McCaul at February 10, 2009 03:40 PM

from young nazi to republican is no big surprise, and i worry that the care i need is harder to get.
he doesn,t give a damn about the older and disabled. he hasn't a clue about our lives or the people who help us to stay in our homes.

Posted by: cathy l pryor at February 19, 2009 07:39 PM

A young natzi....now I understand, in the control of Hitler, the aged and disabled were the first to go.....VOTE NO TO HITLER

Posted by: lynn at April 18, 2009 03:57 PM

And now they have taken away the SSI cost of living raise from May forward and he plans to cut it another $20 a month by July. I am disabled and single with no kids. The total cuts to me equal $67 a month. That is 8% of my poverty level income ($870 a month come July). That is a lot of money to me. So much for Obamas $250 stimulus money I had coming...California got it.
And the social security online site is taking surveys on how you will spend the stimulus check. I said I would tag my 14 year old car which Schwarzenhager made to expensive for me to own it due to raising vehicle licensing fees.
So in reality, the state takes it twice in my case..1) take away my raise plus some 2) pay CA the money so my car is legal. I feel handcuffed!!

Posted by: Sharon at May 14, 2009 12:37 PM

Okay Arnie let's foreclose your home take away your huge pay check i see you have custom made suits and cars suvs and the latest hate to bring this up how about your wife Marie's dad who suffered with his illness would you have thrown him out in the darkness of trash think about where you came from THINK of your roots you were a nobody we made you what you are we gave you a big big break and above all you landed yourself right into THE KENNEDY"S FAMILY NICE MOVE GREAT THINKING...........YOUR MY HERO JERK!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Brandi at May 30, 2009 03:27 PM

Okay Everyone listen up we are REAL american's we have a large group of elderly their families also caregiver's in california we are planning to visit the movie star's home his real home not sacramento see what the movie star has to say about IHSS if he follows thur his cut's we will be dropping off the elderly the disabled and the sick right in his front yard since he is so wealthy let's share what we are all going thur because they screwed us royally we will have to fight this period so watch out Arnold mother's is coming to visit you in your celebrity home... Hope you have plenty of bed's and above all caregiver's to HELP OUT!!!! WOW you are heartless.. You never did have my vote and i seriously donot think you are fit for california..

Posted by: Will at May 30, 2009 04:04 PM

So you take from the elderly and brain damaged. I am diabetic, and my foot care, eye care and dental is a lot less than the hospital bills for complications prevented by that care. I drive a gas hog that is old and cheap to buy. I have a grandchild I am guardian of. You want to take money from tanf...so are you willing to take in all the children my kinship group struggles to keep out of foster homes? They cost a lot more than our homes do. You make it hard to protect abused chidren. I suppose my hip and knee surgery will be disapproved. My grandchild's father was killed by a nut with a gun. She gets a small ss check since he was not old enough to work a long time. We suffer in the heat with a tiny swamp cooler and the electric bill still chokes me. Are you also siding with obama with the idea that terminal and chonically ill patients are not cost effective and need to be cut off from health care? Will we be given a pain pill and told to go home and die quickly?

Posted by: mypc at June 20, 2009 12:04 PM

Posted by: mypc at June 20, 2009 12:06 PM

I think to help balance the state's budget that the governor should take away all of the perks that the state senators as well as those in the house not to mention the raises they continue to receive, which happens to include take away the free cars as well as no more free air fares not to mention no more free housing for them as well as deporting the illegal aliens, along with making everyone who has filed for bankruptacy to repay the money that they owe to their creditors.

Posted by: Wendie Sweetwood at June 29, 2009 07:29 PM

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