Holding on: older Californians with disabilities rely on public services to remain independent

Holding on: older Californians with disabilities rely on public services to remain independent

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Policy note (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research)
Contributor(s):
Kietzman, Kathryn G.
Wallace, Steven P.
Durazo, Eva M.
Torres, Jacqueline M.
Choi, Anne Soon.
Benjamin, A.E. Ted
Mendez-Luck, Carolyn.
SCAN Foundation.
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Publication:
Los Angeles, Calif. : UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, [2011]
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Persons with Disabilities
Health Services for the Aged -- economics
Health Services for the Aged -- trends
Independent Living -- economics
Independent Living -- trends
Public Assistance -- economics
California
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Low-income older adults with disabilities in California depend on a variety of public programs to help them remain in their own homes. Last year's state budget reduced the amount of support provided by these programs, and the proposed 2011-12 budget reduces them further. This policy note provides the first findings from a study that is following a group of California seniors who depend on fragile arrangements of paid and unpaid help to maintain their independence. The analysis finds that the disability needs of these older adults are often unstable, with both their physical and mental health status sometimes changing day to day. Many of these older adults with disabilities have nowhere else to turn for assistance if their public services are cut. Interviews with people in this group have shown that they are commonly in poor physical and/or psychological condition and are just barely managing to live safely in their homes. At the same time, all of them share the common goal of remaining in their homes and maintaining their independence. Public services serve as a crucial link in the support networks of these individuals.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (8 pages)).
NLM Unique ID:
101595777 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101595777