ElderWeb

California Governor Gray Davis signed the state's 2000 budget, which includes $270 million for programs which target the elderly and disabled. Among other things, the budget includes:

$319.9 million to help elderly persons remain at home and lead independent lives and to improve the quality of nursing home and in-home care. Approximately 52,800 more low-income seniors will receive no-cost Medi-Cal, so they can spend less of their resources on health care costs and better afford to remain at home. Nursing home workers funded by Medi-Cal will receive wage and benefit increases. Increased oversight and incentives will improve the quality of nursing home care.
$221.6 million to further supplement the Aging With Dignity Initiative by improving the quality of provider services and strengthening provider recruitment and retention.

The Department of Aging will over see some of this spending, including:

$14.8 million for one-time challenge grants to fund innovative models that provide more options to seniors and younger, functionally impaired adults in need of long-term care assistance to remain in their own homes and communities.

$1 million to establish a Senior Housing Information and Support Center to provide information to seniors and their families concerning home modification and assisted technology alternatives that will allow seniors to live more independently or with their families.

$1 million for a statewide Senior Wellness Education Campaign to educate seniors, their families, and health professionals on healthy aging practices, with information about community-based and in-home care alternatives to institutional care.

$1.3 million in funding for the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) to increase the state-funded portion of this program to more than $4.7 million.