Home › Regions

Tennessee

Legislature Asked to Increase Funding for LTC

Wed, 05/24/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

State Representative John Arriola of Nashville made pleaded with his colleagues in the House to provide funding for a $35 million homeand community-care program to give the elderly an alternative to nursing homes. Tennessee has sunk to dead last in the nation in providing alternatives to nursing home care, Arriola said, and advocates for the elderly and disabled hope that dubious distinction pressures lawmakers to provide more funding for home- and community-based care. Mississippi, which had ranked last, started a $23 million program this year that expands home- and community-based care. The plan Arriola talked about would provide home- and community-based services to almost 6,000 people across the state. The funding is in jeopardy because of a tight budget.

State Representative John Arriola of Nashville made pleaded with his colleagues in the House to provide funding for a $35 million homeand community-care program to give the elderly an alternative to nursing homes. Tennessee has sunk to dead last in the nation in providing alternatives to nursing home care, Arriola said, and advocates for the elderly and disabled hope that dubious distinction pressures lawmakers to provide more funding for home- and community-based care. Mississippi, which had ranked last, started a $23 million program this year that expands home- and community-based care. The plan Arriola talked about would provide home- and community-based services to almost 6,000 people across the state. The funding is in jeopardy because of a tight budget.