This week, the Massachusetts House released a budget proposal that “includes steep cuts in nearly every area” (“House budget cuts local aid, avoids tax hikes,” The Boston Globe, April 15), including serious cuts to home care.

In an email to members of the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aide Services, Lisa Gurgone, the organization’s executive director, addressed the proposed cuts:

If this funding cut is not reversed, it will force caseloads in the basic home care program to drop from an average of 32,126 in FY 2009 to 27,744 in FY 2010. That’s a cut of 4,382 elders per month, average, from the current home care program. This cut will not only be devastating to elders in need of services, but will also directly impact home care aides who will see their working hours and paychecks reduced as client services are significantly scaled back.

Rep. Alice Wolf, D-Cambridge, MA

On April 17, Rep. Alice Wolf (D-Cambridge), Chair of the House Committee on Elder Affairs, will file an amendment to the state’s FY10 House budget proposal to restore $13.8 million to the Home Care Purchased Services account.

Bay State residents are being encouraged by the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aide Services to support the Wolf Home Care Amendment by contacting their Representative.

“The current budget climate in Massachusetts is challenging,” says PHI Massachusetts State Director Amy Robins.  “PHI is working closely with its partners to advocate for funding that ensures that seniors and disabled individuals in the Commonwealth maintain access to care.  We are also looking to the stimulus funds to help the state develop a viable long-term care workforce strategy so that those who need care in the future have trained caregivers.”