There are so few affordable day program options for families across California. In fact, in 32 counties Medi-Cal recipients have no access to programs like these, according to the California Association of Adult Day Services.
We have the absolute best possible scenario: three committed family caregivers and one professional, as well as research acuity and the financial resources to make sure we can honor my dad in these last months of his life.
The proposals that have surfaced during the first few weeks of the Trump administration threaten to make this already bad situation even worse for families whose financial picture doesn’t look like ours — the majority of American families caring for an elder with dementia who are totally dependent on Medicaid.
One likely proposal will be Medicaid work requirements, which may sound innocent enough, but as Justice in Aging explains: “Though most people targeted by work requirements should remain eligible, the red tape alone will take away coverage from people who are already working, older adults who are retired or have difficulty finding work, people with disabilities, and family caregivers. Moreover, resources spent on implementing these bureaucratic hurdles will delay access to critical health, financial, and food support for everyone.”
