What is independent living in Saline County?
Living a self-directed life regardless of age or disability with the availability of personal care or other needed services to maintain personal autonomy.
Why is this issue important to the community at this time?
State and federal funding for frail elderly and personal care are frozen, but service demand is growing.
Frozen funding or reduction has resulted in the reduction of services for enrollees and long waiting lists for new services.
Increased demand for private pay personal care and homemaking services have caused clients to reduce the services that allow them to retain quality of live and remain independent.
Medicaid budget cuts affect all age groups and services. These cuts also target some services such as medication management resulting in inaccurate medication management leading to increased hospitalizations and long term care.
State and federal financial assisted services for the disabled are frozen.
Waiting lists for head injury care now at 3 to 4 months.
Demand for assistive technology/equipment and other community services for the disabled is increasing.
Medical transportation and Attendant Care for Section 8 housing affected.
What is causing this to happen?
The numbers of frail elderly and disabled are increasing.
Reduction in the most cost effective home based services created by state and federal funding cutbacks have created a major crisis.
Medicare qualification guidelines changed and now many do not qualify for Medicaid.
Lack of political power of the program recipients is an issue.
Who is most affected by this issue?
The disabled, elderly and low income of both genders county-wide are affected.
How is this issue being addressed in Salina and Saline County?
It is being insufficiently addressed only in terms of the local agencies/organizations trying to fill the gaps.
What are some of the opportunities and challenges presented by this issue?
Opportunities:
Services are in place
Commission on Aging, OCCK, Inc., and United Cerebral Palsy are local advocated for the affected population.
Challenges:
Inadequately funded services prevent the frail elderly and the disabled to live independently in the community.
Lack of a strong effective legislative advocacy voice to address the shortcomings of the current community-based care system.
Who are contact persons for community action on this issue?
Phyllis Anderson, OCCK, Inc. 785-827-9383
Tom Mulhern, Commission on Aging, 785-827-9818
David Jones, United Cerebral Palsy (UPC) 316-688-1888
