AMENDED
IN SENATE
SENIOR
SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 6
INTRODUCED
BY SENATOR HOPKINS
LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SP
6: PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SYSTEMS.
UNDER
EXISTING LAW, VARIOUS IN-HOME SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE AGED, BLIND, AND
DISABLED PERSONS, ENABLING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AMD AVOID
INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
THIS
MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO CONDUCT A SURVEY TO ASSESS THE
NEEDS OF ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS WHO LIVE ALONE FOR IN-HOME PERSONAL
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS, WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSESS
THE NEED FOR THOSE SYSTEMS, AND WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF THOSE
SYSTEMS.
VOTE:
MAJORITY.
SP 6:
RELATING TO PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS
WHEREAS,
IM MAINTAINING ONE'S QUALITY OF LIFE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS RELEVANT
TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS IS THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY; AND
WHEREAS,
FOR THOSE PERSONS LIVING ALONE, BECOMING INCAPACITATED AND UNABLE TO SUMMON
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS A COMMON EVENT AND TENDS TO MARK THE END OF THEIR
ABILITY TO LIVE ON AH INDEPENDENT BASIS; AND
WHEREAS,
AN INABILITY TO SUMMON EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ALSO RESULTS IN THE UTILIZATION OF
MORE EXPENSIVE EMERGENCY AMD HEALTH CARE SERVICES, DUE TO THE GREATER EXTENT OF
PHYSICAL INJURY THAT TENDS TO RESULT FROM A LACK OF IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE; AND
WHEREAS,
BETWEEN 3 AND 5 PERCENT OF PERSONS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE ARE ADMITTED TO A
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY EACH YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY, FOR WHICH THE COST TO EACH
INDIVIDUAL CAN RANGE UPWARDS OF $50,000 EACH YEAR; AND
WHEREAS,
THESE PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC, AND EMOTIONAL COSTS MAY BE PREVENTED BY PROVIDING
PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS WHO LIVE
ALONE; AND
WHEREAS,
PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS CONSIST OF VARIOUS NECKLACES OR PENDANTS,
AND A CALL BUTTON ATTACHED TO ONE'S TELEPHONE UNIT, ALLOWING AN INDIVIDUAL IN AM
EMERGENCY SITUATION TO TRIGGER A QUICK RESPONSE FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES, THUS
DETERRING GREATER PHYSICAL INJURY, AND AVOIDING INCREASED HEALTH CARE COSTS AND
NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS; AND
WHEREAS,
FOR INSTANCE, THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE REPORTED A SUBSTANTIAL
REDUCTION IN HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND INPATIENT DAYS AFTER ONE YEAR OF
SUBSCRIPTION TO PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS; AND
WHEREAS,
CURRENTLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING PROVIDES PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS
ON A LIMITED BASIS THROUGH THE MULTIPURPOSE SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM (MSSP),
HOWEVER, MSSP FUNDS ARE LIMITED, DUE TO THE MANY OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED
STATEWIDE BY THE MSSP; AND
WHEREAS,
REALISTICALLY, AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEED OF A PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM IS
FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF INSTALLATION AND MONTHLY RENTAL FEES, ADDITIONAL
EXPENSES OF WHICH A FIXED BUDGET CANNOT ABSORB; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED,
BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2002 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING, BY
A CERTAIN DATE, CONDUCT A SURVEY TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY AND DISABLED
PERSONS WHO LIVE ALONE FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS; AND BE IT
FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO ESTABLISH A
PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS IN
THREE VARYING POPULATION DENSITY AREAS OF THE STATE, INCLUDING RURAL AND URBAN
AREAS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING FOR THE PURCHASE
AND INSTALLATION OF PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS
UNABLE TO AFFORD THE RENTAL OF A SYSTEM; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED,
THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
RESOLVED,
THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE
SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
RN0214641
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