AMENDED IN SENATE OCTOBER 22, 2002

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 CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

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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