SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 3
INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER BORENSTEIN
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AP 3: THE AGING IN PLACE ACT.
EXISTING LAW PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS, WHICH ARE OVERSEEN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROGRAMS, TO ASSIST THEM IN LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF BEING PLACED IN A FACILITY.
THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE AGING IN PLACE ACT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUPPORTING, FUNDING, EDUCATING, ADVOCATING FOR, AND PROMOTING HEALTHY AGING IN AGING-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES.
VOTE: MAJORITY.
AP 3: RELATING TO THE AGING IN PLACE ACT
WHEREAS, AN AGING-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY VALUES THE ELDERLY, KEEPS THE ELDERLY INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, AND ALLOWS SENIORS TO “AGE IN PLACE” WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE; AND
WHEREAS, ALL AMERICANS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS, SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE AT HOME WITH THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED, PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITIES THAT VALUE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, RATHER THAN IN NURSING HOMES OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS; AND
WHEREAS, TODAY, WITH THE CREATION OF THE NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING (ACL), THIS COMMITMENT IS REINFORCED BY BRINGING TOGETHER KEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICES DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE WITH FUNCTIONAL NEEDS INTO ONE COORDINATED, FOCUSED, AND STRONGER ENTITY; AND
WHEREAS, THE ACL WILL BRING TOGETHER THE EFFORTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ON AGING, THE FEDERAL OFFICE ON DISABILITY, AND THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN A SINGLE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCREASING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND ACHIEVING FULL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS; AND
WHEREAS, THE ACL WILL SEEK TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THE BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORTS THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY NEED TO LIVE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AS FULL MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE SUPPORT NEEDS GO WELL BEYOND HEALTH CARE AND INCLUDE THE AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION; AND
WHEREAS, THE AVERAGE 65-YEAR-OLD PERSON CAN EXPECT TO LIVE AN ADDITIONAL 18.6 YEARS, AND EVERY 24 HOURS FOR THE NEXT 19 YEARS, AN AVERAGE OF 100,000 BABY BOOMERS WILL TURN 65. BY THE YEAR 2030, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER IS EXPECTED TO REACH 72,000,000, REPRESENTING A 78 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE YEAR 2010; AND
WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA IS BEGINNING THE SHIFT TO MANAGED CARE FOR “DUAL ELIGIBLES” FOR REASONS OF COORDINATION OF SERVICES, WHICH, ACCORDING TO SOME EXPERTS, MAY RESULT IN KEEPING MORE PATIENTS IN THEIR HOMES, REDUCING DUPLICATION OF TESTS, AND HELPING TO AVOID UNNECESSARY TRIPS TO NURSING HOMES AND EMERGENCY ROOMS; AND
WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING HAS IDENTIFIED SENIOR PROGRAM CUTS AS ONE OF ITS TOP SIX POLICY ISSUES FOR 2012. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING, BUDGET CUTS OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE MOST VULNERABLE OLDER ADULTS WITH MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN HOUSING, ENERGY, AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FUNDING CUTS, A RAPIDLY GROWING SENIOR POPULATION, AND INCREASED DEMAND FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE MEANS THAT MILLIONS OF OLDER ADULTS WILL NOT GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO MAKE ENDS MEET. FUNDING FOR SENIOR PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN JEOPARDY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; AND
WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, 70 PERCENT OF SENIORS SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 65TH BIRTHDAYS. MORE THAN 89 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 50 WANT TO REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOMES AS THEY AGE, AS DO 95 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 80; AND
WHEREAS, THERE IS A GROWING AWARENESS THAT AGING IN PLACE PROVIDES MORE EFFECTIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AT MORE REASONABLE COSTS. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, VILLAGES, NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, IN-HOME HEALTH CARE, PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE, COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH SERVICES, ALTERNATIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, SENIOR MULTIPURPOSE CENTERS, EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS, ELDER ABUSE EDUCATION, AND MEALS ON WHEELS ARE NEEDED TO ENHANCE SENIORS’ QUALITY OF LIFE; AND
WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, SENIORS WHO MAINTAIN ACTIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY MAY DECREASE THEIR RISK OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION BY ALMOST ONE-HALF; AND
WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR HOUSING CASE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE CATHEDRAL SQUARE CORPORATION, THERE IS A NEED TO WORK ACROSS THE TRADITIONAL SILOS THAT DIVIDE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE AGING IN PLACE ACT BE ADOPTED TO SUPPORT, FUND, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE FOR, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING IN AGING-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMPLEX TAPESTRY OF SUPPORT AND SERVICES THAT ALLOW SENIORS TO AGE IN THEIR OWN HOMES WITH DIGNITY AND AS MUCH INDEPENDENCE AS POSSIBLE TO LIVE FULFILLING AND JOYFUL LIVES; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT THE AGING IN PLACE ACT ALIGNS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S NEWLY CREATED ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT THE AGING IN PLACE ACT BE THE FRAMEWORK TO ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF LEGISLATION AND BUDGETS THAT IMPACT THE ELDERLY; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT ALL ENTITIES CONNECTED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED, ACCESSIBLE, AND LINKED ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES TO MEET THE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, RECREATIONAL, HEALTH AND MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, CULTURAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, LEGAL, AND FINANCIAL NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FOUNDATIONS, AND PHILANTHROPISTS BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE 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 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
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RN 12 15850