Supporting seniors at home is not just a senior issue, it’s an inter-generational one.
As a college student —and family caregiver for my grandmother— I am deeply concerned about the governor’s budget cuts that make it harder for older adults to age with dignity at home.
Senior safety net programs, like the CT Home Care Program for Elders, are not just good for seniors, they are also crucial for the inter-generational family support system that helps seniors stay out of nursing homes.
Unfortunately, Gov. Dannel Malloy’s budget would force seniors onto long waiting lists to get access to care at home, and add financial and emotional strain to family caregivers of all ages.
Let’s reject cuts that could force our older relatives from their home and protect the CT Home Care Program for Elders. This program provides health, nutrition and supportive services for fragile seniors living in the community. It also offers much needed relief to stressed out family caregivers.
So as a millennial caregiver, I urge the legislature to reject the governor’s home care cut.
Jessica Floyd is a student at the University of Hartford.