ADOPTED - JANUARY 25, 2000

Agenda Item No. 27

Introduced by the Human Services Committee of the :

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT HOME: HOMECARE OPTIONS FOR MICHIGAN'S ELDERS

RESOLUTION #00-007

WHEREAS, assisting older adults to live with dignity and independence is the overriding purpose of the Older Americans Act and the Older Michiganians Act; and

WHEREAS, older adults prefer to stay in their own homes as long as possible, and this can be achieved by providing and coordinating a variety of supportive services; and

WHEREAS, for individuals who are not Medicaid-eligible, the current level of funding available for such services is woefully inadequate; and

WHEREAS, seniors who have adequate income can afford to purchase the services but need assistance with resource counseling and guidance to avoid depleting their resources more quickly than is necessary; and

WHEREAS, frail seniors with moderate income should have access to essential services on a cost-sharing basis; and

WHEREAS, the average cost of nursing home care is in excess of $40,000 per year while the cost of services provided in the home is estimated at less than $2,000 per year; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of this savings to the Medicaid budget, other nearby states devote substantial levels of funding to support in-home services to assist older persons.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners supports the expansion of services to assist the growing number of frail elderly people to remain in their own homes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our citizens request Governor Engler and the Michigan Legislature to implement a phase-in appropriation plan to provide substantial incremental funding increases of $33 million per year for each of the next three years to support Homecare Options for Michigan's Elders (HOME).

HUMAN SERVICES: The Human Services Committee will meet on 1/24/00