Facing serious threats to the home care they depend on, a group of Chicago-area seniors from the Jane Addams Senior Caucus joined other seniors, people with disabilities, health care workers, child care providers and community advocates from the Campaign for Illinois’ Future in Springfield yesterday to lobby their legislators for a fair budget.
Medill News Services’ Jessica Harbin has more on the trip and the seniors’ concerns:
Close to 2,000 people gathered in Springfield Wednesday to protest the proposed healthcare funding cuts of the state’s 2010 budget. Among those gathered were older adults from the Jane Addams Senior Caucus.
Joe Curnow, the healthcare organizer for the caucus, described the day’s mission saying, “We need to say to the state government that this budget is broken, and that we need full funding for the community care program.”
Under the 2010 budget proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn, the Department on Aging and the Department of Human Services would be forced to make cuts to home care and child care programs.
Of particular concern to the members of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus is the possible loss of $40 million to the Department on Aging’s Community Care Program. This funding cut could lead to a drop in service and eligibility for the 51,000 seniors who depend on home care services statewide.
For people like Gene Horcher, 71, Wednesday’s fight was personal.
“These are folks that we know who are bright, capable seniors who’ve got a lot to add to their community,” Horcher said. “If they don’t have home care they’re going to be struggling to live.”
One caucus member present Wednesday is herself a recipient of state funded community care programs. Ruth Long, 83, has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, arthritis, and chronic bronchitis and laryngitis.
As a result of her medical conditions, Long depends on her caregiver to keep her house clean, run errands like picking up prescriptions and groceries, and even help her bathe.
While Long is not worried about losing her service, she still sees the need to fight. “I’m, from what they say, secure,” she said. “But I didn’t come here just for myself. There are 51,000 citizens in the state of Illinois that are dependent on this program, and I want the same thing for the rest of them that I want for myself.”
Members of the senior caucus met with several legislators during their visit asking for their support to maintain and expand funding for community care. State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), a member of the Healthcare Availability Access Committee and the Aging Committee, voiced his support for the needs of Jane Addams and says he is working to rally additional legislators to the cause.
Harris estimates there are currently 42 state representatives in support of the income tax increases needed to avoid programming cuts. The measure would need 60 votes to pass in the State House this month or a supermajority of 71 votes to pass after May 31.
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