Cost of Care Health Reform Healthcare Industry Long-Term Care 

State health cuts threaten federal health initiatives

Partner: 
San Jose Mercury News
Summary: 

One of the most important principles of federal health reform is that more health services must be delivered outside of hospitals and nursing homes. The federal government is providing billions of dollars to encourage state and local governments to achieve that aim. Simultaneously, though, cash-strapped state and local governments are slashing programs like Adult Day Health Care that are critical pieces of this initiative. The result? In some cases, people are being forced back into institutional care.

Results
State cuts undermine health reform initiatives
Emily Bazar, CHCF Center for Health Reporting | May 1, 2011
At any given moment, seniors at Grace Adult Day Health Care Center in Sunnyvale may be exercising on stationary bikes, gabbing over lunch, playing word games or bending over an intense chess match. This day care center for the old and infirm is the kind of place that health care experts say is critical to keeping the elderly in their communities and out of costly nursing homes. Yet with state lawmakers slashing funding for such centers’ programs by more than half, co-owners Manooch and Suzanne Pouransari are now facing the prospect of closing their doors. And the ultimate irony? The Pouransaris are considering opening a nursing home.
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Results
For seniors, a link to the outside world
Emily Bazar, CHCF Center for Health Reporting | May 1, 2011
Walking through the Grace Adult Day Health Care Center in Sunnyvale conjures a linguistic feast for the ears of English and Spanish, some Chinese and occasionally Arabic. But the most common tongue among participants is Farsi, the Persian language. Although Grace caters to a diversity of participants, the large number of Iranian Americans provides a place for seniors built on strong cultural bonds. "It’s the only resource for aging Persians in this community," said co-owner Suzanne Pouransari.  "A lot of families rely on us." She opened the center with her husband Manooch Pouransari eight years ago. About 220 people are registered, and about 135 attend daily. All struggle with various medical and cognitive problems, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s disease.
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Results
BLOG: Bittersweet goodbye at Sonora adult day health center
Emily Bazar, CHCF Center for Health Reporting | May 2, 2011
The Sierra LifeNet Adult Day Health Center hosted a bittersweet graduation ceremony Friday. The Sonora program celebrated the strides made by its 59 participants in their time at the center, and then wished them well and closed its doors – for good. The center, which offered a community-based alternative to nursing homes, is a casualty of state budget cuts. California lawmakers voted in March to eliminate the adult day health care program. They also called for the creation of a replacement program with half the funding to serve people with more acute medical needs.
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