Adults Over 65--The Trends Are Against Them

As Federal and State spending decisions are made in light of current economic conditions, we see evidence of a trend -- Seniors, particularly those over 65, will bear the brunt of some of the harshest budget cuts.

Consider recent revelations:

States across the country are considering reducing, or ending entirely, funding that helps the elderly pay for prescription drugs. (msnbc.com; May 27, 2009: States consider cutting drug help for seniors). Among the massive budget cuts proposed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, many will dramatically impact the lives of Californians over 65, such as:

1. elimination of the Multipurpose Senior Services Program.
2. elimination of senior Community-Based Services programs.
3. elimination of Medi-Cal coverage for breast and cervical cancer treatment for women over 65 years, and,
4. elimination of state funding for the Community Care Licensing program

My initial reaction after reviewing the Governor’s proposed cuts have to do with the Medi-Cal cuts for women over 65 with breast and cervical cancer treatment. This seems especially cruel to older women and makes one ask why Prostate cancer was not included?

Are we as a society ready to put our Seniors out to pasture? This is especially relevant, considering this age group is one of the fastest growing in America.

The Los Angeles times reported on the budget cuts with just a small mention of Senior issues, saying:

"The state could save $34 million by ending, among other services, treatment for breast and cervical cancer for illegal immigrants and women older than 65."

The other question is…who speaks for those effected by these cuts? Their home health care workers have a union to plead their case…but in general who will take to the streets, write their legislators, and flood Sacramento email boxes to protest financial cuts for California's senior population? The Times article continues:

"Outside the Capitol, activists from the Service Employees International Union began their vigil to protest the governor's proposal to further reduce, to $8 an hour, salaries for workers caring for the elderly and disabled in their homes. The effect would be less care and the loss of federal matching funds, the protesters said.

"We're all trying to adjust to the recession, but cutting funds should not be the alternative at the expense of senior citizens' lives and other disadvantaged people," said Ellen Rollins, a home care worker from Santa Clara County.

The union sued the governor in U.S. District Court to block the wage cuts, saying that they would violate various provisions of federal law by discriminating against the elderly and disabled.

Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, said the suit illustrates "how difficult it is to balance the budget when interest groups are willing to sue us to protect their piece of the status quo."

How will adults over 65 protect their well-earned piece of the status quo? The trends don't look good.