Senate Report Urges Calif. To Overhaul Long-Term Care System
California's long-term care system for elderly residents needs to overhauled, according to a recent state Senate report, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reports (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 1/15).
Details of Report
The report, titled, "A Shattered System: Reforming Long-Term Care in California," was issued by the state Senate Select Committee on Aging and Long Term Care, which includes:
- Sen. Carol Liu (D-Glendale);
- Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose); and
- Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) (Select Committee on Aging and Long Term Care report, 1/15).
According to the report, long-term care is provided to about five million Californians through 112 different programs and 20 state departments. The report calls on the state to consolidate that "shattered" system of long-term care services.
Liu said the report highlights programs among which there is "duplication" and encourages the state to reform such programs so that resources can be shifted to "fi[t] the needs of more people, as opposed to letting some of these programs just exist because they've existed for a long period of time."
In addition, the report calls on the state to:
- Improve workforce development; and
- Train additional long-term care workers ("KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 1/15).