Seniors, Disabled Protest In-Home Care Cuts in San Joaquin County
On Tuesday, seniors and disabled residents of San Joaquin County attended a Board of Supervisors meeting to protest forthcoming changes to the county's in-home care program, the Stockton Record reports (Johnson, Stockton Record, 8/4).
Budget Cuts Spark Service Changes
Currently, eligible residents receive in-home care services either from the county or through Addus HealthCare, a private company contracted by the county (Farrow, Lodi News-Sentinel, 8/4).
However, the county is allowing its contract with Addus to expire in September as part of its budget plan for the new fiscal year that began in July. The new budget includes a $6.7 million funding decrease for the county's In-Home Supportive Services program.
Addus currently serves about 300 residents (Stockton Record, 8/4). After September, those residents will receive services through the county, according to Joe Chelli, director of San Joaquin County's Human Services Agency (Lodi News-Sentinel, 8/4).
Concerns
Some residents and Addus employees expressed concern that quality of care will suffer after the county's contract expires.
However, Chelli said that Addus care providers can continue to serve the same clients if they transfer to the county agency. According to Addus employees, caregivers who make the switch would receive less in wages and benefits (Stockton Record, 8/4).
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