California, COVID, & the Need for Community-Based Care
If this last year has taught us anything, it has shown us how essential caregiving is, and the deep vulnerability of populations living in long term care facilities. Covid-19 ravaged these facilities throughout the pandemic. In California, over 50,000 nursing home workers and over 60,000 residents (68% of occupied beds) were confirmed Covid-19 cases. The death toll related to long term care facilities in California is nearly 10,000. Despite the high risk for the spread of Covid-19 in these facilities, over 20% did not have basic access to a weekly supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), a rate that nearly doubles the national average.
While nursing homes have been the default for those with long-term care needs, advocates have worked to expand home and community based services. These services provide assistance for people with disabilities and seniors by providing support directly in their homes rather than forcing them into institutions or nursing homes. As part of his campaign, President Biden has proposed spending $400 billion to end waiting lists for home and community based programs and recent polling showed bi-partisan support from 72% of the population.
The need for community based care was laid bare by the Covid-19 pandemic, when the virus devastated nursing homes across California and the country. In addition to the support for more options to care for these populations, there was overwhelming support for raising Supplemental Security Income for the more than 8 million senior citizens and people with disabilities who have little or no income. Currently, SSI recipients receive $794 a month and in polling 77% of the population supported raising SSI payments to $1,073 per month. SSI payments also prohibit recipients from having more than $2,000 in assets at any time, 70% of the people polled supported raising the cap to $10,000 and 67% supported abolishing the asset cap all together.
The pandemic has made clear that long term care does not meet the needs of the country’s elderly and disabled populations. President Biden is calling for sweeping changes and with bi-partisan public support, we have the chance to provide the care individuals deserve in this country.
