IMPACT OF PROPOSED CHOICES FOR CARE CUTS ON RECIPIENTS
Source: VNA of Chittenden & Grand Isle Counties Case Managers/Social Worker
One case manager has a CFC client who has mental health concerns and memory impairments. He lives alone with no local family and no involved neighbors. His VNA personal caregiver is his only daily support. The current caregivers utilize his full time allotment under the program w/ ADL/IADL/companionship hrs. It is the combination of these hours that keep him in his home. If his care plan was suddenly decreased due to cuts in IADL time/companionship hrs- he would not have the supervision/physical assistance he needs to stay in a community based setting.
Another CFC case manager has a client who also lives alone in senior housing with no local family. Her neighbors are other older, often frail adults who are not able to assist her. She is very weak, at risk of falls and is often confused. She utilizes her full ADL/IADL/companionship hours. If her IADL/companionship hours were suddenly cut, she would be at risks of nursing home placement because she is not able to participate in her care at all.
Other general feedback….
There are other CFC clients who live in rural areas where the nearest laundry mat and grocery store may be 20 plus minutes away. How can a caregiver possibly do laundry/cleaning/shopping in just 2 hours/wk when there are very real travel time constrictions?
While I know CFC services are not meant to be an employment program for family members, it does allow many family members to remain at home to care for their loved one. Many of these family caregivers struggle to make ends meet even under the current approved hours for ADL/IADL/companionship services. If the CFC participant had a cut in hours for IADL/companionship services- I bet many of these family members would be forced to find work outside the home. If this is the case, the individual may not be able to stay at home safely if they require assistance above and beyond what CFC already pays for (ex. 24/7 supervision). It may also mean that some services plans change from consumer/surrogate directed care (w/ family hired) to agency directed care when the family member has to find work outside the home. This change would not only impact the client is terms of having an agency caregiver they may not feel as comfortable with- but it would also costs the state quite a bit more if suddenly CFC participants start changing from consumer/surrogate directed plans to agency directed b/c their caregivers can not longer support themselves on the limited caregiver income they already get!
