With several key senior programs facing drastic cuts, those who work with this population say the new California state budget gives a new spin to the term "elder abuse."
Programs that provide food for seniors, and also help keep them in their own homes are slated to be gutted by Oct. 1, according to Steven Peck, an elder law attorney located in Van Nuys, California.
In signing the 2009-10 budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated nearly $10 million for senior programs statewide, thereby crippling services for millions of seniors, says Peck. "I would call it a crisis," says Peck,
The new California state budget sends a message that seniors are not valued and also gives a new definition to the term "elder abuse,"
All California counties were bracing for the big budget reductions, and are now totally unprepared to deal with loss of all the funding for the elder abuse programs.
"These are very significant cuts" and come at a time when the elder community is seeing a greater demand for services as a result of epidemic elder abuse.
Also targeted are Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Centers (ADCRC), which provide day care for those with Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia who can't be served by other programs.
Last year these centers provided tens of thousands of days of care for thousands of elders abused in California.
Efforts are under way to have local food banks pick up those services so that elders continue to get food regularly.
For more details concerning elder law, elder abuse, and neglect contact Steven Peck toll free at (866) 999-9085, or go to www.premierlegal.org
