Advocacy, Inc. used to receive federal and state money to run
its programs, but under the current budget, state funding has been
dropped. The group now relies on federal and local funding as well
as private and foundation donations.
HOLLISTER
With the budget being signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, many local seniors living in assisted residential care and skilled nurses facilities could be less represented when they encounter abuse at the home.
Kathleen Johnson, executive director of Advocacy, Inc., is trying to make sure senior citizens in homes continue to have a voice through ombudsmen programs funded at several levels – since the state’s share recently was dropped.
“They do not have a supportive voice or advocate to work for them,” said Thompson, adding that she’s doing everything possible to make sure there are ombudsmen available for abuse reports.
Advocacy, Inc. is a non-profit organization that runs ombudsmen programs that report abuses in residential care facilities and skilled nurses facilities. This group is in charge of overseeing long-term care facilities in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. The two counties combined have nearly 2,500 seniors and persons with disabilities. San Benito County has five residential care facilities and two skilled nursing facilities.
Advocacy, Inc. used to receive federal and state money to run its programs, but under the current budget, state funding has been dropped. The group now relies on federal and local funding as well as private and foundation donations. Thirty-four other ombudsmen programs statewide are affected by the cuts, but still receive federal funds.
Johnson is concerned because senior citizen abuse in care facilities is occurring at a troubling rate, she contended. Johnson said she has seen quite a few cases of abuse, all differing in severity. Some are verbal, to seniors or their family, and some have gotten into being physical as well – including inadequate wound care, not receiving medications and dehydration. Financial abuses also are reported. And there are “around 800 complaints regarding rights violations and quality of care … any number of categories,” said Johnson.
Other county programs that deal with senior citizens took cuts to their budgets, but once a person is living inside a care facility, the ombudsmen program is the only one that offers rights protection.
“All of the other services out in the community, that are meant to keep seniors citizens independent and active, cease when they are put in assisted living,” Johnson said.
For an expanded version of this story, see Friday’s Free Lance.
