Moore: Expedite Approval Process For Senior Home Care Program

From Democratic State Senate candidate Marilyn Moore who faces Republican Rick Costantini in November:

State Senate candidate Marilyn Moore announced today that she will issue a call to action to expedite the time it takes the state to qualify senior citizens for Connecticut’s Home Care Program that offers quality of life services for the elderly to keep them in their homes so they’re not forced into the staggering cost of state nursing homes.

Current program rules require senior citizen applicants to wait at least 45 days, but some candidates wait even longer to receive approval for assisted-living services administered through the Department of Social Services.

“The home care program is invaluable for thousands of seniors without the back-breaking associated costs of going into a nursing home,” says Moore. “I will urge legislative peers, the Department of Social Services and service provides to streamline the approval process, even if it takes a legislative fix. It’s a burden on the elderly to wait so long for services.”

The Connecticut Home Care Program is not a Medicare provider. It offers services to Connecticut residents 65 years of age and older who do not qualify for Medicare but also do not have the resources to finance in-home care needs. Under the program, seniors pay seven percent monthly co-pay based on service needs that include house-keeping, medical, transportation, cooking and meal delivery, and emergency response system.

“Connecticut offers this outstanding program,” says Moore. “We must do a better job educating the public about the services offered and streamlining the approval process so participants live in dignity without the threat of a nursing home.”

Moore is the Democratic nominee for Connecticut’s 22nd State Senate District that includes all of Trumbull and portions of Bridgeport and Monroe.

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6 comments

  1. I am confused a bit about who penned the message above. Lennie? Marilyn? Governor Malloy?

    In any case when I see a statement like the following, “The Connecticut Home Care Program is not a Medicare provider. It offers services to Connecticut residents 65 years of age and older who do not qualify for Medicare but also do not have the resources to finance in-home care needs.” I become concerned. It feels very misleading.

    In the first place, almost all folks over 65 ‘qualify for Medicare’ although some continue to work and keep their group insurance primary or are covered by an employed spouse currently. (Medicare can covers some folks under 65 but that is another subject.)

    A description of the plan you can source is:
    www .ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305170

    Confusion may come about because Medicare benefits do not include home care for the elderly. A State supported plan like Medicaid does pay for long-term care but the requirements to qualify are serious and have nothing to do with whether you are covered by Medicare or not.

    Frankly, with pictures of Jack Hennessy running unopposed but presumably a standard bearer for legislation that would cause City Council members to become employed other than the City, or become former City Council members, I would like to see a statement from each of the candidates for State Senate running to replace Anthony Musto as to their position on this issue. Am I the only person concerned with that CT statute-driven municipal issue? Time will tell.

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    1. John,
      Marilyn has been straightforward and direct in her support to eliminate city employees from the City Council. Not sure where you have been for the past six months.
      And since her opponent is a Republican and there is only one Republican on the council and he is not a city employee I am going to guess he will have no problem banning Democratic city employees from the City Council.
      So what’s your point? The proposal will pick up one more supporter no matter who gets elected.

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      1. Bob,
        I looked for a statement on the OIB Marilyn Moore site. I did not find that.
        I brought in a check to Marilyn early in her primary campaign. Perhaps you were busy that night. I also spent five hours at Winthrop and greeted Marilyn at the school when she stopped by. And her sign was the first to go up in my yard for the election.
        A straightforward answer to the question I ask of each of the candidates, instead of some deflecting answer from you, wondering “where I have been for the past six months” is in order, I suggest and it would stand out among the bevvy of Kodak moments, some of which show smiling folks who favor the status quo of City employment + City Council seat.

        It’s not up to Enrique or Rick Torres to back Hennessy in Hartford. It is up to the person who will hold the former Musto seat in the new legislative session. Just asking? Is that a problem? Time will tell.

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  2. The senior vote is very important now. How about expediting drivers licenses for illegals and the minimum wage if they were such great ideas and necessary before and after those laws were approved?

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  3. Marilyn Moore’s opponent has also committed to supporting legislation to, as some say, close a loophole so city employees cannot serve on the city council.

    The question is, will either support legislation that would grandfather current members of the city council who are city employees?

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