Elderly at risk of losing in-home services

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
According to Wyoming Department of Health data, 72 elderly people face a loss of services provided by Weston County Health Services In-Home Health Department if funding is not secured during the March legislative session, according to a press release from AARP Wyoming. 
In 2020, the Wyoming Home Services program provided 1,882 people statewide  with in-home services at an annual cost of $1,517 per person, or $211 a month. Funding for the program is in doubt. 
Maureen Cadwell, CEO of Weston County Health Services, said the facility was first made aware of possible cuts to the program in July of last year. 
“Later on, in September or October, we were notified that they were going to reduce the entire item out of the state budget,” Cadwell said. 
All four local legislators — Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Sundance; Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle; Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle; and Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower — confirmed that the program’s funds might be cut. All services provided by state funding are on the table for consideration, they said. 
“Yes — this is insight into the effects of budget cuts — there will be many more decisions like this in the near future. This specific cut will be subject to much hot debate and many budget amendments,” Driskill told the News Letter Journal in an email. “This is just a glimpse into our future. Sad — but tough decisions
must be made. At this time what we are doing is using cuts to our seniors to fund education. Push has come to shove.” 
Hunt reported that while he hasn’t looked into the estimated impact on senior citizens in the state, he would hope that this particular issue is far down the list of priorities when it comes to what is cut from the budget. 
“There are several weeks of session left, so it’s not yet certain what the final budget will look like,” he said. 
Steinmetz said that the cuts are in Gov. Mark Gordon’s recommended reductions in his overall budget proposal. The Legislature is slated to review and debate the budget beginning in March during a month long session. 
Cadwell said that a cut to the program could end up costing the state more money in the long run. She said that although people will likely be able to stay in their homes for some time, their need to be in a full-time assisted living facility could come sooner. 
“Over time, they will probably end up in a nursing home sooner than if they were able
to stay in their homes with help. We are going to be offering a minimal service if people can afford it, but we will have
to increase the rates,” Cadwell said. “That is the biggest
thing — what they will be able to afford. If they can’t, they will probably be going to a nursing home.”
And this transition will cost the state more money, Cadwell said. 
“Currently, they are paying minimal amounts for in-home services because of their income. That means they will qualify for Medicaid, and the state will be paying much more for them to stay in a nursing home,” Cadwell said. “This budget cut is $87,000 for us (WCHS). That wouldn’t even pay for one person to be in the nursing home for a year.” 
According to Home Health Services Director Carmen Allison, in-home health services cost $200-$300 a month, while fees for a nursing home can reach $8,000 a month. 
The other issue is the potential lack of space for these individuals in long-term care facilities, said Kelly Page, the in-home services manager. 
Page said that certified CNAs provide various in-home services to people through the program. The aid provided ranges from help with bathing to running errands and helping with household duties, allowing them to remain in their homes as long as possible. 
“We can honestly say that for some of these folks, CNAs save lives,” Page said. “If it wasn’t for them, some of these people wouldn’t make it.” 
Cadwell added that the services are about giving people a better quality of life. 
“It is very unfortunate with the reductions of this funding that we can’t continue to help them at the rate they were paying before. Without these state funds, we are basically telling them we can’t help them and that they will probably end up in a nursing home,” Cadwell said. “It is beyond my thoughts how this can happen to these folks. This is about their quality of life. It is something these people want, to stay in their homes.”
“They have earned this, they have worked their whole lives,” Allison said. “This is our community, and we are supposed to take care of them, but we can’t.” 
The Legislature is slated to debate funding for the Wyoming Home Services program, and the state budget as a whole beginning March 8, according to the AARP release.