«Caregivers for frail elders and people living with disabilities in Washington are concerned about the potential effects of more than a billion dollars in cuts to the state’s long-term care services.
To fill part of the shortfall caused by COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed cutting long-term care services by $1.1 billion for the 2021 through 2023 budget.
Vicki Bickford is an in-home caregiver with Service Employees International Union Local 775. She said her client already needs around-the-clock care, and could suffer under these cuts.
‘He doesn’t actually get authorized for the amount of care that he needs,’ said Bickford. ‘He shouldn’t be left alone. He can no longer get up or sit down without help – and he can’t, basically, do any functions that involve him getting out of bed without help.’”
