Letter: Our seniors, disabled need this help

Family Care is a cost effective and successful program helping the elderly and disabled pay for care to keep them in their homes and avoid expensive nursing homes.   

The program was capped last year, but the federal government has ordered that the caps be lifted. So far the Wisconsin Legislature has not done that.

According to AARP, the people now on the waiting list for Family Care include more than one-quarter who are over age 85, and 121 are over 96 years old. Forty percent need help with three or more critical daily tasks, like preparing meals.

There are now bills to remove the caps waiting for review in the Assembly and the Senate, but no action is being taken on these bills.  

Please write and thank Senator Harsdorf for sponsoring the Senate bill, and also ask her now to press for a hearing on the bill.  

Please also write Representative Knudson and ask him to support the Assembly version of this bill and to press for a hearing ASAP.

Tags: opinion, letters, health, wisconsin