Victory for seniors: Calif. Adult Day Health Care center lawsuit resolved

Senior advocates had sued the state because of Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to shut down the ADHC program to save money.

San Francisco Chronicle: Settlement Saves Services For Disabled, Elderly 
Disabled, elderly and low-income adults got a huge win Thursday when the state agreed to preserve a version of Adult Day Health Care, a program helping to keep about 35,000 Californians out of nursing homes that was set to shut down Dec. 1. ... Those advocates sued over Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to wholly eliminate Adult Day Health Care in a bid to save the state about $170 million a year (Lagos, 11/18).

The Associated Press/Sacramento Bee: Calif. Health Centers For Seniors To Stay Open
Adult day health care centers throughout the state have wavered on the brink of extinction in recent months, as the state budget for the optional Medi-Cal program was repeatedly slashed and a legislative attempt to save it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown (Mohajer, 11/17).

Los Angeles Times: California Adult Day Healthcare Centers Get A Reprieve
The state, which faces a $3.7-billion revenue shortfall, had targeted the centers as part of a plan to reduce spending on Medi-Cal, the government health program for the poor and disabled. Adult day healthcare centers provide nursing care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, meals and exercise to people with serious disabilities, brain injuries and chronic illnesses (Gorman, 11/18).

HealthyCal: State Settles Suit Over Adult Day Health Care
[The settlement] requires the state to establish a new program called Community-Based Adult Services by February 29, 2012. Much like ADHC, the CBAS program will offer center-based skilled health and nursing care, therapy, transportation and other services. The state agreed to delay ADHC's demise from the planned termination date, Dec. 1, until Feb. 29 (Sample, 11/17). 

California Healthline: Lawsuit Settlement Ends Fight Over ADHC
Really, it's all about Esther Darling. The 74-year-old is the poster child for adult day health care services. She had a stroke, deals with diabetes and congestive heart failure, takes multiple medications and receives care and treatment at a day center in Yolo County. "If it wasn't for the [ADHC] therapy, I wouldn't be able to walk today," Darling said (Gorn, 11/18).