Volunteers of America Urges Members of Congress to Include the CLASS Act and its Provisions for Long-Term Care Funding as Part of Health Care Reform Legislation
For Immediate Release:
July 8, 2009
Contact: David Burch
703-341-5054 or dburch@voa.org
Alexandria, Va. – Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s leading providers of housing and services for seniors, today applauded efforts in the Senate to provide funding for long-term care for older Americans, and urged all members of Congress to include these critical and much-needed provisions as part of any health care reform legislation.
On Tuesday, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted unanimously to include the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act in their portion of the health care reform legislation. The CLASS Act, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), would create a publicly-driven financing plan with premiums that would provide cash benefits to pay for long-term care services.
Volunteers of America, an early supporter of the CLASS Act, has been actively involved in working with both Senator Kennedy’s staff and other key organization to advocate for the need to include long-term care services and supports for everyone as part of health care reform.
Volunteers of America National President Charles W. Gould said, “For vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities or chronically ill seniors, long-term care services are critical to promoting health and preventing illness. Accessing these services, especially at home, has become one of the greatest barriers affecting the quality of life for older Americans. Long-term care can cost up to $70,000 a year, but most people don’t plan for it.”
“I believe the CLASS Act is one solution that shows promise in fixing the current long-term care system,” Gould said. “It is a modest investment over time, but we must plan and put money aside now. We are never going to be able to fund long-term care if we wait until we need it.”
While the CLASS Act passed a significant hurdle in the HELP Committee, it still must be included in the final health care reform legislation to be voted on by the full Senate later this year.
In preparation for the upcoming and unprecedented growth in the senior population, Volunteers of America has made a strategic decision to focus more directly on the needs of older people and those who support them. Called Aging with OptionsTM, this initiative aims to transform the current senior care system by providing people with guidance and control over their care, and allow older Americans the freedom to receive care while living longer in their own homes.
Volunteers of America has long provided home and community based services, independent and assisted living, and nursing care to seniors. Building on this tradition, the organization’s new initiative will focus on services that are person-centered rather than facility-based. Services provided will be flexible to reflect the needs of seniors as they become less able to care for themselves while still maintaining independence. The 113 year-old organization is already the largest nonprofit provider of affordable senior housing, the fourth-largest nonprofit provider of skilled nursing care and the sixth-largest nonprofit provider of assisted living for seniors in the United States.
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About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.