A few weeks ago, I wrote about my concern that cuts to state and federal programs will put further pressure on unpaid family caregivers. As funding is slashed, or eligibility tweaks kick people off enrollment, the state and Federal Government will depend on unpaid caregivers to pick up the slack.

Earlier this month, the Department of Aging and Independence (AGE) announced it is implementing an additional managed intake waitlist for consumers in the State's Home Care Program. ASAPs will be conducting additional assessments for new consumers coming into the program, and any consumer with a priority level of 4, with 'meal-prep' being their primary need, will be waitlisted. Fortunately, the ASAPs will be working to identify other nutrition programs for the consumer, with the hope that no one goes without meals, but in effect, the consumer will no longer have access to the home care program and ongoing case management that goes along with it.

In AGE's explanation, these assessments will factor in whether the consumer has an available paid or unpaid caregiver in the home already. This shows already that, as funding is cut or strained, reliance on unpaid caregivers will be used to keep the system afloat and older adults safe. 

Like all of you, I worry about what this will do for the safety of our clients, but also further burdening our burnt-out, unpaid caregivers.