Sen. Bob Coffin: Save by spending on Aging Services

Nevada lawmakers expressed concern Wednesday over a decrease in the number of seniors that, because of budget cuts, a state agency can now handle in home care and community programs.

The caseload for such programs now averages about 1,800 per month, down from a projected figure of nearly 2,300 cases that lawmakers approved in 2007, state Aging Services Administrator Carol Sala told a joint Senate-Assembly budget committee.

The Aging Services Division expects about $122 million in revenue from all sources over the next two fiscal years. While overall spending is up because of new responsibilities, the division's state funding for its main programs would remain flat.

The spending plan eliminates seven social worker positions, including five that are vacant. If the five were staffed, the programs could take on another 225 cases per month, according to materials provided to legislators.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said staffing cuts and lower caseloads are troublesome. She asked Sala how the division's priorities might change depending on the amount of federal stimulus funds it receives.

"Today we're far under where we should be, I mean there's just no question, and we're obviously not going to be able to meet the need," Leslie said. "But I think we can do better than this."

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, the budget subcommittee chairman, said cuts to services that keep seniors in their homes and out of institutions longer costs more money in the long run.

"This is the kind of budget where you save money if you spend it right," Coffin added.

Because of the poor economy, the division also projects increases in applications and refund amounts under its Senior Citizen Property Tax Assistance program, Sala said.

The tax assistance program gives senior citizens rebates on residential property taxes based on their income. Sala said the division estimates there will be a nearly four percent increase in yearly applications over the next two years and close to a four percent increase in the amount of money refunded to program participants.

"Part of the issue is that with the economy people are trying to find out what's out there as far as help, and when there is any kind of program that might be available to different populations I think it gets more attention," Sala said.

Sala also said that elder protective services are projected to go up and staffing levels for those services are adequate. The services include investigating reports of abuse and neglect.

In related action, the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday discussed a bill that would create a statewide system that helps locate people who get lost because of conditions including confusion, dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

AB4 would create a 'silver alert' system based on Amber Alert, a national system already in place that helps locate abducted children, said Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas.

Also discussed was AB111, to prevent senior care facilities from renting vacant rooms to people who aren't seniors and wouldn't qualify to stay in such facilities in the first place.

The bill is intended to protect seniors and results from a legislative subcommittee's

study on issues relating to senior citizens and veterans, McClain said.

Lawmakers also heard testimony on AB20, requiring criminal background checks for residential care facility owners and staff members who provide services for two people or less. Group home owners and staff already are required to pass such checks.

Marla McDade Williams of the Health and Human Services Department said the bill also requires that owners of such facilities put up a bond, paid to an insurance company that would cover any resident's personal property loss while living in those facilities.