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Governor Romney’s Vetoes Will Hurt Elders
Press Release July 2, 2003
An estimated 850 elders statewide will be denied in-home services as a result of Governor Romney’s $3.4 million cut to the Home Care Program. Locally, this will affect 30 of Berkshire County’s most vulnerable elders each month.
Robert P. Dean, Executive Director of Elder Services, said "Elder Services is very concerned about these cuts to core services. If the cuts remain, each month, thirty of Berkshire County’s most frail, homebound elders will be denied the in-home services upon which they depend in order to remain in their own homes, which is where they want to be. These services help elders with such essential needs as bathing, dressing, and housekeeping. The fate of these elders is in the hands of the legislators, who must now add these line items to the veto override list to stop the cuts to elder programs."
The Governor has also cut $590,000. from the statewide Councils on Aging budget (COAs). This represents a 10% cut to COAs across the state. According to Jean Beauchemin, Director of Pittsfield’s Ralph Froio Senior Center, the impact of the Governor’s veto in Pittsfield will be that "the Senior Center will be unable to provide transportation services to the over 230 elders now receiving rides each month to medical appointments, to Adult and Social Day programs, to the meal site, and to other recreational, social, and educational events offered at the center. Without these transportation services, these individuals will be isolated and unable to attend these events, which provide a vital link between these individuals, their community and their friends."
The legislature is expected to present its override list on Monday, July 7.