California’s budget slashing creates a heavy cloud over the future of many of the state’s seniors. This is particularly true for the seniors TNDC serves, most of whom have an income of $700 to $900 per month.

We currently are able to make independent living a reality for scores of seniors. Our staff social workers link them to community services offered by the many San Francisco nonprofits, most of which are dependent on public funding. This ensures that seniors in our buildings get the community assistance they need to survive and live independently.

Among the most important threatened services from upcoming budget cuts are health benefits from Medi-Cal. Premiums are very likely to rise and some Medi-Cal services will be wiped out entirely, such as hearing aids.

Reduction in medical services can create serious crises for our seniors who must stretch every dollar just to survive. For example, in one of our buildings an elderly gentleman must take 14 different medications. Already stretched to his financial limits, he must decide every month which two of his 14 medications he won’t take. Imagine what slashed medical services will do to this gentleman and many other seniors in our buildings who barely survive on their very limited financial resources.

Among the services likely to be affected are:

• Transit services and taxi scripts for trips to doctors’ offices and for other vital needs.
• In-home support such as cleaning and laundry.
• Some meal services will likely be reduced or eliminated. In some cases meal prices will be increased.
• Decreased off-site clinical services.
• Visits from public health nurses.
• Care for the terminally ill.
• Substance abuse services.

While the precise nature of the state budget cuts is still uncertain, TNDC staff is carefully following the process. Check this site for updated developments.