It's nice that voters in the 28th Senate District have a candidate who's actually giving them reasons to vote for him. Richard Stuart's campaign strategy consists of attacking Albert Pollard's record as Delegate through misleading mailers, despite the fact that Stuart himself donated hundreds of dollars to keep Pollard in the House a few years ago.
Meanwhile, fresh of his Washington Post endorsement, Pollard has added in-home health care to his list of proposals, alongside issues such as transportation and conservation. Check it out, after the jump:
Albert Pollard, candidate for State Senate, today proposed enhancing in-home care for seniors as a way for them to extend their independence and save the state resources by avoiding nursing home care. Such in-home care would include helping seniors with house keeping, meals, wellness visits and other health care needs.The average annual cost of a nursing home in Virginia is more than $45,000 for an individual. More than 60% of those in Virginia's nursing homes receive Medicaid reimbursement from the state.
"Our seniors deserve to be in the comforts of their homes and to grow old with the dignity they deserve. I believe the state can save Medicaid dollars by offering our elderly help in their homes with housekeeping, errands and such. We must be creative as we work to meet the challenges of our graying population," said Pollard.
Pollard went on to say that a study by the legislative branch and the agencies involved in senior care could tell the best places to enhance in-home health and allow for a trained professional to check and ensure seniors are safe in their homes. Not surprisingly, a Florida study found that in-home care savings were most dramatic for couples receiving care.