Florida Senate - 2009                                     SM 152
       
       
       
       By Senator Aronberg
       
       
       
       
       27-00108-09                                            2009152__
    1                           Senate Memorial                         
    2         A memorial to the Congress of the United States,
    3         urging Congress to increase federal funding for home
    4         health services for the elderly.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, federal financial assistance is provided for
    7  nursing home care under the Medicaid program for elderly
    8  patients, and
    9         WHEREAS, studies document improved outcomes and better
   10  quality of care and life for elderly patients who are furnished
   11  health care in the patients' homes in contrast to nursing homes,
   12  and
   13         WHEREAS, there are only a few programs under which federal
   14  financial assistance is provided for home health services for
   15  elderly patients, and
   16         WHEREAS, the federal financial assistance that is available
   17  for home health services is insufficient to support 24-hour care
   18  for elderly patients, and
   19         WHEREAS, a home health agency may hire home health aides
   20  but not require any structured education or training for such
   21  aides, and
   22         WHEREAS, an individual may take the examination to be
   23  certified as a nurse assistant without any formal education and
   24  training, and
   25         WHEREAS, there is little or no supervision of caregivers
   26  placed in the home of an elderly patient to care for the
   27  patient, and
   28         WHEREAS, home health services benefit not only people who
   29  are parents and grandparents but also their children and
   30  grandchildren, NOW, THEREFORE,
   31  
   32  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   33         
   34         That the Congress of the United States is urged to:
   35         (1) Increase federal financial assistance for home health
   36  services for elderly patients when it is determined that a
   37  patient is in need of such services; and
   38         (2) Establish federal guideline requirements for students
   39  and schools that train certified nurse assistants and home
   40  health aides.
   41         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
   42  dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
   43  President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
   44  United States House of Representatives, and to each member of
   45  the Florida delegation to the United States Congress.