HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 34

(By Delegates Campbell, Proudfoot, Perdue, Pino,

Fragale, Spencer, Stephens, Argento, Pethtel, Fleischauer, Manchin, Rowan, Evans, Hamilton, Border, Moye,

Hatfield, Wysong, Azinger and Poling)

[Originating in the Select Committee on Senior Citizens Issues]



Urging the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services to allow only county aging programs to administer the Lighthouse program, while also providing them more discretion in the use of monies provided by LIFE awards.

W HEREAS , West Virginia's senior population aged 60 and over is 362,795 (20.1% of West Virginia's population) with projected numbers through 2018 being 467,235, causing a substantial need of added in-home assistance and community services; and
W HEREAS , The Lighthouse program, which began statewide July 1st, 2007, addresses this need by expanding senior services throughout the state and is designated to assist those seniors who have functional needs in their homes; and
W HEREAS , Eligibility requirements for this program are seniors 60 and over years of age, medically eligible based on functional evaluation by the provider's RN and is not eligible for Medicaid; and
W HEREAS , seniors receive a variety of supportive assistance through the program are able to remain in their communities and continue to live in the comfort of their own house; and
W HEREAS , The Lighthouse program provides up to 60 hours of support in personal care (grooming, bathing and dressing), mobility (getting in and out of bed and walking), nutrition (meal preparation, eating and grocery shopping) and environment (housecleaning, bed changing and laundry); and
W HEREAS , The costs of these services depends upon the eligible individual's income and the fee is determined by a sliding fee schedule; and
W HEREAS , These services are provided by a caregiver employed by a county aging provider (senior centers); and
W HEREAS , County aging programs also need more flexibility and individual discretion on where to use Legislative Initiatives for the Elderly (LIFE) awards in delivering programs and services; and
W HEREAS , Currently, these monies are becoming more restricted with directives or earmarking certain amounts of nutrition, transportation, etc.; and
W HEREAS , Each county needs are unique (e.g. some counties provide ample public transportation while others struggle with arduous outreach destinations many miles into their service areas, while more urban areas may have a much larger nutrition programs by virtue of their greater population thus experiencing budget shortfalls); therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature urges the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services to allow only county aging programs to administer the Lighthouse program, while also providing more discretion by county aging programs in the use of monies provided for by LIFE awards.; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor of the State of West Virginia and the Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services.