Senator Grisanti visits local home care patient during National Home Care Awareness Month

State Senator Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo) visited the home of Buffalo resident and home care recipient Randall Clay, to see, first-hand, the value of home and community-based care for residents of the 60th

Mr. Clay has been a patient with Cheektowaga-based Health Force, for one year. Previously, Mr. Clay had been living in a nursing home. He credits the medical and support services he receives from Health Force for enabling him to be active and involved in his community and allowing him to direct his life. “The difference is like night and day. I’m really my own person,” said Clay.

“Home care is perfect for patients like Randall, who need support, but don’t belong in a nursing home,” said Senator Grisanti. “The State should do all that we can to make sure that Randall, and others like him across New York, are able to receive these services and maintain their independence. It’s the right thing to do for patients and their families. It also saves scarce Medicaid dollars, compared to the cost of nursing home or hospital care.”

“We are so glad that Senator Grisanti took the time to meet Randall and our staff,” said Patricia Krall-Dwyer, Health Force President and Founder. “We hope that the Senator will keep Randall in mind when he returns to Albany in January to start the new legislative session. Decisions made at the State Capitol have a tremendous impact on the patients we serve.”

“HCP thanks Senator Grisanti for his interest in home care,” said HCP President Christine L. Johnston. “As the State begins to implement the reforms recommended by the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) and approved by the Legislature, home care needs support from elected officials to ensure that patients continue to have access to these critical services.”

Senator Grisanti’s visit was arranged by the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (HCP), a statewide trade association representing the full spectrum of home care and hospice agencies in New York. HCP’s Home Care Connect program provides State and Federal Legislators—as well as the media—the opportunity to observe the benefits of home and community-based care, in action.

http://www.nyshcp.org/assets/0/72/300/306/9658/b3f6e1aa-9fd0-4f7e-82cf-9f5426f19e1a.pdf