Thousands of  seniors, people with disabilities,
 their Caregivers and Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny rally at Capitol; Tell Governor to protect Home Care services!

Home Care providers and recipients turn
in more than 15,000 postcards calling on the Governor
to follow legislators' lead, stop devastating cuts to state Homecare Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of California Seniors and people with disabilities, their family members, home care providers and supporters rallied and marched to the State Capitol building to tell the Governor: "Protect Home Care Services that Save Lives." Home care workers and recipients will turn in more than 15,000 postcards to the Governor, to remind him of the people whose lives will be affected by his plans to drastically cut home care funds. Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny  also spoke at the event.

The Governor has proposed slashing state funding for California's in-home caregiver pay to the minimum wage and eliminating funding for health benefits. This proposal will increase the already high turnover rate of home care workers as they are forced to leave their clients to find alternative work to support their families. The supply of home care workers will further diminish, making it more difficult for the 380,000 Californians who rely on home care to remain safely in their homes.

In addition to allowing seniors and people with disabilities to remain in their own homes, home care is a much more cost effective alternative to institutions such as nursing homes. Care for seniors and people with disabilities forced to go into nursing homes could cost taxpayers up to five times more than in-home care.

Republican and Democratic members of the legislature alike have already overwhelmingly rejected the governor's proposals to devastate the home care program. However, the governor is expected to continue pushing for these drastic cuts.