A portion of Modoc County voters on Tuesday approved the creation of a hospital district and a parcel tax of $195 per year to save its bankrupt medical center.

The hard-red rural county (population 9,184) is the largest per-capita recipient of state spending. Their tiny medical center has been losing money for a decade, despite the county supervisor’s cutbacks in service and improper allocation of state funds intended for education and transportation.

The County requested a $12.5 million loan from the state after a State Controller’s audit revealed that the supervisors had misallocated… $12.5 million dollars. The new hospital district will generate $3.1 million per year and be governed by its own board, independently of the the County.

Modoc has 5,667 registered voters, Only 3,724 voters whose properties lie within the new district participated in the mail-in election. Turnout among those was 63%. The vote to create the district passed by 70% and the vote for the parcel tax passed by 68%.

Two myths have been busted in Modoc:

1) The myth of Republican fiscal competence, and

2) The myth that California voters will not tax themselves to fund government-run services.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/…

(Thanks for the update. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

The California State Plan on Aging estimates the population of seniors, over 85 years of age, will increase 172% over the next 20 years.  The most recent draft of the plan finds that “California’s older adult population will increase by 90 percent as members of the Baby Boomer cohort reach 60.” The Plan outlines the major areas of concern for seniors in the next four years.

EDIT By BRIAN: See the flip for more on the Plan on Aging.

The first goal of this plan is to make it easier for older Californians and their caregivers to access local information about services and programs available in their communities. One step to achieving this goal is currently underway. CalCareNetwork is being developed to provide a single searchable web site of information about home, community based and institutional long-term services.

To “enable older Californians, adults with disabilities and their caregivers to be active and supported in their homes and communities” is another stated goal of the state plan. Transportation issues are a major barrier to independence in many communities. Of note in the report is the acknowledgement that transportation planners have not worked with members of human services agencies to integrate the needs of seniors and those with disabilities.  California now has representatives from the Department of Transportation on the California Olmstead Advisory Committee to address transportation concerns from both the individual need and infrastructure perspectives. The Department of Motor Vehicles is developing a Three-Tiered Driver Assessment program. The goal is to keep drivers safely on the road for as long as possible, however this assessment could lead to more adults relying on alternative transportation.

One of the most dramatic changes to the health of seniors has been in the last century is the shift in the causes of death from infectious diseases and acute illnesses to chronic diseases and degenerative illnesses. Californians may live many years with diseases that need to be managed to maintain health. Californians have increased their use of preventive health screenings however significant racial health disparities persist in the treatment of chronic health concerns.  Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continue to be a substantial concern for individuals and their families. The third goal of the state plan is to promote the health of seniors through increased participation in health  initiatives and expanding  the availability of programs for family caregivers.  Additionally the promotion of early intervention and treatment for mental health issues is a stated goal.

The final goal is to protect the rights of older Californians through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and Health Insurance Advocacy and Counseling Program (HICAP).  Updates to these programs and tools to improve communication and recognize fraud are part of the state plan.

The State Plan on Aging is clear in its anticipated funding from the state, noting: “The Department considers increases in State funding unlikely even though the population of older adults and adults with disabilities will continue to increase.” Interestingly over three pages of the State Plan draft is dedicated to the “opportunities for volunteerism and civic engagement.” This is due to the fact that many services are provided within the Aging Network through volunteers. The California Department of Aging (CDA) notes it is difficult to recruit and retain volunteers. The CDA will work to encourage increased volunteerism among older adults for their peers and those with disabilities.

It is difficult to know how anyone program will be affected when the state budget is finalized. The concerns highlighted by this report necessitate planning for the increased needs of a rapidly growing population of seniors. Current fiscal concerns are leading to reduction in services as the leading edge of the baby boomers enters the period of greatest need to age well within their communities.

While the recruitment of volunteers is beneficial for these social programs it will not be a sufficient substitute for the dollars needed for transportation, care, and health concerns of the 14.6 million seniors expected to populate California in the coming decades.