A variety of cuts to California's safety net programs for seniors take effect today. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows 500,000 seniors will be adversely affected.
State funding has been eliminated for centers that care for Alzheimer's patients during the day. A program that provides money to help disabled seniors pay for in-home care has been cut by 30 percent.
UCLA's Dr. Steven Wallace said California used to be a leader in helping disabled seniors stay in their homes.
"But we're backpedaling now," Wallace said. "Rather than trying to figure out how to provide the most innovative services, we're just targeting those who have the least ability to make noise in Sacramento."
The cuts will initially save California about $500 million a year. But Wallace said more seniors will be driven into poverty and state-supported nursing homes.
