The Average Senior With an In-home Caregiver near Solana Beach Leans Heavily on the Government

The government shutdown this week, triggered by disagreement among lawmakers over the Affordable Care Act, is sure to go down in the history books. We still don’t know the extent of the shutdown’s effects on us, but it is a good time for the in-home caregiver near Solana Beach to review just how many government programs are part of a senior’s daily life. If a large-scale disaster—financial, natural, or military—were to bring those programs to a halt, where would our elderly loved ones stand?

Medicare and Social Security

The two most important programs that seniors rely on are Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security. During the October government shutdown, these programs continue to operate because so many people depend on them for daily life. But in a more dire situation, Social Security checks and Medicare reimbursements could stop coming. Seniors who are on multiple expensive prescriptions, and who have very little income other than their Social Security check, would suddenly find themselves in a deep financial hole.

Health Programs

Many important government-run health programs were halted during the shutdown. These programs test the food supply for disease, watch for outbreaks of illness, and act to notify the public if they could be exposed to tainted food. This means that the food we buy at grocery stores might be a little less safe for a few weeks. Seniors, being especially vulnerable to infection, are placed in serious risk by a lack of food safety oversight.

Home Health Care and Other Programs

There are many other government programs that affect us every day: our home’s mortgage may be handled in some part by the government; we receive mail through the Postal Service; and veterans draw benefits from the VA department. But at least one important service is not directly dependent on the government’s ability to pass a budget: your in-home caregiver in San Diego County will show up at your loved one’s door for work as normal.