This is a desperate cry for those in charge of providing government funding to this organization to pay attention to what is happening. Using my own experience with my 80Yr old father as an example of the machiavellian choices this nonprofit makes in delivering on its mission, it must stand to reason that there are others out there as well.
Part of the challenge is that the public has no idea that this is a private nonprofit profit, NOT a government department. The Dept of Social Services and others grants money to the nonprofit Agency on Aging- large sums of money, exceeding $42M, every year. This dollar grant is calculated based on the number of elderly people 'counted' in their service pool - those whom are registered and require assistance. My father was one of those counted, and so the state provide a capitated rate of funds to this organization on his behalf, of which they are to determine and help to coordinate and pay for his care.
What happens and what should happen are far apart.
What SHOULD happen is that my fathers doctor should be helping to set the standard of care required. In this case his doctor did - determining that his dementia and delusions require him to have 24 HOUR care, for he is a danger to himself and others.
What HAS happened is that this private not for profit, who receives a set amount for my father every year for his care, has decided he does not 'qualify' for 24 hour care and provides him with 4 hours of care and 2 hours of homemaking assistance (he lives with us, a busy dual working family) per day. This leaves him alone - in direct violation of the doctors orders- for upward of 5 hours per day.
Why does this agency do this? So they can retain a portion of the money the states provides for his care, to balance their bottom line operationally. Yes, they are skimping on his care, to make their nut for 2014. I am beyond frustrated and horrified at their careless nature and the states blind acceptance. This is but one venue, among phone calls to DSS, Ombudsmen, state reps, atty general and the media, which we will be pursuing restitution and a reinstatement of the care the doctor is ordering, as well as spreading the word on what this agency is and does.
Review from Guidestar