Bob Blumenfield

The California Association for Adult Day Services (CAADS) today announced it has named Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield as its 2011 Legislator of the Year, recognizing his leadership on issues important to seniors, disabled adults, and their families. “As chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, Assemblymember Blumenfield recognized how important it is to provide community-based health services to medically fragile seniors and disabled adults. He understands how vital it is to keep doors open at our adult day health care centers because we are a proven, cost effective, model that helps keep 37,000 frail elders and disabled out of higher cost institutional care.

Bob Blumenfield
Bob Blumenfield

We are proud to have Mr. Blumenfield on our side fighting for those who often are overlooked,” said Lydia Missaelides, CAADS Executive Director, in giving the award to Assemblymember Blumenfield at the CAADS 34th Annual Conference in San Diego. Earlier this year, when Gov. Brown proposed elimination of adult day health care to cut costs for the program from the state budget, Assemblymember Blumenfield forged a compromise that resulted in AB 96, legislation that would have created the Keeping Adults Free from Institutions (KAFI) program. The bill was passed by the Legislature in June but vetoed by the Governor.

“We know Adult Day Health Care works,” said Blumenfield. “Eliminating it without a viable community-based alternative risks a loselose scenario where we spend more on health care and provide less of it. With thousands of patients and their families facing a nightmare of uncertainty about the future, we must keep working together to find a viable and fair solution.”Blumenfield was presented with a painting created by an ADHC patient at ONEgeneration ADHC, a center located in Assemblymember Blumenfield’s district of Van Nuys. The art work was a fitting tribute to a man who has made the care of senior citizens and disabled adults one of his highest priorities.

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