North Carolina: We Cannot Neglect Our Seniors

North Carolina narrowed its criteria for Medicaid eligibility in 2012 and its effects are demeaning to our senior citizens and mentally ill. As of January 1, my father, who is sick with dementia, no longer qualifies for Medicaid because although he is mentally ill, he is not physically ill enough because he can still do things like bathe himself, walk, and dress himself, and therefore will be denied coverage even though his doctors agree that he is unsafe to live on his own or without the structure and care provided by his assisted living facility. Therefore, it is up to my two young sisters and my fathers siblings - and roughly 12,000 families like mine across the state - to produce the monthly cost of his care, putting all of our financial futures in jeopardy. Please help me send a message to our state elected officials that it is intolerable to treat our senior citizens like this, and we need to create new legislation that reverses the effects of this change and addresses the gap people in this position will be faced with.