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    Posts Tagged ‘Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly’

    Seriously Mentally Ill Seniors Are Loosing Their Housing 

    Homless senior sleeping on the handicapped ramp of the LA County Board of Supervisors Board room.

    Homeless senior sleeping on the handicapped ramp of the LA County Board of Supervisors Boardroom.

    “We are losing facilities that care for seriously mentally ill adults because the reimbursement rates are inadequate. Mentally ill adults have nowhere to go and end up homeless,” said Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA’s Executive Director.

    SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. Just $44 per day is all that the State of California budgets to provide seriously mentally ill adults with housing and food at a licensed Adult Residential-care Facility (ARF). It’s not enough.

    As a result, adult residential care facilities are closing, and mentally ill adults have nowhere to go. At a time when the State and the County have both announced funds being budgeted to create more residential care for seriously mentally ill homeless adults, ironically, they are failing to fix a problem that results in people who are now housed and cared for and putting them back on the streets.

    It seems the right-hand does not know what the left hand is doing. There is a clear failure to analyze the whole picture and come up with a solution that does not create new problems.

    Adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities get between $191 and $391 for care and housing. The Los Angeles Regional Caregivers Association (LARCA) is a nonprofit group that advocates for parity with facilities that work with the developmentally disabled.

    “We are losing facilities that care for seriously mentally ill adults because the reimbursement rates are inadequate. Mentally ill adults have nowhere to go and end up homeless,” said Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA’s Executive Director. “How can anyone think that $44 a day is enough to provide housing, food, and care for the mentally ill who cannot take care of themselves?”

    Adult Residential-care Facilities prevent homelessness and provide meals, housekeeping, laundry, and medication management. Failure to take medications is a key predictor of psychiatric relapse, which can lead to overuse of emergency services, incarceration, and homelessness.

    To prevent further facility closings, LARCA members and community supporters advocate for the following:

    1. Immediate infusion of $2,000 per bed for each state-licensed facility with 70% of their census on SSI and living with Serious Mental Illness with no supplemental
    2. Raise reimbursement rates to facilities that provide care and housing to low-income residents living with Serious Mental Illness that is on par with those living with Developmental Disabilities.
    Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA Executive Director.

    Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA Executive Director.

    “With proper funding, Adult Residential Facilities can take 936 homeless seniors off the streets right now,” said Tinson.

    According to the California State Commission on Aging people over 50 are more than half of all homeless and the fastest-growing segment of the homeless. They need proper care, provided by properly funded licensed care facilities.

    For more information, go to LARCALA.org, call (323) 536-4801 or email info@LARCALA.org.

    B-roll Bennie Tinson walks to LA County Board chambers: https://youtu.be/NUSgmi35wAQ 

    About The Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA)

    LARCA is a nonprofit membership association with an emphasis on serving the population of owner/operators of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and their residents, who are reliant on public benefits and living with serious mental illness, formed with fiscal sponsorship from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles Chapter (NAMI GLAC) and financial support from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

     

    LARCA-PR-106.3 Mentally Ill For

    More Information call

    Dr. Greg Zerovnik @ (909) 730-8428 or

    email Greg.Z@DameronCommunications.com

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 480 words

    LARCA Receives IRS Approval of Nonprofit Status

    Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA Executive Director.

    Bennie Tinson, MPP, LARCA Executive Director.

     

    “This is an important milestone for us, and it will enable us to keep moving forward as we continue to help homeless seniors and seriously mentally ill adults,” said a

    LOS ANGELES, CALIF. The Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA) recently obtained its official IRS recognition as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.

    LARCA is a community-based membership association that represents more than 350 state-licensed Adult Residential Facilities and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, more commonly known as Board and care in the community. LARCA members provide housing and care for more than 15,000 low-income Angelenos living with Serious Mental Illness.

    LARCA champions resources for facilities and their residents building increased public awareness and support for housing and health solutions that serve vulnerable, low-income adults and elderly people living with mental illness, a population at risk of homelessness.

    LARCA Executive Director Bennie Tinson, MPP, says, “This is another important milestone for us, and it will enable us to keep moving forward as we continue to advocate for seniors and adults living with serious mental illness to ensure these individuals receive the care and housing to meet their needs.

    “LARCA members provide 24/7 care and housing in a residential-like setting, providing meals, medication management, and helping residents meet their basic daily needs. The low SSI rate residents receive makes it difficult for facilities to continue to provide quality care and housing. As a result, 27 Adult Residential Facilities that house and provide care for low-income residents living with Serious Mental Illness closed in the first quarter of 2023,” said Tinson.

    LARCA is a nonprofit membership association with an emphasis on serving the population of owner/operators of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and their residents, who are reliant on public benefits and/or living with serious mental illness, formed with fiscal sponsorship from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles Chapter (NAMI GLAC) and financial support from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

    LARCA is a nonprofit membership association with an emphasis on serving the population of owner/operators of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and their residents, who are reliant on public benefits and/or living with serious mental illness, formed with fiscal sponsorship from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles Chapter (NAMI GLAC) and financial support from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

    LARCA started to bring together owners and operators of licensed Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) based in Los Angeles County that provide vital, long-term housing and care services to vulnerable, low-income adults and the elderly, including people living with serious mental illness. Membership is currently being offered at no cost.

    For more information, go to LARCALA.org, call (323) 536-4801 or email info@LARCALA.org

    About The Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA)

    LARCA is a nonprofit membership association with an emphasis on serving the population of owner/operators of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and their residents, who are reliant on public benefits and/or living with serious mental illness, formed with fiscal sponsorship from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles Chapter (NAMI GLAC) and financial support from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

     

    B-Roll:

    LARCA-PR-109.3 501 (c)(3) Approval

    For More Information call

    Dr. Greg Zerovnik @ (909) 730-8428

    or email Greg.Z@DameronCommunications.com

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 342 words