Modesto-based adult day care program gets reprieve

Miller's Place, which has been providing day care to disabled and medically fragile adults since 1999, will not close its doors.

The Modesto-based program was one of about 275 Adult Day Health Care programs statewide that faced closure as the state proposed eliminating their funding.

But a deal reached late last week between the state and disability and senior advocates will provide funding for about half of the 35,000 people served by Adult Day Health Care through a new program called Community Based Adult Services.

The new program, which starts March 1, has more stringent guidelines for enrollment. But Miller's Place expects the majority of its clients will qualify, and it will find a way to continue providing services to those who don't meet the guidelines.

"We are not at risk of closing," said Tom Truax, chief executive officer of the DMC Foundation, which operates Miller's Place and other health and health education programs. "We were so pleased Friday when we received this news. We told all of our clients."

Miller's Place serves about 80 adults who are partially paralyzed by strokes or have other physical or mental impairments that prevent them from living independently.

It's the only Adult Day Health Care program in Stanislaus County and just one of two in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Miller's Place lets frail and infirm seniors live with family or in board-and-care homes while they get many of the services they need in one place.

The program allows family members to continue to work, knowing their elderly parents are safe. It also provides family members with a break from caring for loved ones.

Advocates say Adult Day Health Care is a cost-effective alternative to placing the disabled and infirm in much more expensive skilled-nursing homes and other institutions. The program is funded through Medi-Cal, the state-federal insurance program for the poor, disabled and elderly. Adult Day Health Care centers receive $76 a day for each client.

The state had proposed eliminating funding Dec. 1, but that has been postponed to Feb. 29 to allow for the transition to the new program.

Under the deal reached Thursday, help will be provided in finding alternative services to Adult Day Health Care clients who don't qualify for the new program.

Disability Rights California sued the state over its plan to stop Adult Day Health Care funding. The deal won't be final until a judge accepts it Dec. 1. But Truax said he expects the judge to sign off on the agreement.

The DMC Foundation's Alzheimer's Day Care & Resource Center is not affected by the replacement of Adult Day Health Care with Community Based Adult Services.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at kvaline@modbee.com or (209) 578-2316.