Here’s what Kamala Harris said about home care for older Americans

Democratic presidential candidate and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris recently made a media blitz in an effort to appeal to voters ahead of next month’s presidential election, where she will face Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.

While Harris and Trump have unique experiences that they will bring to the table when it comes to their influence on the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, Harris has addressed specific issues for seniors in recent media attention, including the availability of home care.

In an appearance on ABCOn the long-running talk show “The View,” Harris was asked by co-host Sunny Hostin about the prospects for long-term care by telling a personal story.

“I’m part of what they call the ‘sandwich generation,’” Hostin began. “I am an only child and will probably be responsible for caring for my children and my parents at the same time. Her application for long-term health care was denied due to a pre-existing health condition. You are announcing on our show a plan to ease the financial and emotional burden on families like mine who care for our aging loved ones. What is that plan?”

Harris said the issue was also personal to her, as she found herself in a similar situation caring for her own mother, who died in 2009.

“Caring for a parent means trying to cook what he or she wants to eat,” says Harris. “It means choosing clothes for them that are soft enough [that] it does not irritate their skin. It means trying to think of something funny to make them laugh or smile. So much of that is about that, it’s really about giving people dignity.”

Harris also recognized the large number of people in the sandwich generation who are under pressure both in terms of time and financial well-being.

“It’s almost impossible to do everything, especially when they’re working,” Harris said. “We are seeing so many having to quit their jobs, which means losing a source of income, not to mention the emotional stress. So what I’m proposing is that we allow Medicare to cover health care in the home.”

Harris also spoke about the need to support the overwhelming desire of most seniors to age at home.

“People may be declining in skills to some extent, but their dignity and pride have not diminished,” Harris said. “They want to stay in their house; they don’t want to go anywhere else. Moreover, it is so expensive for the family to send them to a residential care center or hire someone.”

As for financing such a proposal, Harris said the plan is to continue to strengthen Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. This would build on the capabilities it has now negotiate prices for 10 specific medications – which will increase the program’s savings and facilitate more spending in areas such as home care.

“These resources are best used to help a family like the one you describe,” Harris said. When asked whether insurance companies should be involved, Harris said her plan specifically targets Medicare.

As for her opponent, the Trump campaign and Republican Party Platform 2024 describes a facility related to home care.

“Republicans will shift resources back to home-based elder care, eliminate disincentives that lead to healthcare workforce shortages, and support unpaid caregivers through tax breaks and reduced red tape,” the platform said.

It also describes a desire to protect the Medicare program from being “financially crushed by the Democratic plan to add tens of millions of new illegal immigrants to the Medicare rolls,” and that the party promises to “strengthen Medicare for generations to come .’

The platform also explains the 2024 Republican position on other elements of policy for older Americans, including support for “an increased focus on chronic disease prevention and management, long-term care, and benefit flexibility,” it said. “We will expand access to primary care and support policies that help seniors live in their homes and maintain financial security.”

Political fact reviewed the claim regarding adding illegal immigrants to Medicare rolls”usually false.” The outlet explained that part of the basis of the claim stems from Harris’ 2020 campaign for president, in which she stated that she supported “Medicare for All.” Harris said she no longer supports such a plan.