Due to debilitating illness, Pamela Winger has been completely dependent on in-home providers for the past 17 years to maintain her personal care and perform household chores.

“These girls handle my medical needs, feed me, get me dressed, clean the house and shop for me. They totally take care of me,” the Santa Maria resident said. “I have so many different things wrong with me - stroke, diabetes - but I live a good, happy life because of them.”

Winger said she is worried that could change if Santa Barbara County cancels its contract with Addus HomeCare, the national company that provides in-home assistance to 350 disabled and elderly county residents.

The county Social Services Department recently indicated that it was looking to cancel the contract because it could provide more cost-efficient services through a state-mandated program.

The Public Authority Registry is a database that matches qualified providers with clients who need in-home services, including help with chores, such as cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene. Residents are supplied with three names of potential providers and then the client interviews them and chooses the one he or she feels most comfortable with.

The majority of the county's 2,600 in-home supportive services (IHSS) clients currently take advantage of the registry for assistance.

One of the main reasons the department wants to end the agreement is because it could save $5.03 an hour for each client by using the registry.

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However, the 350 residents who are taken care of by Addus providers are nervous about the possibility of the contract ending and a loss of vital services.

Gwen Allan of Santa Maria said she's worried because she doesn't know much about the county's program, and doesn't want to lose help when it's needed.

“I'm not at all for it,” Allan said.

Winger said that Addus supervisors find someone to take care of her if either of her providers is sick or on vacation - a service she doesn't think the county can handle as efficiently. Addus also has a system set up for clients to call in if there's an emergency after hours.

Public Authority director Davida Willis said the county's registry will be able to offer replacement providers in those instances and will have an emergency number for nights and weekends.

“They are very valid concerns, but from my point of view, the Department of Social Services is staffed by professional and caring people. There's no way they would allow those kinds of lapses in services,” Willis said.

Charles Lester, statewide director of United Domestic Workers, which represents providers under both systems, said that many of the people who choose Addus do so because they can't handle the extra work load that would be required in choosing their own provider.

Also, many times these clients do not have local family members or friends to turn to for help, Lester added.

“For many Addus clients who are bedridden, to take on that added responsibility seems most daunting for them,” Lester said.

While existing Addus providers would be eligible to be paid through the registry if the contract is not renewed, they would lose the benefit of paid vacation and sick time.

“This would affect us in the sense that we would lose some benefits,” said Luz Maldonado, who said she will remain Winger's provider even if Addus' contract is canceled.

Maldonado works six days a week for a total of 115 hours a month in Winger's home.

Willis said providers would lose those benefits by switching to the registry program, but that many would be receive an hourly raise of 90 cents. Additionally, the state program offers a medical and dental package comparable to Addus' plan, she said.

The contract originally ended June 30, but the Board of Supervisors extended it to allow time for a full discussion of clients' concerns.

Fifth District Supervisor Joe Centeno of Santa Maria said he wasn't going to make any decisions that would “put our older people in harm's way,” and that a decision could be six months to a year away, during which time the contract likely would remain in place.

“I'd like to ask the supervisors not to abandon us, the most vulnerable people in society,” Winger said.

Randi Block can be reached at 347-4580 or rblock@santamaria

times.com.

May 25, 2006