The General Fund appropriation for the Family Caregiver Support Program is increased by 5% or $219,000, to provide services to an additional 138 families. The program assists families who maintain frail relatives in their home, by providing benefits counseling and, depending on income, financial assistance including supplies, services and home adaptation devices. The appropriation will support approximately 6,438 families.

      The budget includes a 4% increase in the PENNCARE appropriation to provide enhanced attendant care services to persons transitioning at age 60 from the Department of Public Welfare's Attendant Care program to the Department of Aging's Attendant Care program. This increase also allows for a cost-of-living increase for the PENNCARE program.

      The budget continues the Grants to Senior Centers program at $4.0 million. These grants provide capital assistance to senior centers in the Commonwealth. A $200,000 appropriation is included for the first time for Legal Advocacy for Older Pennsylvanians.

      The PACE Program is increased $12.0 million to continue expanded pharmaceutical assistance to 312,590 older Pennsylvanians. This includes $13.0 million to continue the PACENET Program which was added in 1996. The traditional PACE program costs are decreasing by $1.0 million due to higher reimbursement costs to pharmacists but fewer prescriptions being filled, and fewer enrollees. While income limits were increased in 1996, in 1997-98, social security COLA's will again push some seniors over even the new income limits.