Mom would've been in a nursing home 4 years ago but for this program

To the editor,

Does it make sense to cut funding for a program that saves the State of N.H. at least five times its cost?

Sunrise Towers in Laconia serves 30 low-income handicapped or senior residents with their marvelous Congregate Care Program. This program enables individuals who have surpassed the capability of living independently to do so because of the services it offers.

The program has been funded by the Federal Government with a 50-percent match by the State of N.H. Federal funding has been cut, therefore, the State of N.H. has cut their portion of funding because it is contingent upon Federal funding.

If funding is discontinued, 10 residents will require nursing home care immediately. The State of N.H. will own the burden for this care. The other 20 residents will require some type of services which will also be the responsibility of the state. The costs for nursing home care and other services will exceed the original funding by a least five times.

This doesn’t even take into consideration the jobs that will be eliminated causing an increase to unemployment compensation benefits.

My mom would have been a burden of the State of N.H. in a nursing home four years ago if it had not been for Sunrise Towers and its wonderful program. The services she received by trained, caring individuals enabled her to live independently and retain her dignity.

The cost of nursing home care for my Mom for four years would have been twice as costly as the annual funding which sustains 30 residents for one year.

I certainly hope that I am not the only one who sees how ridiculous this is.

Jackie Hatch

Belmont