Lawmaker wants shift in spending on elderly

A legislator from Davenport plans to push for a shift in the way state money is spent on elder care. Iowa spends about 65 percent of its senior care resources on nursing homes. Under legislation being drafted by state representative Mona Martin, more money would be spent on home health care services and assisted living. Martin, however, does not call for cutting state funds to nursing homes. Martin says up to 65-million dollars will be sent to Iowa by the feds, and she wants all of that new federal money to be used for elder services which help Iowa’s senior citizens stay OUT of a nursing home. Martin will release the details of her plan in late January.