The Democratic National Committee will focus on restructuring long-term care programs in 2016 to “emphasize independence rather than institutionalization” for seniors, according to the party’s final platform.
The platform, released on Monday at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, said the party will take steps to steps to expand home care and increase access to affordable long-term care. The platform called for strengthening home and community-based services for seniors.
Similar to the GOP platform, the Democratic platform calls for the need to address elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The party says these issues have lead to a “long-term care crisis” that prevents too many seniors from living in their homes and communities with dignity.
The Democratic platform also reaffirmed its commitment to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and said it would push back on any Congressional attempt to “privatize, voucherize, or ‘phase out’” Medicare.
The first day of the Democratic National Convention was filled with controversy after a series of leaked emails between party members led to resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
