Seniors and people with disabilities who need assistance to do everyday tasks like dressing and bathing want the choice to get those services at home and to have control over how the services are delivered. They do not want to be forced into a nursing facility, nor see themselves and their spouse, and sometimes their children, forced to live in poverty to qualify for help with such basics. Unfortunately, that choice is not a reality for most.

Society is failing to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities have access to consumer controlled long term services and supports when they need them. The last thing we need is for those in power to make a public policy choice, during this time of vast budget cuts in Medicaid health and long term care, that an early death is the cost saving answer to these very real human needs.

http://www.notdeadyet.org/disability-groups-opposed-to-assisted-suicide-laws