The 28 geriatric facilities that normally receive government subsidies to provide their care for the elderly are currently experiencing a very serious lack of funding. El Caribe says that they are worn out by the constant lack of funding. The economic crisis has increased their costs by 60%, but the government has apparently cut their budgets by 50%. Sister Angeles Garrido, from the Saint Francis of Assisi Home, says that her expenses are three times the RD$235,000 she receives for her center. Geriatric care centers have experienced a 60% rise in demand over the past few years, due in part to the economic crisis, but observers say that the government has reduced their subsidies by almost that same proportion. Of the 28 facilities in the Dominican Republic, there are three in Santo Domingo, and there are nine day-care facilities as well. Of these, only two of the centers are totally dependant on the government for their operation, Saint Francis of Assisi and the Our Lady of Carmen Home (Hogar Nuestra Senora del Carmen) in Boca Chica, while the others rely on state subsidies. The 2004 budget has RD$10,056,178 designated for the care of the elderly, between 20% and 50% less than previous budgets. At the Our Lady of Carmen facility, run by the nuns, Sister Carmen Vaquero said that she received RD$90,470 a month from the government, but spends between RD$300,000 and RD$350,000 to take care of the 50 patients. She said that she was spending RD$20,000 alone on fuel for the generator, because of the prolonged blackouts and the patients? fear of the dark.