LONG BEACH - Arianna Afsar, Miss California 2010, was in town Monday gathering support for the Driving for Quality Care petition drive.

The national mobile campaign's goal is to urge state and federal lawmakers to preserve and protect funding for long- term and rehabilitative care facilities, despite cuts to Medicaid, said Ellen Almond, a spokeswoman with the petition drive.

The campaign is sponsored by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, trade groups representing assisted living centers and skilled nursing facilities.

Afsar's platform is encouraging interaction between young adults and seniors. The goal of her platform and the petition's are the same, increasing the quality of life for the elderly, Afsar said.

"We forget about our seniors," said Afsar, 18, a San Diego native and Fullerton resident.

Afsar drummed up support for the petition drive at the America Health Care Association's annual trade convention, which was held at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.

The campaign, which began in Washington in June, has traveled more than 15,000 miles, visiting 40 states and holding events at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, where people were encouraged to sign the petition.

Long Beach was the 60th and final stop.

On Aug. 11, President Barack Obama signed a law extending the Federal Medicaid Percentage Assistance.

For California, the assistance translated to $1.87 billion in eligible emergency Medicaid relief from Washington.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger applied for the funding and will find out in December how much California will receive.

phillip.zonkel@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1258