A Balancing Act: State Long-Term Care Reform, is the first to examine Medicaid spending on long-term care for older people and adults with physical disabilities, separate from other LTC users such as people with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD).
Nationally, 75 percent of Medicaid LTC spending for older people and adults with physical disabilities pays for institutional care in nursing homes. In contrast, states have done a much better job balancing Medicaid LTC for people with MR/DD, spending just 39 percent on institutional care. The majority of funds now supports people in home and community-based settings.
"We recognize the success state Medicaid programs are having providing home and community based services to people with mental retardation/developmental disabilities," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Dick Chevrefils. "It proves that balancing long-term care is doable and should be used as a model to help states provide home and community based services for older adults."
As part of its Commonwealth Long-Term Living Project, Pennsylvania set a goal of 50 percent home-based care to 50 percent institutional care for all long-term care populations by FY 2011-12. Unfortunately, the recently passed 2008-09 state budget included no new spending to reduce existing HCBS waiting lists for Pennsylvania's lottery-funded OPTIONS program.
The report examines Medicaid LTC funding because it is the primary payer for LTC in the country. "This underscores the need for better government and private sector financing options for long-term care. Americans have few options to plan and pay for their long-term care. Balancing Medicaid LTC options will require a commitment from our state officials and cooperation from federal authorities. HCBS can be both cost-effective and responsive to the preferences of older people and adults with disabilities," said Chevrefils.
The new report includes state rankings and can be found at: http://www.aarp.org/research/longtermcare/programfunding/2008_10_ltc.html.
(
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
PLUS 50 GERIATRIC CONCIERGE SERVICE
Malden with 60,000 population has many community agencies available to help the elderly. We have a new Malden Senior Community Center due to open in December 2008 that should be an economic engine in revitalizing the downtown area.
It should service all the needs of our growing, diverse, elder population and add to the increase in visits to the downtown area business district.
The challenge is to coordinate all the various service organization and the health care providers into a continuum that is easily access able to the aging population and their care givers.
It has made the vision possible by having the Malden Senior Community Center in this central location on the corner of Washington and Pleasant Streets.
WE NEED A FOCUS GROUP OF ALL Malden residents, business and political groups to make this vision a reality.
We must consider developing a membership-based-organization that will help stay in the home they love.
Opinions of all concerned are vital. All comments and suggestions will shape how to make this concept of neighbor hood cooperative a reality.
The daunting challenge is to get service organizations and individuals to collaborate on commonly agreed upon goals, foregoing inter agency competition and turf protectiveness.
A senior service concentration should be attractive to managed care organizations particularly those with concentrated seniors because it can improve quality care and receational facilities and all in the interests of the elders and their caregivers.
It should service all the needs of our growing, diverse, elder population and add to the increase in visits to the downtown area business district.
The challenge is to coordinate all the various service organization and the health care providers into a continuum that is easily access able to the aging population and their care givers.
It has made the vision possible by having the Malden Senior Community Center in this central location on the corner of Washington and Pleasant Streets.
WE NEED A FOCUS GROUP OF ALL Malden residents, business and political groups to make this vision a reality.
We must consider developing a membership-based-organization that will help stay in the home they love.
Opinions of all concerned are vital. All comments and suggestions will shape how to make this concept of neighbor hood cooperative a reality.
The daunting challenge is to get service organizations and individuals to collaborate on commonly agreed upon goals, foregoing inter agency competition and turf protectiveness.
A senior service concentration should be attractive to managed care organizations particularly those with concentrated seniors because it can improve quality care and receational facilities and all in the interests of the elders and their caregivers.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Long Term Care Continuum
Long Term Care Continuum
- Adequate funding for a long term care continuum, that includes high quality, affordable skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, senior housing, and home and community based services, to meet the needs of our aging population.
- Adequate funding to provide home and community based care that enables older and disabled persons to remain healthy and independent.
- Adequate funding of skilled nursing facilities -- which often care for the most frail and vulnerable individuals; including the nursing home criteria known as "Score 3".
- New funding to rebalance the system to allow for more home and community based care.
- Increased funding for the Councils on Aging and Senior Centers.
- Adequate funding for a long term care continuum, that includes high quality, affordable skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, senior housing, and home and community based services, to meet the needs of our aging population.
- Adequate funding to provide home and community based care that enables older and disabled persons to remain healthy and independent.
- Adequate funding of skilled nursing facilities -- which often care for the most frail and vulnerable individuals; including the nursing home criteria known as "Score 3".
- New funding to rebalance the system to allow for more home and community based care.
- Increased funding for the Councils on Aging and Senior Centers.
THE VILLIAGE CONCEPT
The villiage of neighbors helping neighbors has real promise to accomplish what most people want regardless of age.
An opportunity to be connected,maintain there homes and themselves with the help of
Volunteers and vendors they can trust.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
S.O.S Serving Our Service
With the new Malden Senior Community Center coming on line December 2008 in Downtown Malden.
I think an outreach program to all the Seniors, their Families and interested parties in all sections of the City is priority number one.
With the participation of the representatives of the Malden residents (CITY Council) and the administration in charge of city services (especially the elderly population) being actively involved.
A Presentation To Be Considered:with citizen participation with input of concerned citizens-----------------------------------------------------------
Plus 50 Geriatric Concierge Service
Geriatric Center Continuum
WITH PARTICIPATION
Hospital
Out Patient Care
Skilled Nursing Facility
Home Health Care
Community Services Network
Local Seniors in the Mass Senior Action Council Metro North Sponsors a S.O.S Program
Serve our Seniors
A program designed to help Seniors avoid nursing home care when possible and to promote
local first class care in the neighborhood when necessary. WE wish to educate seniors on new
managed care programs that emphasizes primary and preventative health care and extensive
services in the home.
The State and Federal government participate with cash grants to Malden and adjoining cities for
Non-Profit agencies to carry out this mission.
We at Mass Senior Action Metro North have one on one contact to inform the Senior and disabled
citizens (our most vulnerable) what services are available and how to obtain these services and improve
their quality of life in their OWN HOMES
There is a overwhelming concern for the soaring Medicaid budget caused by Hospital and Nursing home rising demands on the system in Massachusetts so keeping the elderly and disabled in their home environment and out of this costly system can assure Medicaid can help and benefit our needy citizens Let make sure our Seniors are not denied service they depend on to survive in a wholesome environment With our S.O.S Program we will be urging Seniors, their families, friends and advocates to join in the
PLUS 50 GERIATRIC CONCIERGE SERVICE UNDER A GERIATRIC CENTER CONTINUUM
HOWARD C. MCGOWAN
349 Pleasant Street
Malden Ma 02148
781 324 9076
--
MaldenSenior
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
