Experienced health, economic, and aging policy professional committed to using research and data to develop more effective and equitable policies and programs. Current work focuses on family caregiving in the U.S.
Excited to share a recent publication that resulted from two years of qualitative, community-engaged research across several counties in Illinois (and an amazing opportunity to partner with AARP Illinois)! This work summarizes the experiences of older adults and their family caregivers seeking long-term supports and services (LTSS) in the home and in nursing home facilities across Illinois. The report summarizes issues caregivers and older adults faced finding local LTSS resources and their experiences with LTSS care accessed. The key themes outlined in the report will be used to identify areas of improvement across the care journey!
https://lnkd.in/g3x4b8xY
LeadingAge PA submitted comments today on the PA Department of Aging's draft 2024-2028 State Plan on Aging, which you can read in full below.
Here are some excerpts:
"It is critical to remember that unlocking access cannot mean only expanding the scope of services available through HCBS offerings. We are in the midst of an access-to-care crisis for older adults in need of enhanced services, either temporarily or long-term, in a nursing home or hospital setting. In a recent survey of LeadingAge PA nursing home members, nearly 50% of respondents reported having to turn away admissions from hospitals, while hospital overcrowding is at an all-time high because they don’t have the staff or funding they need to maintain sufficient access. With nearly 1 in 4 licensed nursing beds reported as currently offline, older adults are having to travel farther from their homes and communities to find care, or return home unsafely with inadequate support. We urge PDA to recognize this crisis and advocate for needed funding and workforce solutions that will benefit the entire ecosystem of care and supports available to seniors..."
“The LIFE model effectively alleviates many caregiver burdens for families by providing a strong network of familiar direct care workers who are able to assist within the home, with the full support of an interdisciplinary care team. LIFE manages the care coordination as well as scheduling and provision of needed workers so that participants and their families do not have to “piece together supports.” Additional funding for increasing reimbursement rates is needed to support LIFE providers in raising wages to recruit and retain this network of caregivers, and the department should take an interest in promoting this need to ultimately allow more older adults to benefit from the relief the LIFE program can bring.”
#PABudget#longtermcare#seniorliving#LIFEProgram
One of the things "we," as a people, a nation, a society, have not grokked (or bother yet to understand) is how differently each generation is treated by society in elderhood and how it sees itself as it ages.
The Boomer generation (b 1943-1960 -- those are more insightful and applicable years) fear more than anything "being put out to pasture" and becoming irrelevant in old age. As such, "aging in place" -- in situ -- is important to them.
The generation prior to them, the Silent gen (b 1925-1942), was content to head off to high-tech nursing home centers; and the GI's before them (b 1900-1924), happily trotted off to age-centric communities, walling off the social and cultural changes wrought by their mostly Boomer children as they came of age.
Yes, aging in place is "the thing" for now and should be given more attention as it will have more resonance with aging Boomers.
And, yeah, since you've read this far and I've addressed three of the four generational archetypes, I might as well speak to the fourth and last: the Gen X archetype, the Nomad. Nomads are neglected, blamed and underserved in elderhood, are often poor if not destitute, and ask little of society, preferring that national resources be directed to the young, as to give them a better leg up in life (something they themselves didn't receive in their childhood years).
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a model that keeps seniors at home and out of nursing homes. It's a model based on respect and care for our elders. More significantly, it releases pressure from the enormous cost of long-term care -- and the lack of beds. Congress could make PACE more accessible to millions of Americans by removing several barriers to entry. A couple of recent articles in important healthcare publications explain why and how PACE works.
Shawn BloomNational PACE® Associationhttps://lnkd.in/edMJicVnhttps://lnkd.in/emyZkGCx
Why choose in-home care instead of a memory care unit?
Memory care units provide 24/7 supervision and easy access to nursing care, but many seniors fear having to downsize and losing their independence.
Dementia home care can fill the gap between full independence and moving to a memory care unit. Home care provides one-on-one care while maintaining a safe environment in a home that is familiar to clients.
Interested in learning more about at-home dementia care services? Send us a message!
#BHomeCare#AtHomeCare#DementiaCare
Director of Business Development at Premier Home Care | Board Member of Philadelphia Elder Care Network | Independent Medicare Broker| Co-Chair Veteran Community Partnership
I have spent the majority of my career working in SNFs.
Navigating the transition to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) often follows hospitalization, where individuals require additional care due to illness, weakness, or injury and cannot safely return home. Understanding the coverage and costs associated with SNFs is crucial for both patients and caregivers.
For eligible individuals, a stay in a skilled nursing facility is covered under Medicare Part A. In each “benefit period” Medicare will pay 100% of the first 20 days, on days 21 to 100, there is a $200 copayment each day, and after day 100, you pay all costs which can be on average $7,908 for a semiprivate room or $9,034 for a private room per month (According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey nursing home data). If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you will likely have copayments even in the first 20 days and studies show you may not receive as many days as traditional Medicare.
At any time, coverage may cease if skilled nursing services are deemed no longer medically necessary, requiring patients to consider long-term care options or return home.
I invite you to share your experiences, questions, and insights on skilled nursing facilities in the comments. This is an opportunity for constructive dialogue, offering support and guidance through the complexities of caregiving. Your insights might be just the thing someone else needs to hear.
#longtermcare#nursinghome#homehealth#dementia#caregiver#alzheimers#alzheimer#dementiaawareness#dementiacare#caregiverlife#alzheimerssucks#vasculardementia#frontotemporaldementia#lewybodydementia#alzheimersfight#alzheimersdisease#dementiasucks#dementiapatients#dementiasupport#caregiversupport#caregivers
*this information is most relevant to those in the United States
Exploring Alternative Models of Long Term Care: From Aging in Place to Green House Homes
-
Aging in Place
As the population ages, the demand for long-term care continues to grow. Traditional nursing homes have been the go-to option for many years, but alternative models are emerging that provide more person-centered and home-like care. ...
-
https://lnkd.in/g-92-acG
Founder, CEO @ Aidaly | Reimagining Home-Based Care
6moWonderful. As a native Illini, I am personally familiar with this experience. Thank you for such important work.