“Crisis in care | Lack of quality caregivers, constant turnover tough on the disabled, families,” by Rita Price, The Columbus Dispatch Quote: “Demand is soaring for a workforce to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live as they and their families choose. But low wages, high levels of responsibility and a lack of awareness about “direct-support professional” jobs has led to a staffing crisis that threatens the promise of community living for thousands of Ohioans and others throughout the nation.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Blame low reimbursement from public financing. Solution:
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“Wisconsin’s Long-Term Care Workforce At ‘Crisis Level,’ Report Finds,” by Brady Carlson, Wisconsin Public Radio Quote: “A coalition of Wisconsin health care organizations is warning that the state’s shortage of long-term care providers continues to grow. The study, put together by several groups across the state, says 1 in 5 direct caregiver positions in the state is going unfilled. That’s up from 1 in 7 positions in 2016. Starting wages in the profession are so low that many potential workers never apply, according to the report. The median hourly starting wage for personal caregivers is $10.75 an hour, according to
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“Visit from home care nurses linked to more emergency department use by seniors,” by Marty Stempniak, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “Pouring over 2015 home care billing data from Ontario ED visits, Canadian researchers found that those who received a home care visit from a nurse had an increased likelihood of visiting the ED after 5 p.m. that same day. That flies in the face of assertions that boosting homecare might help to alleviate such costly ED trips, according to the study, which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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“How to Talk About Moving to a Retirement Home: ‘It’s a Journey’,” by Peter Finch, New York Times Quote: “Having a conversation about moving — whether it’s with a relative, even a spouse — brings up lots of anxiety. Here’s how to go about it. … A specialist in senior moving might be the answer to that problem. A cottage industry of these consultants has sprung up in recent years, and today the National Association of Senior Move Managers has more than 1,000 members.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Some helpful ideas for
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“2017 Profile of Older Americans,” The Administration for Community Living, which includes the Administration on Aging Quote: Over the past 10 years, the population age 65 and over increased from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016 (a 33% increase) and is projected to almost double to 98 million in 2060. Between 2006 and 2016 the population age 60 and over increased 36% from 50.7 million to 68.7 million. The 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 2040 (a 129% increase). Racial and ethnic minority populations
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“How Nursing Homes Can Destroy Families,” by Jeanne Croteau, Forbes Quote: “When your loved one is admitted to a nursing facility, you are at their mercy. There is a significant imbalance of power in many ways and many families may find themselves feeling completely lost. In all likelihood, you’ve never navigated the confusing, treacherous waters associated with aging in this country and most of us can’t really tell the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, at that level. As such, we rely on the guidance of so-called experts to help us understand. We expect that the people with the most experience
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“A Data Dump That Could Make a Difference in Health Care,” by Yuval Rosenberg, Fiscal Times Quote: “Health care researchers have argued that data collected on Medicare Advantage plans should be made public to allow analysts to try to get more insight into how much value the program delivers. … Now, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is making Medicare Advantage data available to researchers for the first time, administrator Seema Verma announced Thursday.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Let’s see what the data show. Is MA better and cheaper than traditional
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“Largest LTCi Claim Exceeds $2 Million,” by Jesse Slome, Advisor Magazine Quote: “A single long-term care insurance policyholder claim has exceeded two million dollars (actually $2.6M for a female).  The largest claim still being paid to a male policyholder reached nearly $1.6 million. Why is this important?  First, it’s the first time we’ve seen a single claim in excess of $2 million.  Second, because consumers mistakenly perceive this protection in ‘investment’ terms … will I get my money back?  Advisors need info like this to tell the story properly! When it comes to LTC insurance (or most insurance for that matter) some will
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