1501 S Capitol Way Rm 102
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone 360-754-0207
Fax 360-956-0362
info@waseniorlobby.org
www.waseniorlobby.org
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Washington State made a policy choice in the mid 1990s to emphasize home and community care services, in perference to nursing home services, in meeting the long term care needs of our growing population of elders and younger people with disabilities. Had the State not made this decision the current budget crisis would be far worse, requiring an additional $600 million in state and federal funds in the coming biennium budget for long term care. In 1995, 45% of Midicaid spending for long term care was for nursing home care. Today, only 21% goes to nursing home care and 79% is spent to provide home care, adult day health, boarding homes, and adult family homes.
This shift to community based care has saved more than $1 billion over the last decade. It as also resulted in a long term care system that offers choices to people an families who most often prefer less institutional settings. The reason for these savings i simple. The cost of providing care for people at home is about one third of the cost of care in a nursing home.
The result of Washington State's decision is a long term care system that is not only cost effective but widely supported by consumers. The State invested wisely to develop the capacity and the quality of the home and community care system. The changes have developed a larger and better qualified work force through improved wages, benefits, training and monitoring.
Rates keep rising and long-term care insurers hold the reins
See The rolls of America's oldest are surging
Most American over 50 prefer the idea of remaining in their homes, but doing it well requires good fortune and support services, see Forgoing retirement homes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health is compiling a database of stakeholders interested in older woman health to share information on research, policies, events, and programs. If you or your organization wants to be included, you can sign up online. Sign up »
Still No Relief in Sight for Long-term Needs
The law that many Americans had hoped would transform the nations' dysfunctional system of long-term care ...died this month, for more see Long Term Needs
Home Care Training back on ballot - Initiative 1163
Seattle Times' adult-family-home investigation wins national award
Delay in Suspending SEIU Training Program
Home care workers, clients deserve better from state
The public now has better access to information about the history and performance of state licensed long-term-care facilities through online postings of enforcement actions, click on DSHS website
Finding work is hard for millions of people in this economy--but even more so for disadvantaged workers aged 55+. The National council on Aging (NCOA) helps through our Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), funded by the U.S. Dept of Labor. Recently SCSEP opened a office in West Virginia, where staff not only train and place older workers, but also screen them for benefits to help them pay for food, medicine, and more. For more information, please click on SCSEP
Training, New Rules meant to Reduce Abuse at Adult Family Homes
by Michael J. Berens, Seattle Times Staff reporter- to read the article, click on Training, New Rules
The Elder Justice Act: Addressing Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, for more information see Elder Justice Act
by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Assoc Press, see Medicare costs
Some local doctors, faced with a large cut in what the government pays them for treating Medicare patients, are telling senior patients they must switch by year's end to better-paying private Medicare Advantage plans, please click on Some Doctors
$281M Cut from State Social Programs 'Devastating," Advocates say
DSHS Vows to Toughen Oversight of State's Adult Homes
Getting Tough on Adult Family Homes
Former caregiver sentenced in death of patient
Abuse,neglect and exploitation in 'adult family Homes' PBS current Affairs Fri Sept 17
Seattle Times - Special Report - By Michael J. Berens, Seattle Times staff reporter
Seniors for Sale - Exploiting the aged and frail in Washington's adult family homes - for more information click on The Hidden Victims
Seniors for sale - Deaths in Adult Homes Hidden and Ignored - The deaths of hundreds of seniors at adult family homes may have been the result of neglect or abuse but were never investigated. To read the article, please click on Deaths in Adult Homes
Social Security turned 75 last week. It should have been a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate a program that has brought dignity and decency to the lives of older Americans, please see Social Security
Fact Sheet: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Facts and Figures 2010
Issue Brief: Social Security - A Promise to All Generations
Fact Sheet Social Security Executive Commission April 2010
Technologies Held Adult Children Monitor Aging Parents, see Technologies
The state Department of Social and Health Services has recommended nearly a dozen new laws and launched reforms to rein in the growing adult-family home industry, see Adult Family Homes
About 30 percent of adult children in the US contribute financially to their parents' care for everything from uncovered medical expenses to make sure the refrigerator is stocked each week, for more see Aging Parents
Recently state workers helped Mr. Brown find a two-bedroom apartment in public housing in Philadelphia, for more see Leave Nursing Homes
To view the video, click on LTC Care Ombudsman
In three years, boomers will start reaching 65 at a rate of 40,000 or more a year, quickly swelling the ranks of 65-plus by nearly a million residents. Washington appears unprepared to handle the coming flood, according to aging and retirement experts, see Caregiver Shortages
When you find yourself in need of long-term care in this country, there is a good chance someone else will make these decision for you, see Long-Term-Care
Facilities Proliferate Across U.S. but Without Much Scrutiny, click on Long-Term Care Hospitals
Some of the most worrisome reports about Select Medical's hospitals are largely hidden from the public, click on Select Medical Hospitals
Q & A with the state's Ombudsman for Long-Term Care
Louise Ryan, the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, is an advocate for vulnerable adults. Her office offers education, consultation and complaint resolution. She also overseas a corps of 400 certified volunteer ombusdman. Ryan answered reader questions live between noon and 1 pm on Wednesday Feb 3, to read the questions and answers, click on Ombudsman
Seniors for Sale
Exploiting the aged and frail in Washington's adult family Homes - Three part Series by the Seattle Times
Hospitals care for hundreds of Medicaid patients per year others won't take
Seattle Times investigation has found 2,025 cases of Medicaid Patients who no longer needed hospitalizaton but remained in hospital rooms for a month or longer because nursing homes or other facilities wouldn't take them. The $461 million in expenses are passed on as higher health-care costs, to read the article click on Hospitals care for hundreds of Medicaid patients
Part 1 -The Owners, With few rules and state support, a growing home-care industry finds it easy to exploit Washington's aged, click on The Owners
Part 2 -The Homes, A home stays open, despite a death, a decade of neglect, and inspector's attempts to shut it down, click on The Homes
Part 3 - The Exodus, The state saves tens of millions by emptying nursing homes but the frail can get hurt, click on The Exodus
About the Series
"Seniors for Sale" is the first comprehensive accounting of Washington's adult family homes. Seattle Times reporter Michael J. Berens interviewed more than 250 people, including adult-family-home owners, residents and their families, industry experts, state and federal regulators and law-enforcement officials, About the Series
Contact
"Seniors for Sale" is an ongoing series. The Seattle Times will continue to report on problems faced by the aged and medically fragile who rely on adult family homes. Please send your comments and story ideas to reporter Michael J. Berens at mberens@seattletimes.com or (206)464-2288 Letters or documents can be mailed to him at: Michael J. Berens, The Seattle Times, 1120 John St., Seattle, WA 98109
