2010 Senior Lobby Day Photos
1501 S Capitol Way Rm 102
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone 360-754-0207
Fax 360-956-0362
info@waseniorlobby.org
www.waseniorlobby.org
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.
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
