Telehealth: The Next Wave of Technology Supporting Health Care Delivery and Family Caregivers
We live in a world of innovation. New technology is changing how we connect with friends, learn, work, play—and even obtain health care. Telehealth, a set of tools both old and new, allows clinicians and home-based patients to communicate with each other via video-conference, email, or just an old-fashioned telephone call. Newer tools enable clinicians to receive clients’ data (e.g., vital signs) and assess their status through remote monitoring devices. According to research from AARP, most older adults prefer to …
One in Four: New Public Policy Institute Report Spotlights Millennial Family Caregivers
En español | When people talk about family caregivers, Millennials are not always part of the conversation. Yet as the report Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 found, close to 1 in 4 family caregivers (24%) are Millennials. Nevertheless, this caregiver group still hasn’t received much attention or been the subject of much exploration. A new PPI Spotlight report from the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI), Millennials: The Emerging Generation of Family Caregivers, helps fill this gap and provides the first …
CMS Report Confirms Medicaid Cuts Would Jeopardize Critical Services and Long-Term Program Stability
The proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) would make significant changes to the Medicaid program, which serves as a critical safety net for millions of people who deplete their life savings and turn to Medicaid for assistance as their ability to care for themselves declines. The bill would repeal the Medicaid expansion and implement a capped financing model for states. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the AHCA would cut $834 billion from the Medicaid program through fiscal …
Preserving Access to Home- and Community-Based Services Through Community First Choice
An important AARP study shows that an overwhelming majority of people would like to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Personal care services, such as assistance with bathing, eating and dressing, are critically important to helping older adults and people with disabilities of all ages live independently and avoid costly nursing facility placements. Medicaid plays a critical role in providing this support. It is the largest public payer of long-term services and supports (LTSS), including …
Nursing Facility Transitions: A Cornerstone for Balancing Long-Term Services and Supports
When Abbie was first admitted to a nursing facility in Henderson, Nev., in December 2012, she was told she would probably be there for the rest of her life. For Abbie, who was 76 at the time, that was not an option. “That place was not my cup of tea,” she said. “I didn’t belong there.” About 1.5 million Americans currently live in a nursing facility. Like Abbie, whose story was told first by Nevada’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) …
