Cuts In Home Care Make It Even More Important To Adequately Research Nursing Homes

Posted on July 20, 2010 by John R Kormanik

In an article in today's New York Times, reporter John Leland, describes the cuts states are making to close budget gaps and the effect those changes are having on the elderly. Some of the cuts described by Mr. Leland include meal deliveries, housekeeping assistance and aid for family caregivers. 

As Mr. Leland correctly points out at the beginning of his article, such cuts are "penny wise and pound foolish" (my words not Mr. Leland's) because the programs being cut have demonstrated they actually save states money by keeping the elderly at home and not in expensive nursing home and assisted living facilities. Interestingly, Bruce Goldberg, the director of the Oregon Department of Human Services, inadvertently demonstrated the very problem with attempting to balance Oregon's budget on the backs of its elderly and infirm population. According to the article, Mr. Goldberg said: "[T] he agency did not have an estimate for how many of the people losing home care would end up in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes -- or, if they did, how the state would pay for them."

Is it right for Oregon and other states to balance their budgets in such an irresponsible manner? I will leave that for you to decide (although, perhaps, the way I phrased the question reveals my answer). More importantly, to the extent those loosing the financial assistance for home care need to take adequate steps ahead of time to properly research nursing home and assisted living facilities in order to ensure when the time comes, they are placed in a safe, nurturing and caring facility. A facility that is able to adequately care for their needs. 

A new wave of nursing home and assisted living facility residents are being created by state budget cuts. The question remains, will the facilities be able to handle the deluge of new residents? Only time will tell. 

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Health Care Reform May Result In More People Going To Nursing Homes

Posted on December 3, 2009 by John R Kormanik

In today's New York Times, an editorial by Harold Pollack, of the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, recognizes one of the costs of expanded health care now being considered by Congress. According to Mr. Pollack,  although approximately 30 million Americans stand to gain health care coverage under the bills now being considered by Congress, that expanded coverage comes with a price.

That price, Mr. Pollack informs us, is a decrees in Medicare spending on home health care services. These are the very services which allow Medicare recipients to remain at home and out of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Mr. Pollack's editorial contains short views of a number of other experts concerning the Senate bill.

Is it better for us or our loved ones to be cared for at home rather than be forced, by financial realities, to enter a nursing home or assisted living facility? Of course. Is it better for 30 million Americans to be provided with health care coverage which they otherwise would not have? Of course. There, as they say, is the rub.

No matter the final outcome of the health care debate, with the aging of the American population, one thing is certain. More people will likely be entering into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Those individuals and their families must be sure the facility provides the services necessary to provide adequate care. Those facilities also must be held to the highest standards in the care of residents.

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