11-26-1984 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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NEW DIRECTIONS, MORE CHOICES There is a growing consensus among Minnesotans that the long-term care system must change. For most elderly and their families, nursing homes are a last resort It has been well -documented that the elderly would prefer other forms of services and housing that allow and encourage self-sufficiency and support their continued indepen- dence The following example illustrates one such new direction in long-term care 4n 86 year old woman who lives alone needs assistance to get out of bed, to get in and out of the bathtub, and to fix meals She takes daily medication. but because she has short-term memory difficulties, she must be reminded to take the medication. In a nursing home she would receive skilled nursing level care at a cost of about $60 per day. She and her family would prefer, however, that she remain in her own home Every week- day an aide spends four hours helping this woman with her personal care and household tasks On weekends this woman's daughter brings her groceries and lakes her to church In addition, her daughter calls several times a day to make sure everything is ail right The home care provided by the aide costs about $36 per day, 40 percent !ess than nursing home care would cost. Since around -the -clock care is not needed, home care is the type of care preferred by this woman and her family. Home care of the elderly is not a new idea. but new ideas are needed on how to finance market and deliver the kind of care older people need and can afford Government and the private sector are developing pro- grams to reduce reliance on nursing home care, and demonstrations of some of these programs are in pro- gress in Minnesota For example. a Ebenezer Society and :Troup Health. Inc. have formed Medicare Partners, a pre-j, aid "social -HMO " In addition G7 to the regular rrivU+cal services of an HMO. Medicare Partners will offer a long-term rare benefit including both nursing home care and in -home rare, but substituting lower cost home care for nursing home care whenever possible a Wilder Foundation ---a provider of a full continuum of services to the elderly, Health Central —a health care management corporation. and St. Paul -Ramsey Medical Center --a public hospital. have joined together to offer the Senior Health Plan, pie -paid health insurance which will bridge acute care and long-term care a Allcare Development Corporation. a p-7rtnership between General Mills and Wilder Foundation. offers ven4 ►ure capital and technical assistance to other ofgarnza-• lions aflernpling to develop innovative hearth and long- term care services. a Duluth's King Manor, a publicly sponsored congregate. apartment, infers multiple levels of care and services to help older people remain at home even when they need daily assistance • Minnesota's Nursing Home Pre -Admission Screening and Alternative Care Program is a staiewrde mandated effort to divert nursing home applicants by offering appropriate home care services such as homemaker home health aide. and respite care for families. While it is too early to conclude that any of these demon- strations will solve our community's long-term care prob- lems or be suitable for all older people. there is consen- sus that they represent welcome new directions in long-term care and are in tune with the preferences of Minnesota's elderly citizens