Advocates for senior living providers in Pennsylvania are welcoming a new report that finds that the state “is ill-equipped to address the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease with its network of long-term care facilities,” especially in rural areas, saying that the report brings attention to important issues that must be addressed.
“Individuals living in rural counties have limited choices for institutional care, whether it is in a skilled nursing facility, personal care home, or assisted living residence,” according to a summary of the report from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “Twenty-three counties have two or fewer skilled nursing facilities with dedicated units for individuals living with dementia, and 21 counties have no personal care facilities with specialized units.”
The number of facilities as well as facilities’ collective capacity are declining, and data show that “Pennsylvanians who need this level of care will not be able to pay for it from their own resources,” according to the publication.
Among the report’s recommendations are that policymakers consider expanding training requirements for paid caregivers, offering tax credits for paid caregivers, and creating a tax-free way for people to save for long-term care.
‘Providers haven’t yet been adequately equipped‘
Garry Pezzano, president and CEO of LeadingAge PA, told McKnight’s Senior Living that the report’s findings “shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention to the well-documented demographic shifts seen in both our state and throughout the country.”
“With the population of older adults quickly outpacing the working-age population, as well as the shift away from rural areas to more urban population centers, Pennsylvania policymakers need to recognize that aging services providers haven’t yet been adequately equipped to absorb the influx of seniors in need of care and services quickly coming their way,” he added. “Furthermore, many baby boomers don’t have the financial resources that previous generations had access to, further limiting their options as they age.”
State lawmakers, Pezzano said, should follow the example of several other states and expand its Medicaid program to cover assisted living.
“Second, they can support legislation that bolsters the caregiving workforce, which is desperately needed in rural senior living communities,” he said. “For example, SB 1103 and HB 2114 would provide a pathway for those interested in working as a personal care or assisted living aide to take a skills competency exam in lieu of having a high school diploma or GED.”
Pezzano said that the association is encouraged by the creation of the Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders Office and the Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders Advisory Committee by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and “will continue to emphasize the need for investment in both funding and workforce to support all areas of the aging services ecosystem as they work together to care for seniors with dementia-related disorders in the setting that best aligns with their wants and needs.”
‘More must be done‘
Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, told McKnight’s Senior Living that the association is “thrilled to see other organizations” such as the Center for Rural Pennsylvania “stepping up … in voicing concern regarding access to care of seniors across the commonwealth.”
The report, he added, “should send yet another signal to Pennsylvania leaders that more must be done to prepare for the mass influx of seniors who will need care in the coming years.”
“It is evident from this report that more must be done across the state, particularly in rural areas where resources are dwindling, to ensure that we are able to manage the high acuity needs of our elderly residents –– especially those living with any form of Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Shamberg said. “And we must ensure that long-term care providers have the resources, training and workforce they need, given that attempting to replicate this care at home can be extremely difficult, costly and taxing on families.”
PHCA also is advocating that Keystone State legislators make assisted living a Medicaid-eligible provider, he said, adding, “This would ensure that seniors can access care without having to rely on personal savings.”
Shamberg also pointed to Shapiro’s Aging Our Way, PA plan, which he said “calls for the strengthening of our long-term care communities to support the care of seniors living with dementia,” and he said that the association looks forward to working with the governor, his administration and lawmakers “to make that initiative a reality for our commonwealth.”
“Together, we can ensure that our seniors have access to the care they need and deserve,” he said.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Its board includes state senators and representatives as well as representatives of the governor’s office and faculty members from academic institutions in the state. The report was written by researchers from Shippensburg and Duquesne universities.
The report authors also recommend that policymakers consider providing additional training for family caregivers, offering tax credits for family caregivers, changing the licensure process for adult day providers to facilitate the creation of more centers, allowing more flexibility in determining eligibility for family caregiver support programs, implementing “the concept of a ‘warm handoff’ between physicians and social services at the time of diagnosis,” and sharing more information about Alzheimer’s disease and its progression with the public.
Source: McKnights Seniorliving