direct care workers Archives

The US Predicts Big Increases In Skilled Nursing And Long-Term Care Costs

New government projections estimate significant increases in both overall and out-of-pocket costs for home care, nursing facilities, and continuing care communities (CCRCs) through this decade. The projected steep rise in costs will lead to tough decisions for both consumers and government. The latest annual projections, by analysts at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) forecast overall health [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2023-04-04T09:59:47-04:00April 4th, 2023|Health Care, Uncategorized|0 Comments

One Reason We Can’t Find Homecare Workers: Their Growing Fear Of Violence

The fear of violence against home care aides, nurses, and therapists may be adding to the already-severe shortage of care workers and adding to the burden on family caregivers. In our increasingly aggressive society, home care workers say they are being assaulted by angry and frustrated family members as well as people in the neighborhoods they visit. In some cases, [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2023-02-21T11:15:54-05:00February 21st, 2023|aging in place|0 Comments

A Valuable New Framework For Improving The Care Of Frail Older Adults

Imagine, for a moment, a functioning, well-developed system for improving the lives of frail older adults. Imagine that, instead of our current chaotic, dangerous, and needlessly expensive patchwork of care for seniors, the US had a well-coordinated care model that leverages and supports paid aides, family caregivers, safe and appropriate housing, and new technology. And imagine a system that makes [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2022-09-07T11:06:12-04:00September 7th, 2022|long term care reform, Uncategorized|0 Comments

We Need More Immigrants to Care For Frail Older Adults

The US desperately needs more direct care workers to provide personal assistance to frail older adults and younger people with disabilities. Many native-born Americans were unwilling to do this work even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, shortages are far worse. Yet, the US continues to bar entry to those who are willing and able to care for frail older adults [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2022-04-21T10:00:19-04:00April 21st, 2022|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Is Supporting Family Caregivers Good For the Economy?

The congressional proposal to increase federal funding for Medicaid’s home and community-based (HCBS) long-term care program likely would benefit the US economy, although it could increase costs for those not receiving Medicaid. The HCBS expansion is included in the current House version of President Biden’s Build Back Better (BBB) social spending, climate, and tax plan. Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) and [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-12-14T15:17:20-05:00December 14th, 2021|family caregivers|0 Comments

Staff Shortages Are Hammering Long-term Care Facilities, Home Care Agencies, and Families

The shortage of staff in long-term facilities and home care agencies has gone from a problem to a crisis. Three rural nursing homes in Maine close because they cannot hire enough staff to maintain care for patients and residents. A nursing home in Oklahoma shuts its doors due to a staff shortages. Same in Kansas. A new industry survey reports [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-09-22T14:28:34-04:00September 22nd, 2021|long-term care workers, Uncategorized|1 Comment

Confronting the Growing Shortage of Care Workers For Older Adults

Every conversation I have with operators of senior living facilities and home care agencies quickly pivots to one issue: A desperate shortage of care workers. The problem isn’t new. Low pay, low status, and physically and emotionally demanding work has plagued the long-term care industry’s ability to hire for years. Highly restrictive Trump-era immigration policies further shrunk the supply of [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-07-06T16:13:08-04:00July 6th, 2021|long-term care, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The Federal Government Will Require Nursing Homes to Report Covid-19 Vaccine Rates for Staff And Residents

The federal agency that regulates nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will require facilities to publicly report covid-19 vaccination rates for staff and residents starting May 21. The rule is likely to press operators to boost staff vaccine rates to at least the 75 percent rate that industry trade groups have set as a goal Some [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-05-12T11:58:27-04:00May 12th, 2021|nursing homes|0 Comments

Biden Begins An Important, Much-Delayed, National Debate About Long-Term Care Reform

President Biden’s $400 billion plan to expand Medicaid’s home and community based services (HCBS) for people receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) already has accomplished one major goal: It has policymakers and opinion leaders talking about how we care for frail older adults and younger people with disabilities. We not had a long-term care conversation like this since Congress created [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-04-08T14:58:50-04:00April 8th, 2021|Joe Biden, long term care reform, Medicaid|1 Comment

Is The Shift Of Medicaid Long-Term Care From Nursing Facilities To Home About To Accelerate?

The massive pandemic relief bill that the House is likely to approve by the end of this week includes billions of dollars in new funding for government long-term services and supports (LTSS) for frail older adults and young people with disabilities. But, paradoxically, the most far-reaching change may be from a temporary funding increase for Medicaid home and community-based services [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2021-02-24T15:04:09-05:00February 24th, 2021|Medicaid|8 Comments