Some Opportunities and Methods for Promoting More Adequate, Decent, and Equitable Long - Term Care for the Elderly

摘要

Long - term care for the disabled elderly can be a service of publicly - funded home care and informal support systems rather than institutions, particularly since the target population is small and thus expanded in - home benefits will not be cost - prohibitive. Nursing home care could be improved through private ownership combined with private or public management, but an adequate home care system that reduces institutionalization is also needed. Several Massachusetts' studies suggest that the existing home care system is functioning equitably and that supportive services help prevent deterioration in clients' medical, functional, and emotional well - being. Moreover, families have continued to provide a substantial amount of help to persons who were receiving weekly publicly - paid home care from their home health agency or under the State's generous homemaker program. Improved Federal funding for home care services should be accompanied by efforts to mobilize greater amounts of unpaid help on behalf of disabled citizens. The young and newly - retired elderly who have much spare time could be used in this program, which would focus on congregate housing developments or other concentrations of senior citizens. Records would be maintained of the time contributed by individuals for hour - to - hour return or placed in an insurance pool. Those who refused might be ineligible for public long - term care benefits. References are included.