Long Term Care in Oregon and Nationally Faces Challenges
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-01-08 13:54:21.719947-05:00
Most Americans, including Oregonians, are unaware of the costs associated with long-term care and overestimate the amount that government programs such as Medicare will pay, according to a new AARP report.
The report, titled "The Costs of Long-Term Care: Public Perceptions Versus Reality in 2006," surveyed 1,456 Americans age 45 and older to assess their knowledge of the costs and funding sources for nursing homes, assisted living residences and in-home care. In conjunction, AARP also released an informative resource book, "Across the States 2006: Profiles of Long-Term Care and Independent Living," which highlights the dramatic differences among the states in long-term care services and how these services are financed to help policymakers make informed decisions on long-term care.
A few highlights of the "Costs" report:
- Less than one in ten (8 percent) could reasonably estimate the cost of nursing home care;
- Less than a quarter (23 percent) could reasonably estimate the cost of assisted living, and 23 percent say they don ' t know what an in-home visit by a skilled nurse would cost;
- Only one in 10 (9 percent) could reasonably estimate the cost of an in-home visit by an aide.
Locally, Oregon is lauded as national model for home and community based care and services. But like the U.S. as a whole, the aging of the state with its rapidly changing baby boomer demographics, along with not sufficiently investing in this model of choice and independence over the years, has generated concerns and the need for proactive review and action.
AARP Oregon serves as member on a statewide work group of the Oregon Department of Human Services developing a series of recommendations to ensure Oregon is as prepared as possible for the state's aging and population growth trends and taking steps to plan ahead, refining and improving its long-term care system that upholds the key values of independence and choice.
In addition to the work occurring at the national and state policy levels, AARP State Director Jerry Cohen urges Oregonians to take an active role in understanding and planning for long term care.
"We are encouraging people to talk with their families, in advance of a crisis, about the kinds of care they would like to receive, and how to secure it. If people know what they want, and have an opportunity to realistically plan for their future, they have a much greater chance of living the lifestyle they want in their later years," Cohen said.
Find more information and test your knowledge on how much you know about long-term care on the AARP site or any of the sites below.
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