Staying Independent Can't Be Achieved Alone
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-10-09 13:39:26
As we grow older, what do we value most? Our ability to live in good health with independence. A recent AARP report has good news: Americans are living longer than ever before, and most of us are gaining more time without disabilities. We're also seeing new opportunities for people with disabilities to live the lives they want to live.
And what do we fear most? Losing our independence. Those who are living with disabilities want as much independence in their daily lives as possible. But independent living does not necessarily mean doing things by yourself. It means being in control of how things are done.
Unfortunately, as we strive to maintain our independence, those with disabilities and the families who care for them are often frustrated by an inadequate and unaffordable system to help them meet their needs.
According to the new AARP report, " Beyond 50.03: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and Disability," a large gap exists between what older adults say they need as they age (including the baby boomers), and what supportive services are actually available. The report also raises the concern that the nation is ill-prepared to meet the demand for independence among people over the age of 50, who will experience disabilities in the coming decades.
The report found that most (51%) of those with disabilities are trying to manage by themselves, with less than half (49%) receiving any regular help with daily activities. More than half of those with disabilities (53%) also say they were unable to do something they needed or wanted to do in the past month. Some of the reported unmet needs are everyday tasks that most people take for granted. For example, one quarter of survey respondents say they need more help with activities such as cooking, shopping or bathing.
For thousands of Louisiana seniors, a helping hand makes all the difference. With a little assistance they are able to remain in their own homes, avoiding more costly nursing home care and an even more costly loss of personal independence and dignity.
The Louisiana State Legislature recently expanded the Medicaid Waiver program that pays for personal care and other services for people in their own homes so that more people can be served. The Legislature also appropriated money for a new Medicaid Personal Care Option program that will offer expanded access to home and community services.
With the slumping economy and with the increasing number of Louisiana residents who will need assistance with meeting their long-term care needs, it is critical that we protect these safety net programs.
While many relatively inexpensive immediate fixes would make important qualitative differences, other improvements will require longer-term, more fundamental change. And planning must start now. Based on the 'Beyond 50' findings, AARP has outlined a number of sweeping proposals for long-term improvements:
- Public funding for long-term supportive services should be reoriented toward increasing options for home and community-based care. There must also be more options for "consumer-direction" in publicly funded programs.
- Individuals must be insured against the high costs of long-term supportive services, and people with disabilities and their families must be protected from some of the heavy burden of the costs of long-term services.
- Communities should be made more physically accessible for people with disabilities.
- Information should be more easily accessible for those who are trying to learn more about available long-term services and whether or not they are eligible.
America's health care system must focus on enhancing functioning and health-related quality of life, not just providing acute and curative care.
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Other Resources
- Beyond 50.03: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and Disability
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