Home and Community-Based Care
Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care in Louisiana: An AARP Survey
Research Report
Anita Stowell-Ritter, AARP Knowledge Management
April 2002
AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Louisiana relies almost entirely on nursing homes to provide long-term care services (LTC). Despite this, the state's vacancy rate for nursing homes remains comparatively high. This suggest that a reconfiguration of the state's fragmented, duplicative, and outdated LTC system is needed to allocate more funding to home and community-based care options and to rebalance the system to more closely correspond to the articulated preferences of Louisianans.
This survey of AARP members in Louisiana was undertaken to clarify LTC preferences and explore strategies for reducing the dependence on costly nursing home facilities. Among the key issues covered are:
- Ease of finding affordable LTC services within a reasonable distance of their homes
- Preferences for types of LTC services
- Willingness to enter a nursing facility if home and community-based services are unavailable
- Support for allowing Medicaid beneficiaries to choose between receiving services in a nursing home or in their homes and communities
Telephone interviews of 800 randomly selected Louisiana AARP members with known telephone numbers, were conducted by Woelfel Research from December 3 through 11, 2003. The report was prepared by Anita Stowell-Ritter of AARP Knowledge Management who may be contacted at 202/434-6205 for further information. (18 pages)