Tennessee’s Seniors to Have More Home Care Options
There’s a new law in the State of Tennessee that expands home and community care for senior citizens. The Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008 shifts money from nursing homes to community and home care options for the elderly and disabled.
The law allows for a more even distribution of TennCare (Tennessee’s managed care program) funds between traditional nursing homes and home and community-based programs. Prior to the new law, nursing homes received 98 percent of long-term care funds in Tennessee.
It’s significant in that currently, Tennessee ranks last in the nation in funding for alternatives to nursing homes.
Seniors not on TennCare benefitted from the legislative session as well. According to the AARP:
Lawmakers also voted to increase funding by nearly $4 million beginning July 1 this year for the Options for Community Living program. The program, administered by the state’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, provides funds for homemaker services, home delivered meals and caregiving services for the elderly or disabled who are not eligible for TennCare.
While public opinion is positive, I am sensitive to the nursing homes who will be affected by this new law. My mother was in a nursing home and we were very pleased with the care, and they did some great things with very limited resources.
Two things concern me about this new legislation: that the new home care options will cause a boom in home health businesses that will need to be watched closely, and, with seniors able to remain at home for longer, nursing home patients will be sicker and require more care at facilities receiving less money.
But, both concerns were addressed by Governor Phil Bredesen:
The legislation will also provide additional money to nursing homes that care for seriously ill patients who need more attention, and it creates a state ombudsman position to oversee the home health-care industry.
“We’re going to watch this like a hawk,” Bredesen said, adding he dealt with many “fly-by-night” home health providers when he worked in the health-care field, and he does not want such businesses to receive any of the state’s new money.
The bulk of the changes won’t take place until July 2009, but it’s a step in the right direction to give seniors more choices in their care.
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August 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
This new law, the LONG TERM CARE COMMUNITY CHOICES ACT 0F 2008, will create positive changes for the elderly and ther families. The one problem our family has encountered is the changes will not take effect until July of 2009.
My mother received a letter on August 7, 2008 that her Tenncare will be cut to no more 40 hrs of nursing and home health aide care combined each week. To as little of NO CARE!
mother is unable to walk, needs max assistance to transfer her to wheelchair, to beside commode. She cannot prepare her own meals due to dementia, has swallowing difficulties, and has to have her meals prepared to aid her swallowing as to not aspirate and develop pnuemonia She has copd and is on oxygen 24 hrs a day. Breathing treatments 4 times a day, has to be repositioned every 2 hrs. a day and night due to pressure sores. She has a seizure disorder (controlled by medication). She is unable to take her medication on her own, could not get up to get out of house in case of emergency.
The care she has received from her caregivers in the past 2 years has saved her life. She has come from being 88 pounds to a healthy 125 pounds, escaping a feeding tube. July of 2009 will be too late for her and many, many more.