New Scorecard Shows Gradual Improvement in State Long-Term Care Performance, But Faster Progress Is Needed
<p>While states are making measurable progress in improving long-term services and supports—which includes nursing home care, home care services, and support for family caregivers—performance varies widely across the country. Even the best states have room to improve and the slow pace of change threatens all states’ abilities to meet the needs of their aging populations. </p><p>In <em></em><a href="http://longtermscorecard.org" target="_blank"><em>Raising Expectations: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older </em><em>Adults, People with Physical Disabilities and Family Caregivers</em></a><em>, </em>lead author Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President for Public Policy<em> </em>at AARP, and colleagues evaluated 26 indicators across five key dimensions: 1) affordability and access; 2) choice of setting and provider; 3) quality of care; 4) support for family caregivers, and 5) effective transitions. The report, which was supported by AARP Public Policy Institute, The Commonwealth Fund, and The SCAN Foundation, is an update to the 2011 inaugural scorecard.</p>
<p>Leading states have implemented laws and policies that build stronger Medicaid programs and support family caregivers, the authors say. Such laws focus on sick leave, allowing nurses to delegate health maintenance tasks to home care workers, and devoting more Medicaid dollars to services provided in people’s homes and communities. </p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://longtermscorecard.org">longtermscorecard.org</a> for the report, as well as an interactive map of state rankings and a state comparison tool.</p>