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PRESS RELEASE
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
| May 19th, 2004 |
Contact: AoA Press Office
(202) 401-4634 |
AoA, NGA Announce Joint Effort to Help States
To Strengthen Long Term Care Systems
HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina Carbonell today announced
a joint effort with the National Governor’s Association
(NGA) to support state and community efforts to increase the
availability of community-based long-term care services
AoA and NGA will jointly sponsor a policy academy to help states
to develop customized strategies to rebalance their long-term
care systems away from institutional care and toward community-based
living. The academy’s goal is to improve the range and
accessibility of home and community-based long-term care options
available for older Americans.
“Many Americans would prefer to receive appropriate long-term
care services in their homes or in their communities, rather
than in institutions,” Assistant Secretary Carbonell said. “This
policy academy will help states to strengthen and increase their
home and community-based services, and provide this alternative
to many more older Americans. It builds upon President Bush’s
New Freedom Initiative, which is removing barriers to community
life for Americans with disabilities, she added.”
Home and community-based services, such as personal care, home
health, adult day care, adult foster homes and assisted living
facilities, are a growing component of long term care (LTC) services.
Nationally, in 2002, Medicaid home and community-based services
for persons of all ages constituted 30 percent of total Medicaid
LTC expenditures, with 70 percent of expenditures going to institutional
care. In 2011, baby-boomers will begin turning 65, and by 2030,
one in five people will be age 65 or older. As the population
ages and the number of persons aged 85 and older increases, demand
for LTC services--especially home and community based services,
will grow substantially.
The Policy Academy, Rebalancing Long Term Care Systems Toward
Quality Community Living and Healthy Aging, is part of Gov. Dirk
Kempthorne’s Long-Term Care Initiative as Chairman of the
NGA.
The NGA will select eight states or territories to participate
in the policy academy, which will use an interactive, team-based
process to develop action plans focused on balancing their long
term care systems. Participants will receive one year of ongoing
technical assistance and a small grant to assist in implementing
the strategies laid out in their plan.
The academy will be held in August in Denver. States and territories
interested in participating in the academy must submit an application
to NGA by June 17, 2004. To request an application, go to www.nga.org or contact Joy Cameron at 202-624-5822, or by email at jcameron@nga.org.
| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 9:06:19 AM |
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