For Immediate Release
Contact: AoA Press Office
(202) 401-4634

May 19, 2004

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.

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging (AoA), works with a nationwide network of organizations and service providers to make support services and resources available to older persons and their caregivers. For more information about the AoA, please contact: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, Washington, D.C. 20201, Phone (202) 401-4541.

http://www.aoa.gov
Email: aoainfo@aoa.gov

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