Community Newsletter: Long-Term Care Program and Services

Community Newsletter – Long-Term Care Program and Services

LTC 310

Community Newsletter – Long-Term Care Program and Services

Many people within the El Paso Community are unaware of the long-term care programs or services available in the area for them or their loved ones. This newsletter will discuss in great detail the types of programs and services for long-term care populations, it will consider what’s available outside of your community as well as what is available within your community, explain the information sources for programs and services, and consider how the programs or services provide information to potential clients. The newsletter will explain the main methods for providing important information to the community, analyze the community, social and educational program and services for long-term care populations and explain the benefits of social and educational programs and services as well as determine how these services and programs are funded and reimbursed. It will explain licensure requirements for programs and services and analyze current trends and issues in long-term care. This newsletter will help determine how these programs and services fit within, or miss the mark, with these trends and issues and analyze how the community of El Paso will help promote health and wellness concepts to address the needs of various LTC populations through their programs and services.

Programs and Services for LTC Populations

Texas in general has proved to have several different services available to adequately meet the needs of the long-term care population. These services are not necessarily meant for just the elderly; many individuals with disabilities require long-term care as well. Long-term care is a large spectrum of services and support amenities, not necessarily medical, that assists individuals with health care requirements or personal needs. These services allow individuals to live as independently or freely as humanly possible when they are unable to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The chart below will explain a various number of programs and services available in El Paso and the surrounding areas to include services available outside of the immediate area.

Program or Service Program or Service Description Population(s) it Serves
Program of All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) Program that is designed to help elderly members of the community remain in their homes if it is medically possible. Members of the program receive a comprehensive plan of care specific to their needs. Offers participants an alternative to traditional residential care homes and nursing home facilities by enabling them to stay in their homes and communities while providing a full spectrum of services administered and coordinated by their Interdisciplinary Team (n.d.). This program is available to the frail and elderly of the community. Participants of the PACE Program must be at least 55 years of age and live within a Bienvivir Service area and have been certified by the State of Texas as needing nursing home care.
The Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging (AAA) The Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is administered by the Rio Grande Council of Governments and funded by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services in accordance with the Older Americans Act (2019). The AAA’s mission is to support Older Adults with their independence and ability to continue to reside in the community for as long as possible and assist Family Caregivers in their daily task of caring for their loved one. Must be 60 or over or care for a person who is older. Minorities with low incomes, individuals living in rural areas, limited English proficiency, individuals with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and people at risk of being placed in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
Texas Community Care for the Aged / Disabled (CCAD) This program offers personal care at home, in foster care, or at an assisted living facility. It covers services that reduce the need for personal care or supervision. It designed to allow seniors and disabled individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement to remain living at home, in the community, or in the home of a caregiver, and receive services and support in those locations. In addition to helping low-income elderly or disabled individuals reside in their homes, the goal is to prevent costly Medicaid-funded nursing home institutionalization (2019). To be eligible for this program, individuals must be a resident of Texas, 18+ years old, monthly income, assets and resources are monitored, must be disables or functionally impaired to the extent that assistance is required, and cannot concurrently receive assistance from Medicaid for the same services.
Senior/Adult Day Care Provides a number of services and activities to senior adults (many with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia) who are unable to fend for themselves. Some services include transportation, coordinating medical prescriptions and pharmacy delivery, physical therapy and nursing care (n.d.). This service also offers day-to-day and special activities like arts-and-crafts, painting and coloring, needlecrafts, light woodworking, etc. This facility is a small, locally owned and operated, family business with a great love for the culture of El Paso
Senior Nutrition Program Provides a Senior Nutrition Program that includes a noontime meal severed at 20 different Senior Center in El Paso County. Center based meals are served in 20 Senior Nutrition Community Centers throughout the County. Home delivered meals are served to 1,117 homebound frail elderly or handicapped individuals (n.d.). Valley Services is the County’s meal vendor for the preparation and delivery of all meals. 60 years of age or older and/or a person with disabilities. For home delivered meals, must be home-bound frail elderly or disabled. Also provides home delivered noontime meals to elderly frail person or disable individuals.

Community, Social and Educational Programs

The elderly population will continue to grow at an unprecedented rate. This in turn require the community surrounding them to offer social, educational and emotional support. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities. The benefit of home and community-based long-term care services are crucial. These programs and services are provided to older individuals and people with disabilities in their own homes and communities as an alternative to institutional (nursing home) care. This service allows individuals to continue living a “normal” life within their own home but with assistance when needed. Community services and programs offered include meal services, adult day care, transportation and senior centers. These services can assist families care for their loved one with additional help by utilizing these services. Social, educational, and community programs and services are crucial to many communities to help aid individuals who may not otherwise be able to obtain them. These programs and services are key to caring for our community.

Impact of Reimbursement

Cost, reimbursement methods and finance options for lifespan management vary for several different community-based and private programs and services like skilled nursing facilities. According to Perley (2016), “Government programs are a significant source of revenue for long-term care facilities.” These include various Medicare programs like Parts A, B, C, and D and Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals 65 and over or individuals with disabilities. The payment method for individuals requiring long-term care can depend on their financial situation and the type of services that are needed (Long-term Care, 2017). Many people rely on a number of sources for payment such as personal funds (savings, pension or retirement funds), government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and private financing options such as long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, life insurance and trust funds.

Licensure Requirements

According to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) “Licensing, credentialing, certification, and privileging are used by regulatory agencies and private entities to ensure that a practitioner in a field has the required training, knowledge, and experience to perform as a qualified professional in that field”(n.d.). These requirements have been used largely in the healthcare field but have increasingly become used by public health and other regulated programs and services to ensure competency as well as to protect patients and consumers. Depending on the State and the program or services being offered, the terms of the licensing, credentialing, and privileging may be used interchangeably. For instance, for staff in a skilled nursing facility to be licensed, they must complete a number of computer-based trainings, pre-surveys, pay license fees and submit their required documentation for their license application before even being granted the proper licensure. Licenses expires on the second anniversary after the effective date. State issues a license to a facility after an inspection. This process is overseen by a state’s department of health, department of social services or combination of these departments. The teams survey staff, residents and family members, examine facility records and make observations. These surveys are then used to identity compliance and quality improvement issues.

Current Trends and Issues in Long-Term Care

The aging population has grown considerably over the past fifty years. In 1965, the Older Americans Act (OOA) was passed which helped to provide funds for critical services that kept the older population health and independent. Some of the OAA services included meals, job training, senior centers, health promotion, benefits enrollment, caregiver support, transportation, and more. The 1970’s denoted a period where a large number of the population were entering nursing homes; this growth raised concerns about the sustainability of the long-term care system. In 1973 the OAA decided to establish and update the Area Agencies of Aging. This agency also works together with the Senior Community Service Employment Program (NCOA, n.d.). This employment program allows members of the community to get involved with different programs to help the aging communities with everyday activities as well as taking meals to them for the ones who are unable to cook. In the past fifty years, programs and services have evolved considerably. There are so many programs and services that have updated their care and services for the aging population. The government also has programs and services for the aging population, so they are able to obtain health coverage to receive the care they require. Some of these programs include Medicaid and Medicare. Some additional programs and services for individuals requiring long-term care include low income housing for individuals with disabilities and/or who are on a fixed income or of a certain age that would qualify them. State and Federal Governments has played a huge role in the financing of long-term care. The increasing aging population exacerbates the importance of this specific required care.

Health and Wellness Promotion

El Paso offers and array of community programs and services to aid in promoting health and wellness within the long-term care populations. Some of these services include the variety of home health care that is offered, the community programs and services available and the abundance of facilities available to care for individuals requiring long-term care. El Paso offers a variety of educational, emotional and social services for the entire community, but many are focused toward the elderly population.

Conclusion

Long-term care is a variation of services that can assist individuals with medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability that are not capable of caring for themselves over a long period of time. Several aspects have contributed to the complex issues with long-term care but in recent years, it has gained strength and support throughout the country providing elevated program and support services to the individuals requiring long-term care.

References

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). (n.d.). Scope of Practice Toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.astho.org/Programs/Preparedness/Public-Health-Emergency-Law/Scope-of-Practice-Toolkit/Understanding-Licensing,-Credentialing,-Certification,-and-Privileging(2)/

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2018, August 28). The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight. Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.cms.gov/cciio/index.html

Council of Governments, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. (2019). The Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from http://www.riocog.org/AAA/aaa.htm El Paso County. Senior Nutrition Program (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from https://www.epcounty.com/famcom/nutrition.htm

El Paso County. (2019). Nutrition Program Centers, Senior Nutrition Program. Retrieved August 13, 2019, from https://www.epcounty.com/famcom/nutrition.htm

Long-Term Care. (2017, May 01). Paying for Care. Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/paying-care

Medicare.gov (n.d.). Medicare and Medicaid. Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/get-help-paying-costs/medicaid

National Council on Aging (NCOA). (n.d.). Older Americans Act (OAA). Retrieved September 2019 from https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/older-americans-act/

New Horizons Adult Day Care. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from http://www.newhorizonsadultdaycare.com/

Perley (2016). Managing the long-term care facility: Practical approaches to providing quality care. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

Program – Bienvivir: El Paso, Texas All Inclusive Senior Health. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from https://www.bienvivir.org/program

Texas Community Care for Aged/Disabled: Non-Medicaid Services for the Elderly. (2019). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/texas_ccad.html

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