Recommendation: Care of the Elderly

A. Area of interest

 

Support and care of the elderly

More adults 65 years and older will receive care through affordable home and community-based services and fewer adults 65 years and older will be referred to protective services.

 

Recommendation

 

Create a continuum of affordable home and community-based services.

 

 

In Stark County, as well as nationally, the social service system has not yet adjusted to meet the needs of the longer lives of the aged population. Seniors often outlive their resources, which can negatively affect quality of life. Of concern is the combination of mental and physical health problems that come with old age. Increased numbers of families are faced with the issue of providing care for an older family member(s). Due to additional risk, of particular concern are seniors whose families do not live in the area. However, even if immediate family is local, the needs of the elderly individual may be too burdensome. There is a need for community-based support. Access to necessary care can be hindered by economics as well as physical and mental fragility.

 

Stark County is on average older than the state and the nation with a median age of 40.2 years. This trend is projected to continue. From 2005 to 2020, the Scripps Gerontology Center projects the population of Stark County aged 60 and older will increase by 32%. Additionally, Stark County residents, mirroring national trends, are living longer. Between 2000 and 2006 there was a 22% increase in Stark County population aged 80 years and older.

 

As people are living longer the demand for age appropriate services increases; as demand increases so to does expense. Social Security and Medicare make up the majority of transfer payments coming into Stark County. In 2005, the average annual Medicare payment was $8,027. Additionally, the average Medicaid payment for nursing care facility recipients was $30,000.

 

Beginning in state fiscal year 2003, Medicaid began to fund home care, supplying an average payment of $3,253. Additionally, Ohio's PASSPORT Medicaid waiver program provides long-term care for seniors in order to keep them in their homes. This change came in part due to perceived cost savings and because it is desirable to keep the elderly in familiar surroundings.

 

However, public funding is not yet in place to provide systemic and comprehensive care and there are concerns regarding current levels of capacity and oversight.