Crisis in Adult Care
December 14, 2010 - by
I normally don’t blog about my clients. Simple reason: I’m afraid readers would stop reading.
But Carter forces my hand. He has posted several blogs about the assisted-living industry, also known as adult-care homes. They’re my clients: the N.C. Association of Long-Term Care Facilities and its director, Lou Wilson.
Carter reflects the views of the home-health care industry, his client. That industry has come under scrutiny from the state because it has grown like crazy. In fact, North Carolina
So the home-care people attack the assisted-living people. The home-care people argue – and it’s understandable – that all of us want to stay in our own homes instead of living in an assisted-living home. Plus, the home-care people want the state dollars that might otherwise go to adult-care homes.
But sometimes the truth gets lost in this fight for funds. Facts like:
– Adult-care homes are chronically underfunded by the state. The state reimburses only about 65 percent of their Medicaid costs, compared to 100 % percent of home-care providers. In fact, adult-care homes are the only providers whose reimbursement rate is set by the legislature instead of DHHS. How does that make sense?
– Adult-care homes are more highly regulated than the hundreds of small, scattered home-care providers around the state.
– Like it or not, not everybody can stay in their own home, even if they want to. Some assisted-living residents would be neglected and even abused at home.
Lou and her members don’t deny there are problems in some adult-care homes. But critics shouldn’t deny that the state is short-changing the homes.
Lou’s group has a website – www.friendsofadultcare.com – where you can read more.
Thanks for bearing with me.
Crisis in Adult Care
December 14, 2010/
I normally don’t blog about my clients. Simple reason: I’m afraid readers would stop reading.
But Carter forces my hand. He has posted several blogs about the assisted-living industry, also known as adult-care homes. They’re my clients: the N.C. Association of Long-Term Care Facilities and its director, Lou Wilson.
Carter reflects the views of the home-health care industry, his client. That industry has come under scrutiny from the state because it has grown like crazy. In fact, North Carolina
So the home-care people attack the assisted-living people. The home-care people argue – and it’s understandable – that all of us want to stay in our own homes instead of living in an assisted-living home. Plus, the home-care people want the state dollars that might otherwise go to adult-care homes.
But sometimes the truth gets lost in this fight for funds. Facts like:
– Adult-care homes are chronically underfunded by the state. The state reimburses only about 65 percent of their Medicaid costs, compared to 100 % percent of home-care providers. In fact, adult-care homes are the only providers whose reimbursement rate is set by the legislature instead of DHHS. How does that make sense?
– Adult-care homes are more highly regulated than the hundreds of small, scattered home-care providers around the state.
– Like it or not, not everybody can stay in their own home, even if they want to. Some assisted-living residents would be neglected and even abused at home.
Lou and her members don’t deny there are problems in some adult-care homes. But critics shouldn’t deny that the state is short-changing the homes.
Lou’s group has a website – www.friendsofadultcare.com – where you can read more.
Thanks for bearing with me.