Long-Term Care

The Alzheimer's Association has released this free online module on their website. This module will define dementia capable systems and dementia friendly communities. Then, it explores the role of public health and communities in contributing to dementia capable systems through support services and programs, workforce training, and dementia friendly communities. It will also cover support services available for people with dementia and their caregivers.

ATI Advisory, supported by the Robert Wood Foundation, has conducted research to create a package of recommended legislative and administrative reforms around LTSS and the caregiving workforce. The goal of the reforms is to increase access to HCBS, reduce the institutional bias in Medicaid, and create a strong caregiving workforce.

Justice in Aging has released a primer providing an overview of Medicaid HCBS, the bias within Medicaid towards institutional care, and how different states are serving older adults with disabilities in the community. It also briefly discusses the race, wealth, and population based inequities in the HCBS system.

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care published a summary on CMS' latest guidance on nursing home visitiation, issued on March 10, 2021. The summary highlights key points and changes from the September issue regarding indoor vistation as well as lists potential concerns.

This Mathematica article summarizes some of their key findings from a recent study utilizing NCI-AD data. The study contributes important information to the field of managed care long-term services and supports (MLTSS) and quality outcomes. One finding shares “MLTSS enrollees rated their experience of care and quality of life more favorably than fee-for-service beneficiaries.”

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has been fielding the 5th wave of the biennial National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study (NPALS). NCHS is asking Directors of adult day services centers and residential care communities to participate in the study by completing and submitting the ADSC and RCC questionnaire. To review the 2020 ADSC and RCC survey FAQs, download samples and learn more about the study, visit the portal.

This brief takes a look at multiple measures beyond waiver waiting lists to evaluate state choices about optional Medicaid eligibility pathways, spending, and services for seniors and people with disabilities as of 2018. The analysis draws on KFF resources, including 50-state surveys of Medicaid financial eligibility pathways for seniors and people with disabilities, HCBS waiver programs, and state plan benefits offered, as well as state Medicaid LTSS expenditures reported by Mathematica.

On February 28, 2021, a 40-year-old individual with a physical disability from Adams County was referred to IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), Wisconsin’s self-directed long-term care program. This individual was the last person waiting to join one of Wisconsin’s long-term care programs that provide home and community-based services to eligible adults who are elderly or have physical or intellectual disabilities.

On behalf of The SCAN Foundation, Manatt Health identifies federal and state Medicaid flexibilities available to state officials and other stakeholders and how those flexibilities are being deployed during COVID-19 to help ensure access to LTSS. The resource guide also highlights state policy goals in implementing regulatory flexibilities available during COVID-19.

The most recent issue of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, A Tribute to Rosalie Kane: Honoring Her Life and Work as Scholar, Mentor, and Social Worker in Gerontology, is dedicated to the life and work of Rosalie Kane. Rosalie helped shape much of our current thinking about long-term services and supports (LTSS). The nine articles and commentaries cover topics ranging from the importance of learning participant preferences to the role of "quality of life" measures in evaluating LTSS.