All States/Territories

To answer the question posed in the title, the authors studied HCBS spending and the availability of family members. Higher HCBS expenditures are found to be associated with lower risk of nursing home admission, but this association is statistically insignificant for older adults with living children. Doubling state HCBS expenditures would reduce the risk of nursing home admission among childless seniors by 35%.

The study examines the association of state HCBS expenditures with use of formal and informal personal assistance by Americans aged 70 and older with functional limitations. After controlling for other factors, the authors find that persons residing in states with higher HCBS expenditures were more likely to use formal personal assistance, but not less likely to use informal assistance. Data were from state expenditures and the Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old Survey.

Do you have questions about the different models of fiscal services in consumer-directed care? The first fact sheet compares the Fiscal/Employer Agent (either government or vendor), Agency with Choice, and Fiscal Conduit models. The second illustrates the factors that influence the costs of these different models.

New York spends more than most states on Medicaid and long-term care. To understand why this is, the following traits are evaluated: demographics of residents over 65; poverty level; long-term care spending, budgets, and services; and quality of nursing home care. The findings identify a number of demographic and program factors likely contributing to the high rate of spending.

Here is a collection of links and information for those interested in learning about efforts and resources aimed at improving opportunities for youths with intellectual disabilities to go to college. The site is divided into sections for students, family members, and professionals. Features include a searchable database of postsecondary supports, a discussion board and listserv, and a resource list. Download or subscribe to their Newsletter.

The National Council on Disability is required by law to annually submit a report on the status of the nation in achieving policies that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities and empower them to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. The 2009 report focuses on current quality of life indicators and emerging trends that should be factored into future policies and programs.

Money Follows the Person (MFP) programs only target 0.9% of the people that could be eligible for transitioning out of institutions each year. However, there is a potential to increase rates to 15-40% annually depending on quality of program implementation, who is targeted, and how successful states are in overcoming barriers to transitioning high-needs people. The report looks at grantee states’ potential for accomplishing this rate increase.

Quality surveys were developed to be administered by consumers to other consumers and their families. They measure in-home attendant care, habilitation, and respite services delivered. In addition to surveys are materials used to train the interviewers, survey response thresholds, and a presentation outlining survey findings.

To support self-employment, START-UP / USA provides resources to people with disabilities and generates data and information to validate systems change and capacity-building strategies. The site offers case studies, fact sheets, training materials, webcasts and seminars.

Finding and enrolling older adults and adults with disabilities into benefit programs for which they may be eligible represents an enormous challenge to the agencies that serve them. This website provides tools and resources to these local, state and national agencies to assist them in helping their clients access benefit programs, along with information on best practices and cost-effective strategies for outreach and enrollment.