Long Term Services and Supports

The availability of trained direct service workers is threatened by dramatic increase in population age 65 and older and the growing demand for long-term services and supports. This document explains why states and ADRCs need to focus on building their Direct Service Workforce to meet this growing demand.

This paper aims at testing the relationship between older Americans Act (OAA) program expenditures and the prevalence of low-care residents in nursing homes (NHs). Principal findings indicate that increased spending on home-delivered meals was associated with fewer residents in NHs with low-care needs. States that have invested in their community-based service networks, particularly home-delivered meal programs, have proportionally fewer low-care NH residents.

Millions of seniors and adults with disabilities qualify for—but are not enrolled in—programs that could help them pay for prescription drugs, medical care, food, or heat for their homes. BenefitsCheckUp® is a free, confidential, online service to see if you qualify for benefits and take the first steps toward applying.

This report evaluates the experience with the New Jersey Care Partner Support Pilot Program (Pilot) that was conducted in four counties in New Jersey in 2011. The Pilot aims at improving the knowledge and skills of family caregivers caring for adult family members and friends participating in New Jersey’s Medicaid Global Options home and community-based services waiver (GO Waiver) and the state-only funded Jersey Assistance to Community Caregivers (JACC) program.

This guide explains why the older adult population can be more vulnerable during a disaster. It provides tips for family disaster planning, identifies common disaster reactions and coping tips for older adults, and includes links to additional resources.

This paper examines the contents of the 26 states’ proposals, which intent to test on two models related to financing dual eligible beneficiaries, in the areas of target population, implementation date, enrollment, financing, benefits, beneficiary protections, stakeholder engagement, and demonstration evaluation as set out in the states’ initial submission to CMS. Negotiations between CMS and the states are ongoing and are likely to result in some changes from the states’ initial proposals.

The affordability of private pay services is an important component of LTSS system performance. This Insight on the Issues presents data on private pay affordability for every state and more than 400 markets in the U.S. There is wide variation in affordability between states and markets. Private pay nursing home care is not affordable for middle-income families. While less costly than nursing homes, home health care is still unaffordable for middle-income older people at typical levels of use.

This technical assistance tool is a product of CHCS' Implementing the Roadmaps: Innovations in Long-Term Supports and Services program. Through this program, CHCS is helping participating states to rebalance and better manage an array of long-term services and supports for Medicaid populations. This brief highlights ways for states to participate in the Balancing Incentive Program, which offers enhanced federal financing to fund non-institutionally based LTSS within their Medicaid programs.

Published for the past 18 years, the Across the States series was developed to help inform policy discussions among public and private sector leaders in long-term services and supports throughout the U.S. Across the States 2012 presents comparable state-level and national data for more than 140 indicators, drawn together from a wide variety of sources into a single reference. This publication presents up-to-date data and is displayed in easy-to-use maps, graphics, tables, and state profiles.

Looking for a tool to assist your state as you complete a Five-Year Statewide Plan. This document also provides a set of criteria to determine whether ADRC coverage is truly statewide. Use this tool to help with timelines and developing goals.