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Facing the Problems of Providing Long-Term Care for the Oldest Old |
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From Ascribe Newsfeed: As the baby boomers reach the so-called third age, they are healthier and more active than any earlier group of retirees. However, one day they will be joining the already growing population of those over 85, raising economic and healthcare issues that range from addressing the special needs of the aged to containing the costs of meeting those needs, especially the costs and problems involved in nursing home placement. In "Facing the Problems of Providing Long-Term Care for the Oldest Old," Beverly Goldberg, a senior fellow and at The Century Foundation examines the demographic realities facing our nation as the boomers continue to age, the special needs of the oldest old, the costs of the long-term care necessary to meet those needs, and the challenge of developing a large enough cadre of health care workers who are trained in gerontology. It goes on to discuss the personal costs and the public costs (especially through Medicare and Medicaid) of providing decent care whether in nursing homes or at home, and the role of private insurance in meeting some of those costs. Finally, it examines the issues involved in finding caretakers, especially the shortage of trained medical personnel and home health care aides, and the reasons why such care is not likely to be provided by family.
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