ELLIE'S BLOG on Living Well with Disability

Seven percent of Medicaid long term care users( the elderly and the disabled) use 52% of all Medicaid Spending . This is according to the KAISER COMMISSION ON Medicaid and the Uninsured. This is not something that everyone is aware of.

As I mentioned in my last blog that Community Living was less expensive and was desired by a large percentage of people who are currently in nursing homes.  It also fulfills the legal requirements of Olmstead. In 1999 the  Supreme Court ruled that the ADA legislation meant that people with disabilities should be living or educated in the least restrictive environment.

This past week there were two articles that reinforced to me that Community Living should be put on the "front Burner".  . It will save money in Medicaid as well as meet patients needs and follow the Olmstead requirements. But it will take careful planning as each state controls  Medicaid in their state. And that means how Medicaid money is used  and  which citizens are able to access it

The first article was in the New York Times. It was a shock to me as I am a senior  person with a disability due to MS in New York State. The article was based on a scorecard by the AARP which rated all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the availability and quality of services for long-term care.  My state New York rated 44th. Minnesota, Washington and Oregon were at the top of the list, while Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia brought up the rear.

My state NY  had several areas for its poor marks. Interestingly it ranked 50th in the percentage of the disabled adults that were living in the community (Community Living) and receiving the care and the support they needed.  It also ranked a poorly ( 48th) on support for family caregivers. What this refers to is respite care and access to counseling. Yet as NY ranks 2nd in enrolling low-income disabled adults in Medicaid it appears to be a priority problem. Which they must solve.

The second article was in the Washington post and it and concerned the care of people with Alzheimer's in the United States.This diseases affects 5.4 million Americans currently and in a rapidly aging population it could be a budget buster for Medicare Medicaid and families.  In the article they mentioned that President Obama was developing a national  plan for both research and help in the care those with Alzheimer's and their families. Here again family's want to be able to care for their parent or spouse with Alzheimer's Disease in their home as long as they are able. So after they have used up all their money and will need to use Medicaid in the current situation they would not have to place their parent or spouse in a nursing home. Here again Community Living would solve their problem as well as decrease cost for the State.

For more information on what your state is doing: http://www.longtermscorecard.org/

One of the hundred's of Monarch Butterfly's that visited my

Butterfly Bush in my garden this summer.

Be well, ellie