Issues of the Day 2022

In Wellman Shew’s opinion, the number of elderly Americans is fast increasing, and this trend will continue throughout the twenty-first century. This will have a significant impact on health-care delivery. By 2065, 80 percent of American adults will be 65 or older, with more than a quarter of these people requiring assistance with daily activities. There are currently 6.4 million persons in this age bracket that require long-term care. In addition, one out of every two adults over the age of 85 will require long-term care in their later years.

One article in the special issue of JAMDA examines the long-term care industry's future, with a focus on payment and regulation. It takes into account issues like equity, access to care, and resource allocation efficiency. It also proposes a government long-term care benefit, resolving trade-off concerns and exploring innovative approaches to improve senior care quality. More single-occupancy rooms with greater living areas are advocated for in the page on regulation.

The emergence of natural retirement communities is another significant advancement in long-term care. These communities are being built to meet the demands of the elderly population in the future. The success of healthcare reform and the adoption of universal long-term care insurance, on the other hand, will determine the future of long-term care. Meanwhile, changes to Medicare and Medicaid may have an impact on long-term care expenses. Furthermore, the success of the national long-term care insurance plan is critical to the future of healthcare reform.

The commercial sector is now having difficulty attracting considerable interest in long-term care. Furthermore, state incentives have failed to increase enrolment. People can use their assets as long-term care insurance through these state-sponsored programs. However, as the number of people who require long-term care rises, these programs may be difficult to sell. There is, however, a remedy. The number of people requiring daily assistance is predicted to double by 2065, from seven to fourteen million.

Wellman Shew pointed out that the writers looked at a variety of elements that influence long-term care's future and the quality of care services available. To test these new ideas, many demonstration projects have been launched around the United States. Another possible method is to enhance quality and cost by utilizing new technology and funding systems. The writers also cover cutting-edge technologies for prolonging life expectancy, which provides older people with a better quality of life.

While these studies will help to improve the quality of long-term care, the establishment of a national long-term care insurance policy will be a more substantial improvement. The amount of money available to pay this program would rise by 2050, eliminating the need for private long-term care insurance and Medicaid. More than half of the funds for long-term care programs would be used to pay for increased paid LTSS by 2050. Additionally, extra paid and unpaid carers would be funded under the program.

While long-term care providers can assist people in maintaining their freedom, it's critical to keep an eye on the shifting landscape and address demographic trends that will have an impact on the sector. The number of people who require such care will grow enormously as the Baby Boom generation matures. While the number of senior citizens in the United States is increasing, some states are still unable to meet the demand. By 2031, the oldest baby boomers will have reached the age of 85, more than doubling the demand for long-term care.

While a federal long-term care plan is unlikely to succeed in replacing the CLASS Act, it is a critical first step in resolving the situation. A national long-term care insurance program is included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The CLASS Act was never completely implemented by the Obama administration, and it was repealed by Congress in 2013.

According to Wellman Shew, many countries' social norms have swiftly evolved. In the United States, for example, 38.2 percent of elderly individuals lived with adult children in 2008. By 2016, the percentage had risen to 57.1 percent. Despite the significant shift, many long-term care workers are choosing to leave their positions due to low compensation, long hours, and COVID exposure. Because of this long-term staffing shortage, three-quarters of Minnesota's long-term care facilities are limiting admissions.