Community Care for the Elderly -
"Save Tax Dollars and Increase Care"

In reviewing how the State of Florida cares for the elderly and disabled, two things stand out: 1) The vast majority of disabled and frail elderly individuals, if given the choice, would prefer to receive care at home. They want to "age in place" at home. Only 3 percent of AARP members in Florida want to receive long-term care in institutional settings such as nursing homes. 2) The cost of providing home care services to the elderly and disabled in their own homes is generally much less expensive than residential or nursing home care. It is usually about 1/4 of the cost.

Over the years state policymakers have expressed concern about elderly individuals being able to get care at home, and there have been some important initiatives to make home care a long term care option. However, according to a recent AARP report, Florida is doing a sub-par job in using taxpayer dollars appropriated for long-term care to provide care to older and disabled adults in their homes where they prefer to be.

Florida's Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) Program serves frail elders age 60 and older to prevent, postpone or reduce inappropriate or unnecessary institutional placements. Community Care for the Elderly "Lead Agencies" - non profit and local governmental agencies across Florida - provide case management and an array of community based services that make it possible for physically and cognitively impaired, low or moderate income older adults to remain safely in their own homes. In 2007, 98.2% of the frail elders served by the CCE did remain at home. Funding for this essential program may be abolished in the current year due to budget reductions. This is unthinkable!

In the state fiscal year of 2007/2008, 782 elders who were on the waiting list for Community Care for the Elderly and the companion Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) programs were placed in nursing homes at an estimated cost of $10,789,507 to the state. Had these same seniors been able to receive care through Community Care and HCE programs, the annual cost would have been $3,659,760 - an immediate savings of $7,129,747 for Florida's taxpayers. As of September 2008 there were 20,780 persons or families awaiting care statewide. Many will die or be institutionalized without funds for Community Care for the Elderly. Only a small percentage will end up getting the care they need to remain safely and independently in their homes.

In 2007, the annual cost for nursing home care for one elder Floridian was *$65,251 annually. The annual cost for an elderly Floridian in the Community Care for the Elderly program was $4,680. Even if this cost were doubled to meet extensive patient needs, the sound financial decision is to place greater emphasis on community and in-home care.

Many elders need nursing home care and there are situations when this care is the wise and preferred choice. However, it is suggested that decision makers study the full spectrum of long-term care services to investigate how, as a state in difficult financial times, we can increase community care options and reduce costs to taxpayers. Why are we ignoring the wishes of seniors and eliminating the most cost-effective care options?

For more information, contact: Florida Association of Aging Services Providers at 850-222-3524 or moreinfo@fasp.net or the Florida Council on Aging at 850-222-8877 or moreinfo@fcoa.org

* Florida Medicaid Nursing Homes July 2007, Rate Semester Initial Per Diems, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.