Health and Disability

WE ARE the lucky ones. Not only are we blessed with two mothers in their 90s — we are doubly blessed with mothers whose resources cover their care. That's not the norm in America, where the aging population's need for long-term care imposes harsh economic as well as emotional stress on many families. A provision of the health-care bill aims to offer some relief to those families, and we're all for it.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, called CLASS, was one of Teddy Kennedy's pet proposals in recent years. It's a simple idea. Workers would voluntarily pay into a fund for at least five years and then be able to draw from it if they become disabled by age or illness.

A daily stipend tied to the degree of disability, to be set by the secretary of Health and Human Services but probably starting at about $75, would go for whatever was needed — someone helping out at home, transportation to senior day care, installation of handicap-friendly devices — allowing many individuals to remain in their communities and out of costly nursing homes.

For people who aren't as lucky as we are, that's often the only choice. Their parents or a disabled relative might need assistance in eating, bathing, dressing or moving from a chair to the bathroom. A small stipend can make all the difference. It can mean an elderly person gets to stay at home with some assistance getting dressed and ……

Thanks and a Hat Tip to Patti Dudek…

http://bit.ly/8c0jiM

The Dec. 9 editorial "Health reform's heavy lifting" unfairly criticized the fiscal soundness of the CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports) Act, an innovative, voluntary, long-term care insurance program in the Senate health-care bill….

A closer look reveals that the proposal has new provisions to assure financial sustainability by reducing premiums, creating a healthier risk pool and new reserve requirements, and providing numerous safeguards to guarantee solvency over a 75-year period -- thanks to an amendment from Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H)….

http://bit.ly/687ncn

The Michigan State Police’s investigation into the Arenac County Public Guardian Office, which began in June, has led to three arrests.
A statement from the Ogemaw County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued Dec. 9 said over $300,000 worth of misappropriated funds from approximately 50 clients, during the years 1999 to 2009, was uncovered by the MSP investigation.
According to Detective Sergeant David Rivard, of the West Branch State Police Post, public guardian Robert Romps was arrested by the Michigan State Police on Dec. 8, along with Sherilyn Jones, the public guardian Romps replaced who was fired in August while her office was under investigation for criminal activity by the Michigan State Police and being audited by the Michigan Treasury Department. Jones’ mother, Sally Lebeau, was also arrested…….

LTCFocUS.org provides data on nursing home care in the US. Our goal is to allow researchers to trace relationships between state policies, local market forces and the quality of long-termcare and enable policymakers to craft state and local guidelines that promote high-quality, cost-effective, equitable care for older Americans.Learn More >

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,state data

Brown University

The Senate on Friday turned back a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled, saving the plan once championed by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in its health overhaul bill.
But the vote exposed the difficulties Democratic leaders face in persuading their own moderates to remain united behind sweeping legislation they hope to deliver to President Barack Obama. Eleven Democrats voted with Republicans, who warned that the new program would turn into a drain on the federal budget…..

Senate preserves long-term care program - The ReporterBusiness: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

Last year, I was rushed to the hospital after a severe gastrointestinal infection became septicemia. I was unconscious, inches away from death, but before the doctors would perform their magic they asked my wife, "Are you sure you want us to do this?"
Actually, they said, "Is he full code?" but it meant the same thing.
To my wife, it was clear their uncertainty was due to my physical disabilities. I was born 47 years ago with a congenital neuromuscular delight called spinal muscular atrophy. I've never walked or stood and have very limited use of my hands.
Was my life worth prolonging? Should the hospital provide me with the same measure of medical intervention it would anyone else?
Please! Don't hold my rag-doll body against me!……

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,disability stigma

People like me -- chicagotribune.com

The U.S. health care workforce’s lack of health coverage raises “important and perhaps alarming issues,” according to an article in the American Journal of Public Health’s December issue.

In some settings — specifically residential care and nursing homes — “almost one third of all workers providing hands-on care to vulnerable adults are uninsured,” the researchers report…….

The authors of the AJPH article argue that their findings raise serious public health and policy issues regarding the quality of the U.S. health care workforce. Of particular concern are “workers transmitting undetected infectious disease because they delay seeking care, and transmitting the flu because they do not receive a flu shot.”……

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,uninsured CNAs

Uninsured Health Care Workers Pose Public Health Risks | PHInational.org

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance has just released a new guide that addresses the new 2010 tax deductible items and limits for individuals and business owners purchasing long-term care insurance.   The “Guide To Tax Deductible Long-Term Care Insurance can be found at their website:  http://www.aaltci.org/tax. This guide provides comprehensive information including state by state deductibility rule s and federal tax deductibility rules….

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2010 Long Term Care Tax Deductibility | NewRetirement Blog