Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Aging Boomers Present New Challenges and Opportunities

The oldest of the 78 million people born from 1946 to 1964 turned 65 in 2011 brining in the first wave of aging babybommers. Because of the enormous size of the boomer generation, the number of senior adults will more than double between now and 2050, from 40 million to 89 million, creating a demand for specialized services. As huge wave pof baby boomers retire each year the demand for soring geriatric care increases. Already, it has proven it self in multiple dividends for facility owners such as assisted living facilities and adult day care centers.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Medical Adult Day Care

The Medical economics, managed care, governmental cut-backs, each a catalyst for downsizing has created a climate of unprecedented financial pressures. Consequently, new alliances and strategies for growth are at the forefront. Emerging as a viable affordable health care alternative, adult day care is such an alliance.
Adult day care, a community-based program designed to meet the needs of functionally impaired adults through an individual plan of care, is composed of 5-8 hours of care/ programing including door-to-door transportation and lunch for adults 18 and over. It is a program designed to serve adults who may be physically impaired, who may have some form of dementia, and who may need special supervision, increased social opportunities, assistance with personal care or other activities of daily living.
Senior citizens, wheelchair bound or ambulatory, may not as yet require the services provided by a nursing home; a center very likely, will be all the support necessary for these individuals. Thus, adult day care meets the needs of the frail elderly and provides a cost efficient alternative to institutionalization.
Professional nurses can have a tremendous impact on society in adult medical day care. By daily evaluation of the frail elderly, nurses can recognize and interpret the signs of a potential medical problem and often prevent a medical emergency. Professional nursing is the basic premise upon which the cost saving centers are based; without which centers cannot function efficiently.
The financial insensitive to start one's own facility is excellent. States now provide a Medicaid Waiver which allows people to stay in their own homes; grant money and Veterans benefits are also available. Moreover, these programs can be enhanced by providing revenue producing ancillary services such as nursing services, geriatric nurse practitioners, medical care, rehabilitation, occupational, physical and speech therapies, family support, nutritional counseling, mental health services, medication reviews and case management for those senior citizens coping with multiple health problems. These services may be billed to Medicare. These programs reduce geriatric hospital stays and re-admissions by providing an additional discharge option.
This type of facility requires the least amount of "start-up" capital when compared to other health related facilities. Some adult day care centers were started in churches. This enabled these centers to have an initial client-base from the congregation. Thus, because of their low rent involvement their start-up capital was minimal.
The demand for these centers continues to grow. By the year 2020, it is estimated that our nation's elderly population will increase to over 53 million.
In this complex world, where our technologies may sometimes compromise our ideologies, there are some justifiable concerns over the quality and quantity of care being received by our frail elderly. Whereas, with adult medical day care, the frail elderly can obtain the medical and social assistance they require, and the cost savings pressures of managed care and downsizing may be satisfied.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

2012 MetLife Mature Market Study

The Metlife Mature Market Institute has released its annual national survey of charges for adult Day services, home care, nusring hoimes and assisted living. The study found that the national average daily rate for adult day care services is $70.00 per day, unchanged from 2011 after being $67 a day in 2009 and 2010. The median daily rate for adult day services nationally remained at $65 a day. The highest daily fees for adult day services were reported in Vermont at $141 per day, while the lowest daily fees were reported in Montgomery, Alabama at $26 per day.

Home Health aides rates were unchanged at $21, although homemaker rates increased by 5.3% to $20. per hour from $19 per hour in 2011.


National average rates for a private nursing home room increased 3.8% to $248 daily from $239 daily in 2011. Assisted Living basse rate rose by 2.1% to $3,550 per month from $3,477 in 2011.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Adult Medical Day Care

Medical economics, managed care, governmental cut-backs, each a catalyst for downsizing, has created a climate of unprecedented financial pressures. Consequently, new alliances and strategies for growth are at the forfront. Emerging as a viable affordable health care alternative, adult day care is such an alliance. Adult day care, a community based program designed to meet the needs of functionally impaired adults through an individual plan of care, is a structred comprehensive program. Adult day care is composed of from 5-8 hours of care/programming including door-to-door transportation and lunch for senior citizens who require assistance with one or more activities of daily living.

The financial incentive to start one's own medical adult day care center is excellent. Most states provide a Medicaid waiver  which allows the elderly to stay at home in thier own community. Moreover, grant money is also available.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Medicare Funding for Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care Centers are typically funded by Medicaid and private pay clients. However, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA) has announced the introduction of the Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2012 (H.R. 6476) which would provide more cost-effective, skilled care options for seniors, people with disabilities, and familiesin the Medicare program.

H.R. 6476 would allow pateints who qualify for home health services or nursing home care under the Medicare program to choose the option of adult day care services instead. By paying adult day care providers 98% of the home health rate, the "medicare adult day services  act of 2012 could also yeild savings to medicare.

In addition to increasing choices for seniors and people with disabilities, the Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2012  bill would provide a vital service to family caregivers. While taking care of loved ones, these caregivers lose an average of $659,139 in wages, pension benefits, and social security  benefits over a lifetime, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. By providing this adult care choice to medicare beneficiaries, H.R. 6476 helps protecct a family's economic weel-being, with out adding to the cost of Medicare.

Congresswoman Sanchez also introduced Medicare Adult Day Care legislation in the 111th Congress which garnered support for 98 co-sponsors  and over 100 state and national consumer and provider organizations.

This has all been stated by the National Adult Day Services Association.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A Typical Adult Day Care Center

Most adult Day Care Centers operate Monday Through Friday from 6:30am to 6:00pm. Centers are usually administered by a professional in the business/health care administration, nursing or social work field. Professional services are provided by a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse and recreational and therapy professionals. The typical direct care is a ratio of 1:6.

Fees average $61.71 per day and typically come from Medicaid or other public source inclusing Veterans Administration, state/local social services or directly from a private -pay participant.

Though participants are diverse in age, ethnicity and ability, the average participant is 65 plus years old, white female with dementia, hypertension or a physical disability requiring assistance with at least one activity of daily living and medication management. She lives with an adult child or spouse, or lives alone, but primarily recieves care from an adult child.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

There has been significant growth in the number of Adult Day Services Centers in the USA over the past eight years, acccording to a new study by the MetLife Mature market Institute. There are more than 4,600 Adult Day Services (ADS) centers nationwide, a 35% increase since 2002. These centers serve about 260,000 people, an increase of more than 100,000 since 2002. Twenty-nine percent of the centers have waiting lists. More than half of the participants are women; 30 percent are under age 65.

This study has found that the centers have significantly upgraded the level of services they provide. 80 percent now have a professional nursing staff and 50% have a social work professional. Half provide phyhsical, occupational and speech therapy. Approximately 90% of the centers offer cognitive stimulation programs, while 80% have memory training. Most centers provide programs for caregivers, inclusing education, support groups and individual counseling. The ratio of direct care worker to participant is now 1:6.