Community-Based Interventions with hospitals

Community -Based Interventions with hospitals are effective in reducing rehospitilization and hospitalization , according to a recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study, which was implemented via 14 state -based Quality Improvement Organbizations (QIOs) found a six percent coorelation in such reductions.

Systematically coordinated community based efforts with hospitals and other providers to improve the quality-of-care transistion and avoid rehospitalization.

The Communities in the study averaged 5.7% in reduction of hospitalization over the two year period of the study.

Some o fthe succesfful strategies includes: helping pateints and family members become actively engaged in their transitions by keeping a persoanl record, knowing the red flags for trouble, ensuring the recieve the right medications and the right follow-up care.

Adult medical day care centers are such a community based program which workes with hospitals to provide these services.

Brain Stimulation used to treat Alzheimer's

A pacemaker-like device was recently implanted into the brain of a patient with early stage Alzheimer's disease at Johns Hopkins's Hospital in Baltimore. The device deliverers deep brain stimulation and is seen as a possible means of boosting memory and reversing cognitive decline. Instead of focusing on drug treatments, many which have failed, this research focuses on the use of low voltage electrical charges delivered to the brain. As well as John Hopkins's hospital, other sites performing this operation are University or Pennsylvania, the University of Florida, Banner Health System in Phoenix in Arizona and the University of Toronto in Canada.

Community Based Services Grow the fastest

In 2011, skilled nursing facilities accounted for the largest share of elder care services. However, home and community based services ( adult day care and home health) are projected to acheive the fastest growth. Advances will be driven by continued state and federal efforts to shift Medicaid payments awaay from skilled nursing to more cost effective community based services. Additonally, many older adults prefer to age in place, remaining in their homes as long as possible.

Grants for Starting an Adult Day Care Center

Social Services Block Grant

The Social Services Block Grant is a federal program that awards funds to states for the provision of social services. Although states determine which agencies and projects can receive the funds, the United States Department of Health and Human Services reports that one type of program supported by these grants is adult daycare. Furthermore, the grant is intended to help individuals become independent, self-sufficient and to reduce neglect. Organizations starting an adult daycare center can learn more about opportunities through their states by contacting their state departments of social services.

Administration on Aging Grants

Because many people consuming adult daycare centers are the elderly, the Administration on Aging offers a number of grants that can be used to fund adult daycare centers where the elderly reside. For example, in 2011, the AOA made funds available to State Units on Aging for the creation of a statewide services network capable of caring for dementia patients. The administration also offers grants to nonprofit, educational and academic organizations for research and services in the area of respite care and caregiver support, nutrition, research and the prevention of elder abuse. Organizations and states wanting to create adult daycare facilities may be eligible for some of these funds, depending on what kind of residents they will serve and what types of services they will provide.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grants

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offers grant funds to public universities, nonprofit organizations and other public agencies for the improvement of health-care services, including adult daycare. Although the foundation prefers to grant programs that can be easily assessed, such as research and training initiatives, organizations that want to start or reorganize adult daycare facilities may be eligible for grants to fund a part of their projects, such as staff training or innovative programs.

Department of Veterans Affairs Grants

Since many veterans are in need of adult day services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers project grants for the creation of community programs for eligible veterans. Adult daycare centers that will offer services to veterans and agree to receive per diem compensation from the VA may be eligible, as long as they offer all of the medical services required by the federal agency. Organizations interested in creating such a program should visit the VA website for more information.

Medicaid to Remain Leading Payment Source

According to The Elder Care Services News letter by Freedonia Industries, Mediciad, which pays for adult day care, will continue to be the leading paument source for the elder care services industry despite efforts at the state and federal levels to curb expenditures. Medicare payments will experience the fastes annual growth, though furture legislative changes and fluctuating reimbursement rates have the potential to affect that outlook. Out-of-pocket expenditures continue to be important in the continuing care and assisted living industries, as many of the costs of these services are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Private insurance coverage will rise as the aged population grows and individuals who doubt the government's ability to provide future care purchase long term care insurance. Other payment sources include chairitable donations, private grants, and other government resources such as US veterans'Adminsitration.

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.

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.