International Rural Aging Project
International Rural Aging
Project
Preliminary Results-U.S.
June 15, 2000
Health and Demographics
A discussion which describes who the US rural aging are, the economics of rural communities and health systems, and models of health care delivery that work.
- How to blend Medicare and Medicaid?
- Integration for Medical and Long Term Care
- Therapy Services (PT, OT)
- Availability of Providers locally
- Reimbursement for “basic workers”
- Lack of geriatric training for care providers
- Lack of home-based self-directed care
- Baby boomers want more control
- Having choices is important to consumers’ satisfaction
- Structural issues: Age 70 pushed to retire, Age 55-62 – laid off, (i.e. not covered by insurance)
- Need more seamless transition from work to retirement
- Elders caring for elders
- Workforce issues (labor shortage)
- Underutilization of preventive services
Key Policy Points:
- Integration of services and payments/reimbursements
- Increased emphasis on geriatric training
- Decision making locally based and consumer driven