Long-term care panel releases recommendations

Though the panel narrowly approved proposals on Friday, it did not reach a consensus on how to pay for these often expensive services.

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Faces Long-Term Care Crisis, Report Says
The U.S. is facing a long-term-care crisis and needs to do a better job of preparing for it, a new congressional report says. Government agencies should work quickly to better harness public and private resources to best provide and pay for long-term care as 78 million baby boomers, born from 1946 to 1964, head into old age at the same time many of their parents are living into their 80s and 90s, according to the federal Commission on Long-Term Care, which released a series of recommendations Friday for dealing with the problem (Greene, 9/13).

Kaiser Health News: Long-Term Care Panel Releases Recommendations But Fails To Offer Plan To Help Pay For Services
A commission created by Congress to address the country's surging need for long-term health care released recommendations Friday but did not reach a consensus on how to pay for these often expensive services (Jaffe, 9/13).

Politico: Rift Exposed Over Long-Term Care Proposals
Democrats picked to serve on a special long-term care commission organized by Congress in the aftermath of Obamacare's discarded CLASS Act mostly rejected the panel's recommendations -; arguing that the commission failed to consider the key question of how to finance long-term care for an aging population. The special commission issued recommendations Friday for tackling the persistent policy challenge of reforming long-term care. The recommendations were approved, 9-6, but five of the nine Democratic appointees voted against the commission's final recommendations (Millman, 9/16).

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal offers consumer tips about different types of at-home options --

The Wall Street Journal: When To Consider In-Home Care
Nine out of 10 Americans say they want to grow old at home and keep living in their communities as long as possible, according to AARP. Home-health providers are rushing in to meet the demand. But there are things to consider when looking into care at home-;including the number of limitations a person is struggling with, whether they have supports in the community and whether the home itself is suitable. New advances in home care are allowing more people to remain in their homes because of telehealth and apps designed to keep track of an elder person's medication compliance and comings and goings, says Steve Landers, chief executive of VNA Health Group, which provides home-health services. Meanwhile, there are different types of at-home options to draw on. Maybe you need to see a doctor or nurse regularly, and these professionals do pay house calls. Personal-care assistants can help with nonmedical tasks like bathing. Assistance shopping, cooking or cleaning are also options (Forman, 9/15).