What is Long Term
Care | Trends in the Field | Long
Term Care Overview
Trends in the Field
Nursing Shortage
Provider Magazine recently reported on a recent
study by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)
which foresees serious nursing shortages that will
likely affect access to long term care services.
According to the study, "there will not be
a sufficient workforce available in the coming years
to maintain even the current staffing levels in
skilled nursing facilities. This staffing shortage
can, in turn, lead to a declining availability of
services and introduce a problem of access to care
for those, particularly the elderly, requiring long-term
health care."
Medicare Drug-Benefit Plan
Implementing election-year proposals to provide
prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries
has been complicated by the slowing economy. Additional
concerns include the Congressional Budget Office's
revised projections that place the cost of a drug
program sharply higher than previous estimates and
substantial differences in how Democrats and Republicans
envision the program's scope and coverage.
Nursing Home Administrator
Shortage
According to a report by the National Association
of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators
(NAB), a recent trend has been confirmed, revealing
a sharp decline in Nursing Home Administrator licensure
candidates for the third straight year. The Executive
Director of NAB, Mr. Randy Lindner, stated that
NAB leadership has expressed alarm about this steep
decline and its impact on the future of quality
service delivery to the nation’s frail elderly
and disabled. NAB members have a commitment to the
health, safety, and welfare of the nation’s
elderly; therefore, NAB and the Wertlieb Institute
are collaborating on a strategy to further analyze
these findings.
