This article was originally published by TheUCNow.com and can be found here.
The Upper Cumberland [is] facing a growing strain on resources as an aging population outpaces the available state and federal funding and manpower required to provide essential in-home care.
That according to UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley during Wednesday’s Policy Council Meeting. He said the regional population is getting older while the aging population continues to expand. Farley said state and federal support has not kept up with that local growth.
“So we talked about waiting lists and we know we have waiting lists, we don’t have enough money and manpower to serve everybody that needs the services that is only going to continue to grow as our population grows as well,” Farley said.
UCHRA and the Area Agency on Aging and Disability are working to manage several programs designed to keep seniors in their homes, including CHOICES and OPTIONS.
Information and Assistance Specialist Paige Terry said the OPTIONS program, which provides home-delivered meals and housekeeping, is a state-funded grant that currently maintains a waiting list. Terry said the CHOICES program offers a higher level of care through Medicaid, providing up to 40 hours of weekly hands-on assistance for tasks like showering and mobility.
“There is a huge need in the communities around for clients, this is something that we see on a daily for clients that are being released from let’s say the hospital and they’re having to go home and they’re already weak but they don’t have any family, they don’t have any friends, they don’t have anybody that can come in and help them with things,” Terry said.
Specialist Jenna McKenzie said the agencies use a scoring system during the intake process to prioritize those with the greatest needs. McKenzie said the assessment looks at personal care abilities, such as whether a client can dress themselves or use the restroom independently.
“I know that it’s hard to accept help because a lot of people don’t want to admit to themselves that they’re losing their independence and it can be hard,” McKenzie said. “It’s not just filling out the application, I think we can both say that it’s also building those relationships with people and encouraging them to know that like there’s nothing wrong with accepting help and asking for help whenever you need it.”
The cost of care remains a significant barrier for many families in the region who do not qualify for government programs. UCHRA Community Services Director LaNelle Godsey said the national median for private-pay non-medical care is between $30 and $35 per hour. Godsey said providing 24-hour care in a home can cost upwards of $25,000 per month, while a private room in a nursing home can exceed $11,000 monthly.
“We can’t plan for the future if we don’t know what’s happening out on the ground,” Farley said.
