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Home-Based vs. Institutionalized Care

Tennesseans say they want their family members who are elderly or disabled to remain at home or in the community as long as possible.  But most of Tennessee's long term care spending is on institutional, usually nursing home care.  Why is our state wasting money on care that no one wants?

Study after study has found that Tennessee ranks at the bottom of the states in providing what is called home and community based services (HCBS) to people who need long-term care.  Instead, people with long term care needs end up in institutions--most often nursing homes--when they want to be in their homes with their families and their communities.  Studies also show that states that increase their HCBS options actually spend less caring for people than they do when people are institutionalized.  So, creating HCBS options saves money and gives people a chance to live with more freedom and happiness.

The facts are simple:

(1) Tennesseans want HCBS for themselves and their families. For more information, read this article:

• http://www.aarp.org/research/longtermcare/resources/tn_ltc.html

(2) Most of Tennessee's state funds spent on long term care go to institutionalized care not HCBS. For more information, view these documents:

• http://www.stevegoldada.com/stevegoldada/archive.php?mode=A&id=128;&sort=D
• http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7345%20rev081105.pdf

(3) States that increase HCBS spending save money. For more information, view these documents:

• http://www.chcs.org/usr_doc/health_home.pdf
• http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~75~2346013,00.html 

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