Will Homecare be the Healthcare solution for Florida’s Aging Population?

By Sharon Williams, RN

Among elderly Floridians, nearly 813,000 live alone, most of them women.

“For a 65 year old couple today, there is a 45% chance that one spouse will live to age 95.” Drew Denning, Principal Financial Group

43% of all people in the United States age 85 or older need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and self care.

Nearly 8,000 baby boomers celebrate their 60th birthday each day.

Between 2001 and 2029 baby boomers will reach age 65 at the rate of 1 every 8 seconds.

There are 59 Homecare agencies Certified by Medicare to provide care in Brevard County.

The first homecare services were provided more than a century ago. Nurses dressed in long wool skirts and rode horse-back into the rural country side to deliver babies, tend to broken bones, and dress gunshot wounds. A single visit taking the better portion of a day.

I have been in homecare over 18 years and have seen many regulatory changes as well as technological advances.

Today, homecare staff utilizes GPS technology to help navigate between home visits, usually seeing six patients a day, while driving as much as 100 miles.

With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, the healthcare delivery system will need further change to meet surging demands.

Fortunately, the Baby Boomer generation has fallen in love with computers and able to find most everything needed regarding healthcare, via the Internet. Patients not only are now involved with their care, but use computers to research everything from disease processes and health care interventions to Homecare agency report cards. Each Medicare certified agency’s patient outcome rating is now posted on a government internet report. Consumers can go online and choose the agency that has the best scores.

According to the 2007 report from the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, of all the states, Florida ranks 4th in total population and 1st in residents aging 65 or older. These statistics make Florida the “oldest” state in the country. Steady increases in longevity means a growing number of chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure and diabetes. Not all patients with chronic conditions need nursing home care; some patients just need a little ‘helping hand’ from time to time, which is where homecare services come into play.

As state and national populations age and change, so do the options and sites for health care provision. Although most personal care is provided by family and friends, when professional help is needed, homecare services can play a major role. The desire to achieve the highest level of health and independence puts homecare at the forefront of today’s health care options. Homecare provides nursing, therapy, personal care, and private duty services in the client’s home.

In choosing a Homecare agency, consider these questions:

1. What are the patient outcome scores of the Medicare certified Homecare agency? www.medicare.gov

2. How long has the agency served in the local community?

3. Is the agency certified by a national accrediting organization?

4. What percentage of their services are provided by contracted agencies?

5. Is the agency not-for- profit or for- profit?

6. Does the agency provide a full range of services including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aide, social worker, and private duty?

Sources:

Pepper Institute on aging and Public Policy Report 2007

Florida Department of Elder Affairs-County Profiles 2007, 2008

Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF)

Medicare.gov (The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare)

For more information on Homecare go to www.homecareFLA.org or call 1-850-222-8967.