Dallas Morning News Looks At 46,000 Texans On Waiting List For Home-based Alternative In Medicaid

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 01 Mar 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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A headline from a recent Dallas Morning News story by Bob Moos says it all: "Moving toward Home Care: Shift away from institutions is cheaper, popular and taking a long time to execute." In a look at long-term care issues in Texas, Moos cited a number of compelling facts. He quotes Amanda McCloskey, advocacy manager for AARP in Texas, "Home care costs Medicaid just half of what nursing home care does - $1,318 vs. $2,570 per month - and it's what most people prefer."

Moos notes that, "An AARP survey of people 50 and older found that 73 percent preferred receiving care in their homes. Only 6 percent favored nursing homes. Yet the current system favors institutional care." The article said that end of last year, the waiting list for the community-based alternatives program in Texas had grown to 46,556, with an average wait of 17 months.

He concludes, "Texas lawmakers have increased funding for community-based services and pared the waiting list in recent years, but the shift away from institutional care is occurring too slowly for many long-term care advocates."

Article in Dallas Morning News

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