Question

Current challenges in the long-term care continuum and their impact on the current long-term care industry.

·      Introduction and background of the research paper

·      Stakeholders interested in the study

·      Challenges in the long-term care continuum

·      Impact of the challenges on the long-term care system (specifically on staffing, funding, and regulation)

·      Recommendations to address the challenges

Answer 1

Long-term care is the well-designed range of medical and social services to aid people with disabilities or chronic care needs. Services may be given in a person’s home,

in the community, or in residential facilities such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The recent trends in demographic and epidemiological transitions resulted in drastic changes in the healthcare needs of the world’s populations. As the two interrelated processes of aging and chronically ill patients number is on increase there is a high demand for long-term care (LTC). These trends reflect two interrelated processes. The increased caring needs and lack of support system again adds to the problem. The demand for LTC policies is generally associated with industrialized countries. By creating policies the well coordinated and cost-effective LTC can be assured.

In the United States, the number of people ages 65 and older will increase an unprecedented 115 percent between 2010 and 2050 according to Census Bureau projections. The segment will represent more than 20 percent of the nation’s total population with increased life expectancy. The advancement of medical sciences also prolongs the life of people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The increased longevity of older population creates greater demand for long-term health care services.

Social, healthcare and political system must be involved in policy making and in meeting the needs of LTC facilities. Unfortunately, the Medicare poorly address long-term care needs. The expenses are shouldered by the elderly themselves, their families, and when they are exhausted by state Medicaid programs. According to urban institute, the Medicaid is the nation’s primary long-term care program with roughly one-third of all Medicaid spending going to long-term care facilities.

The main issues faced by LTC are:

• The shortage of competent professional and paraprofessional personnel

The inability of the professionals to manage, supervise and provide long-term care services in the facility will the result in high turnover, large numbers of vacancies and difficulty attracting new employees. The instability of staffing is also a threat to quality standards. The shortage of staffs will lead to more workload and there by a burden to the staff.

• Compromised safety, quality of care and quality of life

The compromise on standards ill question the need of LTC itself.

• Excessive provider costs

      The excess cost can be due to improper management and inadequate funding.   

• Social support

The aim and objectives of the long-term care facilities should be shared with the society in order to obtain social support.

• Lack of infrastructure:

The inadequate space and building may create the care worthless.

• The gap between expected and actual quality must be addressed to provide high standards of care
• Policies and procedures
• Adequate staffing
• Improve employee satisfaction
• Continuing education program for staffs
• Provision of adequate funds
• Proper utilization of funds
• Auditing
• Continuous quality improvement
• Effective management
• Quality appraisal by external bodies
• Regulatory committee