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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Rowena Sizemore, LCSW1, Brenda Wamsley, MSW2, Bruce Friedman, PhD3, Elizabeth Parker4, Gerald M. Eggert, PhD5, and Dianne Liebel, RN MSEd4. (1) Center for Aging & Healthcare in West Virginia, 517 Market Street, Dils Center, Parkersburg, WV 26101, 304-422-2853, rsizemore@citynet.net, (2) Executive Director, Center for Aging & Healthcare in West Virginia, 517 Market Street, Dils Building, Parkersburg, WV 26101, (3) Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644, Rochester, NY 14642, (4) Monroe County Long Term Care Program, Inc./ACCESS, 349 West Commercial Street, Suite 2250, East Rochester, NY 14445, (5) Executive Director, Monroe County Long Term Care Program, Inc./ACCESS, 349 West Commercial Street, Suite 2250, East Rochester, NY 14445
This paper describes a case study investigation of the Voucher intervention of a randomized controlled trial of consumer-directed care of 1609 frail, chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries conducted in NY, WV, and OH. The main premise behind the intervention is that a Voucher that Medicare beneficiaries can spend on an array of home care services not normally financed by Medicare will lead to improved or at least maintained health and functional status and quality of life, less inappropriate hospital use, and postponement of permanent nursing home admissions. It is hypothesized that these improved outcomes will be due to (1) patient empowerment through having actual control over monies spent on home care services, and (2) the additional services that are purchased by the Voucher. Case studies will be presented that focus on what we believe are the most important aspects of the Voucher intervention that should lead to improved outcomes, specifically, (1) the services themselves (in-home workers, respite care, transportation, environmental modifications, adaptive and assistive equipment, durable medical equipment, consumable care goods, and medical supplies), (2) how the consumer/caregiver decides, with and without the assistance of a Consumer Choice Benefits Specialist, which services to purchase with the Voucher, (3) an environmental assessment of the consumer's home, which influences what environmental modifications to make and which equipment to purchase, and (4) training and assistance with how to recruit, interview, hire, manage, and fire in-home workers. Extensive quantitative and qualitative data collection over the 24-month intervention period will be utilized for the case studies. Two study is completed. Final results will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Home Care, Consumer Direction
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.