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Oct. 5, 2023 |  By: Deborah Van Fleet - Public News Service

NE long-term care, caregiver support services rank 18th nationwide

elderly

By Deborah Van Fleet - Public News Service

The latest State Scorecard Report from AARP shows Nebraska's long-term care facilities have made some improvements in the last three years.

For long-term services and supports, Nebraska ranks 18th nationwide.

Progress noted since the 2020 report includes the up-to-date vaccination rate for long-term care residents, at 66%.

But staff vaccination rates were only 18% - or 35th in the nation. And AARP Nebraska State Director Todd Stubbendieck said the state's next-to-lowest ranking for nursing home staffing levels is especially concerning.

"There have been attempts to increase the reimbursement rate for these facilities," said Stubbendieck. "But we really need to make sure that we're focusing, at the state level, on making sure that we're recruiting and retaining the best direct-care staff to work in these nursing homes."

Nursing home residents in Nebraska receive nearly an hour less direct care per day than the national average.

The hourly pay for direct-care staff is nearly $2.50 less than other entry-level staff positions across the state.

The study noted two areas of decline since the 2020 report - the number of home health-care staff available, and the number of adult day services.

Both of these can negatively impact family caregivers. Stubbendieck pointed out that there are nearly 180,000 unpaid family caregivers in the state.

"As we work with older adults in the state, what people most want is to be able to stay in their homes or the lowest level of care as possible," said Stubbendieck. "So finding ways to support those unpaid family caregivers is critical. Often, it is that caregiver that is able to keep someone from having to go to a long-term care facility."

The Scorecard shows that for the first time Medicaid spent more on Home and Community-Based Services than on nursing home care for older adults and those with disabilities.

In 2021, these services cost an average of $42,000 for an individual - less than half the cost of a shared room in most of Nebraska's nursing homes.