Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Ohio lags in providing seniors in-home care

Ohio's Medicaid costs for senior citizens' long-term care are among the most expensive in the country, and the state's reliance on costly nursing homes can't be sustained as the number of older people swells, according to a study released Monday by a group that advocates in-home care.

Ohio ranks 49th in providing seniors with less-expensive, in-home care services, said the study commissioned by the Ohio Council for Home Care, a trade group that represents personal care aides and hospice workers. Only Mississippi's Medicaid program spends less on home care.

The $25,000 study was conducted independently by a Columbus-based research firm that examined state budget data, along with information provided by the AARP, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kaiser Family Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit health group.

No comments: