A new AARP report finds that 900,000 Louisianans are caregivers for adults, including older parents, spouses, neighbors and other loved ones. Director of Advocacy at AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl, says the Louisiana Legislature should do more to help these adults provide long-term care.
“Programs to help people live at home and keep them in a setting that is most preferable, (A) because it’s really where the person wants to be anyway, but also, it’s the most cost effective,” Muhl said.
Muhl says 20% of long-term Medicaid dollars goes towards services so an individual can live at home, while 80% goes to nursing homes. He says AARP is advocating for that ratio to be more like 40/60 so more family caregivers can receive state assistance to keep their loved ones at home.
“It could be bathing, dressing, transportation, cooking, meal delivery; all those different things are what the state could appropriate,” Muhl explained.
AARP is advocating that the state provides an additional 750 waivers so families can take advantage of home and community-based services. Muhl says there are 12,000 individuals on a waiting list seeking this state assistance.
“They can’t receive those services at home because the state isn’t appropriating enough money for them to do so. So we’re constantly talking to lawmakers about the importance of living at home,” Muhl noted.
It costs $85,000 for an individual to live in a nursing home, while home care is $40,000.
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