Long Term Care Week

During the week of April 4th - 8th, The Exchange and the NHPR News Department took a look at the issue of Long Term Care in the Granite State.

The Exchange

Long Term Care: Overview

In the first installment of our series, we'll look at the politics, the economics, the health aspects and family dynamics of the different long term care options in the state. We'll look at public and private nursing homes, assisted and independent living facilities and homecare. We'll look at the struggles some of these facilities are facing and challenges that they are trying to meet.

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Long Term Care: Provider Side

In the second part of our long term healthcare series, we take a look at the people on the front lines providing service...everyone from nurses to administrators and delve into what the provider experience is here in New Hampshire.

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Long Term Care: Personal Side

In the third installment of our series, we'll talk with families of those needing to make difficult decisions as to how they wish to care for their aging loved one. We'll ask them what choices they made, why they made their choices and the challenges around the choices they made. We'll also talk with a family planner who can discuss how they help families make the best choices for their lives.

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Long Term Care: Road Show

In the final installment of our series, we'll look back at what's been discussed in the course of the Long Term Care series, and then look forward as to what we're faced with in the state and what improvements can be made to make long term care more accessible and more affordable. We also want to address what families can do now, preparations that they can make so that people can be more prepared when they need to make these decisions. This show is an edited for broadcast version of the on the road show that happened in Keene on Wednesday, April 6th.

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NHPR News Coverage

Insurance for the Final Years

The rising cost of long-term care is the biggest reason for the state's current Medicaid budget woes. One idea to save the state money is to encourage more people to buy private long term care insurance. Currently only two-point-six-percent of the state's over 50 population own policies. New Hampshire Public Radio's Amy Quinton examines why so few people in the state have long term care insurance and what they need to think about before buying it.

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The Ghost of Medicaid Reform Past

A major goal for those seeking change in Medicaid in New Hampshire and in many other states is to steer people away from nursing homes. Instead, policy makers would like to see more people cared for in their homes, in day care centers, or in group residences. Last week House members voted to take a preliminary step toward that goal. It wasn't the first time they tackled the issue. Six years ago the legislature approved a program designed to reform long term care. NHPR's Kerry Grens reports on the lessons learned from this first attempt, and what they can offer as New Hampshire gears up for a second round.

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Fiscal Prudence or Financial Dodge

Nursing home care is expensive- on average- about 70 thousand dollars a year. The typical stay would wipe out many people's lifesavings. Some people, though, have found a way to avoid that. With the right legal strategy, they can shield their assets and go on Medicaid. Many lawmakers and the state's Health and Human Services Commissioner would like to stop that practice. New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein looks at who is using the so-called loophole and how much it costs the state.

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