Practical Tips to Put the Fun into Fundraising
By Leah Dobkin
If you’re like most nonprofit professionals in the field of aging, fundraisers are your least favorite activity. They fall way down on your “have-to” list.
But studies indicate that almost half of nonprofit organizations use fundraisers as a major source of revenue.
Fundraising events are not just about raising dollars. They’re also about raising supporters to strengthen your organization. They are great “friend-raisers.”
What Events Can Do for You
Let’s face it. There are many faster and easier ways to raise money. But fundraising events can lose money—or just break even—and still be successful because they generate publicity, visibility, and contacts for your organization.
Fundraisers also:
Provide cultural, social, and intergenerational opportunities for your community.
Improve community relations.
Lead to new partners.
Strengthen your relationship with business sponsors.
Recruit new volunteers and board members.
Allow you to recognize volunteers and supporters.
Inform the public about your services and impact.
Reach underserved or new target populations.
Fundraisers also can diversify and expand your funding base. They provide funds to address cutbacks, expand programming, and pilot test new services or new methods of delivering old services.
Fundraisers generate unrestricted dollars to cover “unsexy” expenditures like staff and volunteer education and training, overhead, research, and unexpected short-term emergency needs.
Because special events offer variety and flexibility, they’re also excellent for acquiring, retaining, and upgrading donors. If you’re serious about building a broad base of donors, you should conduct at least one special fundraising event each year.
Planning an Event
The good news is that you may not need to do more fundraisers—just better ones. Here are a few tips to help you plan your event successfully.
Determine your visibility quotient.
Of the people who should know about your organization, what percent actually do? This simple, but important question requires that you identify a list of key people and the best ways to reach and engage them in your fundraiser.
Market your impact while publicizing your event.
Too often, marketing and promotional materials talk about a nonprofit instead of its impact on the community or the values it embraces. Emphasize what your organization does and how it makes a difference—not how much money you need. If you don’t have public relations expertise in house, try contacting a firm that offers pro bono work.
Use volunteers to plan and implement the event.
Using volunteers tells people that you’re maximizing your efforts, which builds credibility. Also, peers asking peers is the most effective way to generate donations. People give to people—not just a cause. They also want to contribute to an effective organization.
Plan your events strategically.
Asking someone to volunteer for a short period is far easier than asking them to commit to a six-month campaign. Structure your fundraising events into modules that last 1-12 weeks. For example, have two short donor events each year—one to renew current donors and one to bring in new ones. Or conduct a five-week donor drive, with something happening each day. Mail personal letters from board members or key volunteers to invite their friends and colleagues to participate.
After an Event
What you do after a fundraising event is just as important—if not more important—than the planning itself. Follow-up with your guests, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and donors to turn your event into the start of something big. Start with these tips:
Send a personalized thank you.
You can never give out too much gratitude. Make it a priority to send supporters a timely, warm, and personalized letter or e-mail thanking them for their involvement. Tell them how much the event raised and how your organization will use the money. Include copies of any media coverage. Handwritten and hand-delivered thank you notes are a wonderful touch. Or make your thanks even more unique by hiring a local artist or asking a talented volunteer to create some form of recognition for volunteers and donors.
Welcome newcomers.
For guests who are new to your organization, add a combined welcome/follow-up letter. Include your newsletter, promotional materials, and past media coverage. Let them know about tours, educational and volunteer opportunities, and other events you’re planning.
Don’t forget the no-shows.
Remember people who were unable to attend the event but showed an interest, such as vendors or sponsors. Let them know what they missed and how successful the event was.
Give a report on your web site.
Post event photos, videos, and quotes; brag about how much you raised; and detail how the money will be spent. Ask visitors for their names and contact information if they want to be invited to the next event. Show people how they can continue to donate. If you have their permission, profile select donors.
Build up your sponsors.
List all corporate sponsors on your web site. Consider including links to their web sites, as well. Driving prospects to their site is a big plus for them.
Keep corporate relationships going.
After an event, maintain contact with your corporate sponsors. Host a workshop or brown bag lunch lecture at their workplace on topics of interest such as family caregiving or estate planning.
Follow up with media.
Send photos and a press release to your media list soon after the event. See if you can get on local radio or TV to talk about an event-related special interest story or about the impact the event had on your community. Use it as an opportunity to position you, or your executive director, as a “go-to” authority for information on your area of expertise. Consider hosting a thank you lunch for media who publicized or attended your event.
Thank advertisers.
If you have a journal or ad book associated with your event, send a copy to every advertiser who couldn’t attend, along with a thank you note. Better yet, get a group of volunteers to hand-deliver the ad book to thank supporters in person.
Fundraising events allow people to become involved with your organization and your mission. The more ways people can get involved, the stronger your organization will become.
And before you know it, fundraising events will become a “want-to” not a “have-to” on your to-do list. That’s when you start to put the fun into fundraising.
Leah Dobkin is a freelance writer and consultant with more than 30 years experience developing and managing innovative programs for older adults.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Want Medicare To Pay For Home Care? See Your Doctor
By Phil Galewitz
Updated: 2 days ago
Starting next month, seniors getting health care in their homes will have to see a doctor to make sure they actually need the service. Otherwise Medicare won't pay.
Sounds logical, right?
Not so, says a coalition of health providers and consumer groups that complains the rule is overly burdensome on seniors and doctors.
Home health agencies, doctor and consumer groups say frail, homebound seniors won't be able to get to a doctor's office because of their health status or lack of doctors in rural areas.
They also worry that many doctors are either unaware of the new regulation or won't know how to comply with its documentation requirements that call on physicians to certify they or another health care provider, such as a nurse practitioner, have seen a patient for the specific reason of certifying the need for home health care.
"There is a lot of confusion out there, and patients may lose access to their care," said Nora Super, an AARP lobbyist.
Home health agency groups say they understand Medicare's need to reduce unnecessary care but the new rules are too onerous. "We want to make sure beneficiaries who really need the services are not denied it," said Peter Notarstefano, director of home and community based services at Leading Age, which represents nonprofit home health agencies.
The groups are calling for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to delay implementation of the new requirement until June.
Under the new rule, Medicare beneficiaries will have to see a doctor 90 days before or 30 days after starting home health services in order for the home health agency to get reimbursed.
The new requirementa provision in the health overhaul law intends to curb unnecessary Medicare spending and outright fraud. Home health care has been one of the fastest rising costs of the Medicare program, and spending varies dramatically around the country.
Under current law, a doctor must prescribe home health care for patients to receive services, but the physician doesn't have to see a patient to make that determination.
Meanwhile, Medicare advisers to Congress say the regulation doesn't go far enough to reduce waste and fraud because it allows patients to start getting home health services before first seeing a doctor to ensure they need it. "Such a large window ... does not ensure that beneficiaries receive an examination in a timely manner before home health care is delivered," the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission wrote in a report to Congress this month. Copyright 2011 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/.
Updated: 2 days ago
Starting next month, seniors getting health care in their homes will have to see a doctor to make sure they actually need the service. Otherwise Medicare won't pay.
Sounds logical, right?
Not so, says a coalition of health providers and consumer groups that complains the rule is overly burdensome on seniors and doctors.
Home health agencies, doctor and consumer groups say frail, homebound seniors won't be able to get to a doctor's office because of their health status or lack of doctors in rural areas.
They also worry that many doctors are either unaware of the new regulation or won't know how to comply with its documentation requirements that call on physicians to certify they or another health care provider, such as a nurse practitioner, have seen a patient for the specific reason of certifying the need for home health care.
"There is a lot of confusion out there, and patients may lose access to their care," said Nora Super, an AARP lobbyist.
Home health agency groups say they understand Medicare's need to reduce unnecessary care but the new rules are too onerous. "We want to make sure beneficiaries who really need the services are not denied it," said Peter Notarstefano, director of home and community based services at Leading Age, which represents nonprofit home health agencies.
The groups are calling for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to delay implementation of the new requirement until June.
Under the new rule, Medicare beneficiaries will have to see a doctor 90 days before or 30 days after starting home health services in order for the home health agency to get reimbursed.
The new requirementa provision in the health overhaul law intends to curb unnecessary Medicare spending and outright fraud. Home health care has been one of the fastest rising costs of the Medicare program, and spending varies dramatically around the country.
Under current law, a doctor must prescribe home health care for patients to receive services, but the physician doesn't have to see a patient to make that determination.
Meanwhile, Medicare advisers to Congress say the regulation doesn't go far enough to reduce waste and fraud because it allows patients to start getting home health services before first seeing a doctor to ensure they need it. "Such a large window ... does not ensure that beneficiaries receive an examination in a timely manner before home health care is delivered," the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission wrote in a report to Congress this month. Copyright 2011 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/.
A Longer, and Safer, Life
Published: March 25, 2011
To the Editor:
Re “Broken Trust” (editorial, March 17):
Elder abuse is a growing problem that demands attention and resources from Congress and the administration, as you urge in your editorial.
New research indicates that some six million older Americans fall prey to abuse, neglect or exploitation every year. But for every one case we see, another 24 go undetected. It’s a moral blight with a huge price tag. Victims often require costly acute and long-term care and services financed by Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, further depleting the already strained safety net. We can’t afford not to act.
The Elder Abuse Victims Act would create a new office at the Justice Department to respond. This high-impact low-cost measure would begin addressing a problem that blindsides millions of families and individuals — even Mickey Rooney, as we heard in his recent testimony to the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
We’ve spent billions to lengthen life. Now it’s time to make a serious investment in assuring safety and well-being in the years we’ve gained.
Marie-Therese Connolly
Washington, March 18, 2011
The writer is the director of the Life Long Justice initiative at Appleseed and a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She also testified at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing.
To the Editor:
Re “Broken Trust” (editorial, March 17):
Elder abuse is a growing problem that demands attention and resources from Congress and the administration, as you urge in your editorial.
New research indicates that some six million older Americans fall prey to abuse, neglect or exploitation every year. But for every one case we see, another 24 go undetected. It’s a moral blight with a huge price tag. Victims often require costly acute and long-term care and services financed by Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, further depleting the already strained safety net. We can’t afford not to act.
The Elder Abuse Victims Act would create a new office at the Justice Department to respond. This high-impact low-cost measure would begin addressing a problem that blindsides millions of families and individuals — even Mickey Rooney, as we heard in his recent testimony to the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
We’ve spent billions to lengthen life. Now it’s time to make a serious investment in assuring safety and well-being in the years we’ve gained.
Marie-Therese Connolly
Washington, March 18, 2011
The writer is the director of the Life Long Justice initiative at Appleseed and a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She also testified at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Remaining self-sufficient is a major retirement goal for most baby boomers.
Maintaining independence. Remaining self-sufficient is a major retirement goal for most baby boomers. But they also worry that they might eventually need help. Many Americans over 50 (41 percent) are focused on staying in their own residence as long as possible. However, almost as many seniors (39 percent) are exploring alternative housing options that require less personal upkeep or offer extra services and 94 percent say it's important to live in a place with long-term care services that allow aging in place. Some seniors (29 percent) are also concerned about their ability to continue driving as their health or vision deteriorates. In addition to providing for their own needs, some baby boomers need to provide care to aging parents, other relatives, or a spouse. Over half (52 percent) of those surveyed are worried about their ability to provide financial support for family members, while also supporting themselves.
Friday, March 11, 2011
HOMELESS VETERANS MASSACHUSETTS
New VA and HUD report finds 136,000 veterans spent a night in a homeless shelter during 2009.The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA have published the most authoritative analysis on the extent and nature of homelessness among our country’s veterans. “Veteran Homeless: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment to Congress” details the study’s findings, released in February, in a first-ever collaborative report of its kind between two government agencies. The most noteworthy finding: nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009, and around 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.
The report also notes that veterans are 50 percent more likely to fall into homelessness, compared to the rest of the population. This ratio is even greater among impoverished and minority veterans.
Additionally, veterans contrast the overall homeless population in the demographics that comprise it. About 96 percent of homeless veterans are single adults and about 4 percent are veterans with families; the general homeless population claims 66 percent of its members as single, non-attached persons. The study also found that 10 percent of veterans in poverty became homeless at some point during the year, compared to just over 5 percent of adults living in poverty.
Outside of conducting studies, the two agencies provide direct support to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans, while VA offers case management and clinical services. Since 2008, a total investment of $225 million has gone toward providing housing and supportive service for approximately 30,000 veterans who would otherwise be homeless.
The report also notes that veterans are 50 percent more likely to fall into homelessness, compared to the rest of the population. This ratio is even greater among impoverished and minority veterans.
Additionally, veterans contrast the overall homeless population in the demographics that comprise it. About 96 percent of homeless veterans are single adults and about 4 percent are veterans with families; the general homeless population claims 66 percent of its members as single, non-attached persons. The study also found that 10 percent of veterans in poverty became homeless at some point during the year, compared to just over 5 percent of adults living in poverty.
Outside of conducting studies, the two agencies provide direct support to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans, while VA offers case management and clinical services. Since 2008, a total investment of $225 million has gone toward providing housing and supportive service for approximately 30,000 veterans who would otherwise be homeless.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Seniors' advocates push for home-based help.DMC Dynamic Rotating Banner - Requires JavaScript and Flash 8+
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Featured Business »
Norwich ApartmentsNorwich AttorneysNorwich Auto DealersNorwich Auto PartsNorwich Auto RepairNorwich Beauty SalonsNorwich Car RentalNorwich DentistsNorwich DoctorsNorwich FlowersNorwich HotelsNorwich InsuranceNorwich LoansNorwich MortgagesNorwich MoversNorwich PizzaNorwich RealtorsNorwich RestaurantsNorwich StorageNorwich Tax PreparationNorwich Travel. By STEPHANIE REITZ
The Associated Press
Posted Feb 26, 2011 @ 09:41 PM
HARTFORD, Conn. — In decades of working with senior citizens, Marie Allen has never met any who told her they wanted to grow old in a nursing home or other institutional setting.
But their wish, to age at home with the right medical and social support programs, can depend heavily on whether Connecticut changes how it allocates its Medicaid payments for many of those long-term care services.
A legislative committee, seniors' groups and their advocates are hoping Connecticut starts serious work this year toward shifting more Medicaid dollars to community-based programs and away from traditional nursing facilities.
The home-based programs usually cost less than nursing homes, which officials say could help Connecticut slow its Medicaid spending. Seniors' advocates say it also gives aging and disabled residents what they want: independence for as long as possible.
"In all of the counseling I've done in 20 years, that is the number one question: 'How do I remain home?'" said Allen, executive director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living.
The Connecticut General Assembly's Aging Committee is considering a bill to set up a study group to help promote what's known as "aging in place." Allen was among several people who testified last week on the bill, which would require the full General Assembly's approval to go into effect.
If created, the study group would examine everything from rebalancing the Medicaid spending priorities to quality of life issues like better transportation options for non-drivers, more oversight of home care workers and ensuring elderly and disabled people living at home have access to healthy, fresh foods.
The goal: to suggest ways to change policies, improve programs and reallocate spending to make "aging in place" become the norm for those who are able to remain in their homes and do not want to live in nursing facilities.
"Th is is, I think, the new wave of the future in how we treat our elderly," said Connecticut state Rep. Joseph Serra, a Democrat from Middletown who is co-chairman of the legislature's aging committee. "There's potential for tremendous savings for the state of Connecticut in how services are provided, and the bottom line is that seniors want to stay in their home or apartment as long as possible.
"How we treat our seniors is a testimony to who we are as a people," Serra said.
Officials say that while there will always be a need for nursing homes and other kinds of congregate living for people who need more supervision and intensive care, many people who could stay home with proper help are ending up in nursing homes simply because that's what Medicaid pays for.
Connecticut spends 35 percent of its Medicaid money on community-based programs, close to the national average for the states. The rest goes for nursing home care and similar institutional-style living.< /P>
About a dozen states spend more than 50 percent of their Medicaid money on programs to help people age at home. Oregon, Washington and New Mexico spend the largest percentage - about three of every four dollars - on community-based programs to promote aging in place.
A survey released this week by the Connecticut chapter of the AARP shows four of every five people polled supported the idea of shifting more money to community-based services and away from traditional nursing home care.
The respondents, who were all 50 and older, also overwhelmingly said growing old in their own homes was extremely or very important to them.
The Center on Aging at the University of Connecticut said about 188,000 state residents needed long-term care as of 2008, the most recent figures immediately available. That was expected to reach at least 240,000 by 2030 as baby boomers age.
Many of the people surveyed for UConn's report said that as they age at home, they expec t to need help in everything from personal care to transportation, lawn maintenance, snow removal and handyman services.
Yet most also said they expect to have very little or no money to pay for it - and they wrongly assume Medicare, private insurance and Medicaid cover far more for at-home help than they actually do.
Yellow Pages
Find whatever you're looking for
with Totally Local Yellow Pages
Search provided by local.com
Featured Business »
Norwich ApartmentsNorwich AttorneysNorwich Auto DealersNorwich Auto PartsNorwich Auto RepairNorwich Beauty SalonsNorwich Car RentalNorwich DentistsNorwich DoctorsNorwich FlowersNorwich HotelsNorwich InsuranceNorwich LoansNorwich MortgagesNorwich MoversNorwich PizzaNorwich RealtorsNorwich RestaurantsNorwich StorageNorwich Tax PreparationNorwich Travel. By STEPHANIE REITZ
The Associated Press
Posted Feb 26, 2011 @ 09:41 PM
HARTFORD, Conn. — In decades of working with senior citizens, Marie Allen has never met any who told her they wanted to grow old in a nursing home or other institutional setting.
But their wish, to age at home with the right medical and social support programs, can depend heavily on whether Connecticut changes how it allocates its Medicaid payments for many of those long-term care services.
A legislative committee, seniors' groups and their advocates are hoping Connecticut starts serious work this year toward shifting more Medicaid dollars to community-based programs and away from traditional nursing facilities.
The home-based programs usually cost less than nursing homes, which officials say could help Connecticut slow its Medicaid spending. Seniors' advocates say it also gives aging and disabled residents what they want: independence for as long as possible.
"In all of the counseling I've done in 20 years, that is the number one question: 'How do I remain home?'" said Allen, executive director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living.
The Connecticut General Assembly's Aging Committee is considering a bill to set up a study group to help promote what's known as "aging in place." Allen was among several people who testified last week on the bill, which would require the full General Assembly's approval to go into effect.
If created, the study group would examine everything from rebalancing the Medicaid spending priorities to quality of life issues like better transportation options for non-drivers, more oversight of home care workers and ensuring elderly and disabled people living at home have access to healthy, fresh foods.
The goal: to suggest ways to change policies, improve programs and reallocate spending to make "aging in place" become the norm for those who are able to remain in their homes and do not want to live in nursing facilities.
"Th is is, I think, the new wave of the future in how we treat our elderly," said Connecticut state Rep. Joseph Serra, a Democrat from Middletown who is co-chairman of the legislature's aging committee. "There's potential for tremendous savings for the state of Connecticut in how services are provided, and the bottom line is that seniors want to stay in their home or apartment as long as possible.
"How we treat our seniors is a testimony to who we are as a people," Serra said.
Officials say that while there will always be a need for nursing homes and other kinds of congregate living for people who need more supervision and intensive care, many people who could stay home with proper help are ending up in nursing homes simply because that's what Medicaid pays for.
Connecticut spends 35 percent of its Medicaid money on community-based programs, close to the national average for the states. The rest goes for nursing home care and similar institutional-style living.< /P>
About a dozen states spend more than 50 percent of their Medicaid money on programs to help people age at home. Oregon, Washington and New Mexico spend the largest percentage - about three of every four dollars - on community-based programs to promote aging in place.
A survey released this week by the Connecticut chapter of the AARP shows four of every five people polled supported the idea of shifting more money to community-based services and away from traditional nursing home care.
The respondents, who were all 50 and older, also overwhelmingly said growing old in their own homes was extremely or very important to them.
The Center on Aging at the University of Connecticut said about 188,000 state residents needed long-term care as of 2008, the most recent figures immediately available. That was expected to reach at least 240,000 by 2030 as baby boomers age.
Many of the people surveyed for UConn's report said that as they age at home, they expec t to need help in everything from personal care to transportation, lawn maintenance, snow removal and handyman services.
Yet most also said they expect to have very little or no money to pay for it - and they wrongly assume Medicare, private insurance and Medicaid cover far more for at-home help than they actually do.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Shifting Medicaid Money to home care
HARTFORD, Conn. — In decades of working with senior citizens, Marie Allen has never met any who told her they wanted to grow old in a nursing home or other institutional setting.
But their wish, to age at home with the right medical and social support programs, can depend heavily on whether Connecticut changes how it allocates its Medicaid payments for many of those long-term care services.
A legislative committee, seniors' groups and their advocates are hoping Connecticut starts serious work this year toward shifting more Medicaid dollars to community-based programs and away from traditional nursing facilities.
The home-based programs usually cost less than nursing homes, which officials say could help Connecticut slow its Medicaid spending. Seniors' advocates say it also gives aging and disabled residents what they want: independence for as long as possible.
"In all of the counseling I've done in 20 years, that is the number one question: 'How do I remain home?'" said Allen, executive director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living.
The Connecticut General Assembly's Aging Committee is considering a bill to set up a study group to help promote what's known as "aging in place." Allen was among several people who testified last week on the bill, which would require the full General Assembly's approval to go into effect.
If created, the study group would examine everything from rebalancing the Medicaid spending priorities to quality of life issues like better transportation options for non-drivers, more oversight of home care workers and ensuring elderly and disabled people living at home have access to healthy, fresh foods.
The goal: to suggest ways to change policies, improve programs and reallocate spending to make "aging in place" become the norm for those who are able to remain in their homes and do not want to live in nursing facilities.
"Th is is, I think, the new wave of the future in how we treat our elderly," said Connecticut state Rep. Joseph Serra, a Democrat from Middletown who is co-chairman of the legislature's aging committee. "There's potential for tremendous savings for the state of Connecticut in how services are provided, and the bottom line is that seniors want to stay in their home or apartment as long as possible.
"How we treat our seniors is a testimony to who we are as a people," Serra said.
Officials say that while there will always be a need for nursing homes and other kinds of congregate living for people who need more supervision and intensive care, many people who could stay home with proper help are ending up in nursing homes simply because that's what Medicaid pays for.
Connecticut spends 35 percent of its Medicaid money on community-based programs, close to the national average for the states. The rest goes for nursing home care and similar institutional-style living.< /P>
About a dozen states spend more than 50 percent of their Medicaid money on programs to help people age at home. Oregon, Washington and New Mexico spend the largest percentage - about three of every four dollars - on community-based programs to promote aging in place.
A survey released this week by the Connecticut chapter of the AARP shows four of every five people polled supported the idea of shifting more money to community-based services and away from traditional nursing home care.
The respondents, who were all 50 and older, also overwhelmingly said growing old in their own homes was extremely or very important to them.
The Center on Aging at the University of Connecticut said about 188,000 state residents needed long-term care as of 2008, the most recent figures immediately available. That was expected to reach at least 240,000 by 2030 as baby boomers age.
Many of the people surveyed for UConn's report said that as they age at home, they expec t to need help in everything from personal care to transportation, lawn maintenance, snow removal and handyman services.
Yet most also said they expect to have very little or no money to pay for it - and they wrongly assume Medicare, private insurance and Medicaid cover far more for at-home help than they actually do.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Read more: Seniors' advocates push for home-based help - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin http://www.norwichbulletin.com/archive/x742404268/Seniors-advocates-push-for-home-based-help#ixzz1FDFvleX0
But their wish, to age at home with the right medical and social support programs, can depend heavily on whether Connecticut changes how it allocates its Medicaid payments for many of those long-term care services.
A legislative committee, seniors' groups and their advocates are hoping Connecticut starts serious work this year toward shifting more Medicaid dollars to community-based programs and away from traditional nursing facilities.
The home-based programs usually cost less than nursing homes, which officials say could help Connecticut slow its Medicaid spending. Seniors' advocates say it also gives aging and disabled residents what they want: independence for as long as possible.
"In all of the counseling I've done in 20 years, that is the number one question: 'How do I remain home?'" said Allen, executive director of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging and Independent Living.
The Connecticut General Assembly's Aging Committee is considering a bill to set up a study group to help promote what's known as "aging in place." Allen was among several people who testified last week on the bill, which would require the full General Assembly's approval to go into effect.
If created, the study group would examine everything from rebalancing the Medicaid spending priorities to quality of life issues like better transportation options for non-drivers, more oversight of home care workers and ensuring elderly and disabled people living at home have access to healthy, fresh foods.
The goal: to suggest ways to change policies, improve programs and reallocate spending to make "aging in place" become the norm for those who are able to remain in their homes and do not want to live in nursing facilities.
"Th is is, I think, the new wave of the future in how we treat our elderly," said Connecticut state Rep. Joseph Serra, a Democrat from Middletown who is co-chairman of the legislature's aging committee. "There's potential for tremendous savings for the state of Connecticut in how services are provided, and the bottom line is that seniors want to stay in their home or apartment as long as possible.
"How we treat our seniors is a testimony to who we are as a people," Serra said.
Officials say that while there will always be a need for nursing homes and other kinds of congregate living for people who need more supervision and intensive care, many people who could stay home with proper help are ending up in nursing homes simply because that's what Medicaid pays for.
Connecticut spends 35 percent of its Medicaid money on community-based programs, close to the national average for the states. The rest goes for nursing home care and similar institutional-style living.< /P>
About a dozen states spend more than 50 percent of their Medicaid money on programs to help people age at home. Oregon, Washington and New Mexico spend the largest percentage - about three of every four dollars - on community-based programs to promote aging in place.
A survey released this week by the Connecticut chapter of the AARP shows four of every five people polled supported the idea of shifting more money to community-based services and away from traditional nursing home care.
The respondents, who were all 50 and older, also overwhelmingly said growing old in their own homes was extremely or very important to them.
The Center on Aging at the University of Connecticut said about 188,000 state residents needed long-term care as of 2008, the most recent figures immediately available. That was expected to reach at least 240,000 by 2030 as baby boomers age.
Many of the people surveyed for UConn's report said that as they age at home, they expec t to need help in everything from personal care to transportation, lawn maintenance, snow removal and handyman services.
Yet most also said they expect to have very little or no money to pay for it - and they wrongly assume Medicare, private insurance and Medicaid cover far more for at-home help than they actually do.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Read more: Seniors' advocates push for home-based help - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin http://www.norwichbulletin.com/archive/x742404268/Seniors-advocates-push-for-home-based-help#ixzz1FDFvleX0
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