Despite Positive Report, Advocates Say Wisconsin Needs To Improve Care For Elderly, Those With Disabilities

A national report by AARP ranks the state of Wisconsin as eighth in the nation for long-term care services for older adults and those with disabilities, but advocates for the elderly say there’s room for improvement.

The national AARP report said that long-term care varies tremendously depending on what state someone lives in. The second annual scorecard report examines five areas of long-term care: affordability and access; choice; quality; support of caregivers; and transition from nursing homes.

For Wisconsin, this last area needs improvement, according to Helen Marks Dicks, state issues advocacy director for AARP Wisconsin.

“The biggest problem is people who go into a nursing home because they have an immediate need from a broken hip or something where you need rehab services and they don’t come out, they ending up staying there instead of going home in the community where they should,” she said.

The national AARP report says long term care is improving, but needs to get better more quickly. In 12 years, the Baby Boom generation will start entering their 80s and there’s concern whether there will be an adequate supply of caregivers. Dicks said in Wisconsin, much of that care is done by family and friends.

“We have $5.8 billion worth of uncompensated care in this state that’s provided by family and friends to people who need supports, and that means these caregivers are taking a financial hit, a physical and emotional hit. That’s hard work,” she said.

The report notes only one in 10 Americans older than age 50 have long-term care insurance.