Better Coordination of Long-Term Care Needed in California, Experts Say
The wide range of services for California's elderly population must be better coordinated to maximize the quality of long-term care, according to experts at the recent Summit on Transforming California's Long-Term Services and Supports, HealthyCal reports.
The SCAN Foundation sponsored the summit that took place in Sacramento on Tuesday.
Experts Call for Coordination
Whitney Barazoto, senior project manager of the Little Hoover Commission, said California needs to have a single leader to coordinate long-term services and supports. Earlier this year, the commission released a report recommending the creation of a new state agency to coordinate long-term care programs under the state Health and Human Services Agency. According to the report, the agency's director would work with different agencies, seek bids for contracts and establish partnerships among long-term care service providers.
Meanwhile, Steven Wallace -- associate director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research -- said that baby boomers increasingly are in need of a combination of services from different agencies and that these services must be coordinated to be successful.
Brenda Premo -- founding director of the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy at the Western University of Health Sciences -- added that the needs of residents with disabilities especially are important to consider.
Former Assembly member Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate) said California could follow the lead of Washington state, which pooled its funds for aging and disability services into one account, making it easier for residents to find the services they need.
Report on Long-Term Care Services
A recent report on long-term services and supports also was featured at the summit.
The report, which was funded in part by the SCAN Foundation, ranked California 15th in the U.S. for long-term services and supports. The report measured how well states provide long-term care services based on four categories:
- Affordability and access;
- Choice of care settings and providers;
- Quality of life and quality of care; and
- Family caregiver support.
The report did identify coordination of care as a critical factor but noted there was insufficient data available to rank the states (Perry, HealthyCal, 9/27).
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