New elderly care program controls health costs

(CBS News) Controlling health care costs, one way or another, is one key to reducing the federal deficit.

While Republicans and Democrats continue debating the big picture, there are smaller programs trying to make a difference.

Edith Barrett can barely walk. Osteoporosis has left her wheelchair-bound, unemployed, and, for years, depressed.

Barrett says if it weren't for the all-inclusive care center she joined, "I would be dead."

At 65, Barrett feared she'd have to live in a nursing home. Instead, she joined a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly - or PACE - which allows her to live at home and get care and company at this day care center in the Bronx.

Barrett receives coordinated care from a team of doctors, nurses and social workers, in addition to activities from yoga to music.

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PACE is funded by the states through Medicaid and by the federal government though Medicare, but with billions in cuts looming to both programs, some see PACE as the new healthcare model.

"I think the program is a very strong alternative to nursing home based care," said Joe Healy, who heads New York's Centrelight Health System which has 3,000 patients - the biggest PACE program in the country.

With nursing home costs averaging nearly $90,000 per year for each patient, the number of PACE programs - at $60,000 dollars per year - has doubled in the last five years from 42 in 2007 to 89 so far In 2012.

"The PACE program is a terrific idea - (but) it currently provides benefits for only about 20,000 people and there are close to nine million people who are theoretically eligible for what it does. So it's very small, it's very limited and it has issues," said Howard Gleckman with The Urban Institute.

One of those issues - according to Gleckman - is that many states do not have enough money even for the PACE program.

"New York is a relatively generous state. Other states provide very small benefits," Gleckman said.

For Edith Barrett, PACE is priceless.

"It's the greatest joy for me that I have my own bed," Barrett said.

Barrett is one of a huge wave of 70 million Baby Boomers who will require some kind of personal care over the next 10 to 20 years, putting an even great strain on health care costs.

[mspeaches120]

This is one of the best programs ever. I am a part of a PACE program in California and it has saved my life and increased my quality of life 100%. Thanks to all who work and participate in the PACE program.

In my part of CA. it is called Center for Elders Independence.

[nojoy01]

by 112844 July 2, 2012 8:32 AM EDT

"...and live to be a decrepeit old man staring out the wibdow of a nursing home."
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112, you left out the part about while staring out the window you're sitting in a diaper full of cr@p waiting for some overworked & underpaid "living assistant" to wipe your butt & change your diaper. That's if you can sit up, otherwise you'll be lying in bed etc.

[Sydonia53]

I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have worked at 3 hospitals during my career. In the last 10 years I have watched the dimise of health care in the US, and it is the greed of CEO's and big business who run hospitals that have ruined our once great health care system, and the government allows it because it has become so consuming that they can not even begin to get it under control, because pharmacutical companies and medical equipment companies lobby against it while contributing to campaigns for dirty politicians. I presently work at a for profit hospital, never again, I am absolutely amazed at the fraud that I see every single day. They receive astronomical amounts of money for patient care, while cutting nursing staff, purchasing cheap products (and I mean CHEAP, not less expensive items) and keep fattening their wallets. Nursing staff carry the heaviest load in patient care, we are expected to take care of 6-7 patients, some of them with ICU acuity, many weighing over 500 lbs, our nurse aides take care of 12-15 patients each, in a 30 bed hospital. They DO NOT get the care they deserve, some aren't bathed, some aren't fed, some don't get the one on one care they deserve as a human being and it's disgraceful to know the CEO makes these decisions and yet suffers absolutely no consequences what so ever. There is no nursing shortage at present, the problem is those in administration are nurses who could put on a pair of scrubs and help out when needed, ours are told not to because they are no longer a "floor nurse" they are administration, they still have RN behind their name and know how to take care of patients. It doesn't take 8 nurses to run an office, it does take 8 nurses to scheme and scam more money out of the government and they will continue to do so until someone gets the big picture. You can report these issues to the state or joint commision and no one comes in to verify anything, and if they do administration is notified in advance and everything is just perfect when they arrive. We have a pharmacist that refuses to order certain medication that has had patients stablized because it's too expensive and that patient suffers tremendously, many times we just don't have the medication that is prescribed because he doesn't order it.It is absolutely disgusting to watch how they get away with it every day of the year. I am thankful my career will be ending soon, but pray for the younger nurses who are just starting their careers, they have no idea of what lies in front of them. Health care reform has to be mandated, because of the blantant fraud that goes on everyday but the biggest change that needs to be done is get rid of the good old boy system that allows it. The government has never paid for preventive care, which could cut costs immediately as the above program seems to be trying to do, but that would make sense, in the mean time people are kept alive to suffer so the company can get a few more of that almighty dollar in their pocket.

[marychgo]

Thank you, Sydonia, for your good work all these years, and for doing your best in your current (lousy) situation. If you're close to retirement (or could switch to a better hospital), have you considered seeking out a journalist who might like to expose the horrors of your current employer? The public needs to know just how bad some of the for-profit hospital are!

[cats1isa]

Yes, the program is called euthanasia!

[Sydonia53]

There are suffering people who would welcome that option. The better option is to be realistic, it is guilty family members who will not allow a person to die with dignity But there in lies the next problem the families that sue because nature does finally take it's course, death is the one thing we all have in common, we can cause them to linger in great pain, suffering and in agony or pass peacefully with their pain controlled. In the end it is selfish families that cause the majority of their suffering.

[112844]

There are two ways to look at your life. First things first though. Death is the definate end and we all face it. So, you can live an interesting life eating all of the good tasting foods, drink the good stuff, and know the ladies. You know, don't push your body too hard with all of that sweaty exercise, eat, drink and be merry. Then your will die a natural death after an enjoyable and exciting life. OR, you can eat all of the bland, tasteless foods, rack your body with pain at the gym, never take a chance ( DULL !!!! ) and live to be a decrepeit old man staring out the wibdow of a nursing home.
As for me, I will not arrive at the grave with a well preserved and healthy body. Instead , I plan on sliding in sideways on my Harley yelling; " HELL, WHAT A RIDE !!!! ".