A new study by Brown University researchers points out six areas where policy makers need to make changes to improve the long-term care system in America.
The study analyzes major problems facing long-term care today, ranging from public confusion about funding sources to rampant workforce turnover. Members of the National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care are using the report to help frame their work.
“Out of the Shadows: Envisioning a Brighter Future for Long-Term Care in America,” said policymakers have to address the following areas to improve the system: prioritizing the financing of long-term care; empowering individuals and families; promoting physical and organizational change; investing in the long-term care workforce; modernizing regulatory controls and incentives; and leveraging health information technology.
The commission was established in late 2004 to evaluate the quality of long-term care in the United States and to recommend goals for quality improvement. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich co-chair the commission, while long-term care associations fund it.
See the full study at www.chcr.brown.edu .
