Arizona may need more than 40,000 new direct-care workers to cover the increasing need for elder-care support. As reported by the Arizona Daily Star, home-care professionals note there has been insufficient planning for the wave of seniors who are beginning to require late-in-life care. In addition to health-care providers and public agencies, families may also need to plan ahead carefully for the needs of their parents and elder members.
Family members and children may be more than willing to provide in-home care for their parents and grandparents, but employment and financial responsibilities may make things difficult. Elder-care professionals stress the need for families to plan ahead, especially in light of the anticipated shortage of in-home senior-care workers. Aging family members may otherwise not be able to stay in their homes.
Inadequate care at Arizona nursing homes may remain uninvestigated
USA Today Network’s AZCentral reports that Arizona may be placing nursing home residents at risk by failing to adequately address reports of neglect, abuse and substandard sanitation. An independent auditor’s report noted that some nursing home complaints received by the Grand Canyon State’s Department of Health Services have gone uninvestigated since 2017 and remained unresolved as of mid-2019.
State health officials claim that the report may not have accurately portrayed the efforts and work performed by the Department of Health in monitoring nursing home care. Officials also note that the report does not provide its findings in the proper context. Nonetheless, the Department of Health believes additional funding of about $3 million and an increase in staffing would enable the agency to better handle its workload. Department officials note that the agency receives almost 2,500 complaints each year regarding health-care facilities and related issues.
Advance planning may avoid future long-term care issues
When there are expectations of in-home caregiver shortages and potentially substandard conditions in some long-term care facilities, planning for future needs in advance may be the best way to avoid problems. There are options for financing long-term care and directives that can be set up before the actual need arises. Each individual’s care and needs are unique, and choosing the best possible approach in advance can make a world of difference.
