California Earns Top Marks for Long-Term Care Services

Palo Alto, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 29, 2014 – A major report from the American Association of Retired People (AARP) has named California a strong performer in long-term care systems for older adults and the disabled.

The report, called a “scorecard,” evaluated states on 26 different criteria and then aggregates the findings into an overall ranking. California finished ninth overall and drew top scores in several areas. The state earned a first-place rating on the availability of Medicaid benefits (Medi-Cal) to cover the costs of long-term care. The report also gave California a second-place rating for the diversity of long-term care options available, including in-home and community-based services.

According to elder law attorney Michael Gilfix, “This report is a reminder that older Californians and their families should seek out information before an urgent need arises. With advance planning, California families can access excellent options without spending a major portion of their assets on the expense of long-term care.”

The organizations that produced the report (AARP, The Commonwealth Club and The SCAN Foundation) insist that while California and many other states are making good progress on the issue of long-term care, the crisis still looms. 

“In just 12 years, the leading edge of the Baby Boom Generation will enter its 80s,” the authors stated, noting that “this generation, and those that follow, will have far fewer potential family caregivers to provide unpaid help.” This report, they claimed, is an attempt to help states and families understand what needs to improve in order to meet the coming need.