My aunt needs daily care, options besides a nursing home?

After my uncle passed away suddenly, my aunt now needs daily care. Does she have any options besides being placed in a nursing home?

Many of our country’s seniors and disabled oppose the idea of being placed in a nursing home or assisted living. And they have a choice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a 20-year-old law that bans discrimination on the basis of disability. Eleven years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that people who live in institutions like state hospitals and nursing homes but could live successfully on their own have a civil right, under the ADA, to get their care at home.

Home care is the answer for that costly five percent of Americans who suffer from multiple, chronic conditions. By keeping them out of hospitals and in their homes, home care saves money and supports an even greater cause.

The latest data from the Department of Labor shows that home care has boomed as America ages and the baby boomers begin entering their golden years. Registered nurses, home health aides, and personal care aides are among the top five occupations projected to see the largest increase in jobs by 2020 as more people need their services than ever before.

The Affordable Care Act has put forth several initiatives to support aged and disabled people in their homes. The Community First Choice Option assists states with the costs of in-home programs for people who would otherwise wind up in institutions, and the Balancing Incentive Program increases federal matching grants in states with less coverage for home and community –based services.

Hospice is based on the belief that every life matters and giving state-of-the-art medical care that comforts and eases pain. When medicine can add no more days to life, hospice can add more life to the remaining days. Hospice turns illness into an inner journey by committing to the highest quality of care. Hospice uses new technologies to speed up its response to patients’ needs, gives bereavement support, and offers public education on end-of-life care.