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Future of Long-Term Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
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As the aging demographics unfold, the financing of Oregon's nationally recognized long-term care system will become a major challenge. Even with a reasonable rate of growth in future Oregon revenues, the burgeoning number of seniors and people with disabilities needing long-term care support could overwhelm and outstrip Oregon's capacity to pay for needed services.
It is imperative that Oregon plan now for the future of its long-term care system. The plan should preserve the key values of independence and choice and Oregon's noted paradigm of home and community supports. But the plan must squarely face the inevitable squeeze in future resources. It must propose strategies to keep people independent and healthy for as long as possible. And it must recommend how both long-term care and acute care services can be better aligned for those persons with extended or chronic care needs.
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To fulfill this charge, the Workgroup on The Future of Long-Term Care in Oregon has been asked to look at seven key questions. A draft report based on the work of this group is now available. The ideas in this draft report are only a beginning and are under consideration by the workgroup. We hope that leaders among Oregon's business, government and advocacy communities begin to chart a course that will be appropriate to the long-term care needs of Oregonians in the future.
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Contact us:
Future of Long-Term Care Workgroup
Department of Human Services
500 Summer Street NE E-02
Salem, OR 97301-1073
(800) 282-8096 - Voice
(800) 358-3117 - TTY
tom.towslee@state.or.us
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