Related Stories Hoosiers with no family, no money have no voice (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel | Fort Wayne, IN | November 3, 2006) Some of the most vulnerable people in Allen County and across Indiana have no one to look out for them. With no family or money left, they live at public expense in nursing homes or in the community. They may suffer from dementia, mental retardation or another condition that impairs their judgment or their ability to communicate. Full Article published at Nursing Home Inspection Process Full Of Corruption (OpEdNews.com | September, 2006) Nursing home companies invest heavily in local politicians to ensure the failure of efforts to pass legislation unfavorable to the industry and to buy protection against fines and penalties levied by state officials charged with investigating and monitoring the industry. Full Article published at Seniors deserve options regarding long-term care (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN | August, 2006) Your 92-year-old widowed grandmother falls down and breaks her hip. She stays at the hospital for a few days after surgery and then transfers to a rehabilitation facility. After another week, she transitions to a nursing home, the first several months paid for by Medicare. Your family questions: “More than three months after Grandma first fell, is the nursing facility the most appropriate setting for her?” She wants to be independent, active and healthy. Full Article A little household help may reduce health-care costs among elderly (Purdue University News | West Lafayette, IN | February, 2006) Older people who do not have help for daily tasks such as dressing and bathing are much more likely to be hospitalized for acute illness than older adults who receive the help they need, a Purdue University study indicates, suggesting that reducing health-care costs for older adults may be as simple as providing them with a little household help each day. Full Article published at The benefits of home-based care My View: John Cardwell (The Indianapolis Star | Indianapolis, IN | June 15, 2005) By law, the cost of publicly financed home care in Indiana cannot exceed the cost of publicly financed nursing home care. Recently, a staff member of the trade association that represents for-profit nursing homes, the Indiana Health Care Association, has suggested that home-care costs greatly exceed the cost of nursing home care. It is sad that anyone would blatantly misrepresent the facts regarding the costs of long-term health care. Full Article published at Thousands sit on waiting list for waivers (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette | May 22, 2005) Vicky Dukenfield sat at her kitchen table on a sunny, cool April morning and stared at her hands as she talked about the most important decision she has ever had to make. Full Article published at Some defend CHOICE Assisted-living program for seniors is part of solution, they say. (The South Bend Tribune | South Bend, IN | April 20, 2005) INDIANAPOLIS – A bipartisan band of lawmakers issued a “hands off” plea to budget negotiators eyeing changes in the CHOICE program that helps keep ailing senior citizens in their homes. The group of 14 Senate and House lawmakers said Tuesday that the changes would force people into nursing homes prematurely by restricting home- and community-based care that is both cheaper and more desirable than institutional care. Full Article published at Health care choice still far from a reality for many Hoosiers (The South Bend Tribune | South Bend, IN | March 3, 2005) In theory, Hoosiers who need long-term health care have a choice. In 2003, both houses of the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Enrolled Act 493, to leverage Medicaid dollars to fund home care. The late Gov. Frank O'Bannon signed it into law. Full Article published at Back in D.C., Daniels makes himself at home (The Indianapolis Star | Indianapolis, IN | March 1, 2005) By Mary Beth Schneider WASHINGTON -- Mitch Daniels says he's just another governor among the 45 or so at this semiannual meeting of the nation's chief executives. But some governors are more equal than others. And in a political world where "face time" and access are all-important, Daniels may be more equal than most. Full Article published at Help for home care? Federal budget proposal would support moving the disabled out of institutions. (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel | Fort Wayne, IN | March 1, 2005) An effort to reduce the growth of federal spending on Medicaid might be a boost to advocates for in-home care, who are still trying to get Indiana to implement a 2003 law designed to make such care available to more people. Full Article published at Medicaid waiver complex A new waiver rule is good for protecting clients, but may force providers out of the waiver program (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel | Fort Wayne, IN | December 13, 2004) By Jennifer L. Boen A new state rule from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration governing certain home care providers has raised the ire of those providers who said they already are strapped with plenty of oversight and too-low reimbursement rates. Full Article published at Immigrants build wealth while caring for elderly (The Seattle Times | Seattle, WA | November 22, 2004) SEATTLE - Nigerian-born Stella Ogiale stands in her bare-bones office in Seattle's Central District, talking nonstop about her rise in America's small-business world. Full Article published at Prescription for Medicaid -- Finding new efficiencies isn’t enough in itself to solve this problem. (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel | Fort Wayne, IN | November 19, 2004) In virtually every campaign, there are candidates – usually not incumbents who have seen the scope of problems firsthand – who say that if only government’s inefficiencies were eliminated, our public financial trouble would disappear. Full Article published at Handled with care (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette | October 25, 2004) Adult day services keep seniors socializing and stimulated Full Article published at Expanded home care act needs funding (South Bend Tribune | October 11, 2004) The state of Indiana isn't making that kind of improvement to its long-term care delivery system. It still depends too heavily on nursing homes to care for our frail, low-income elderly. Full Article published at Elder care concerns can hinder work (Indianapolis Star | August 22, 2004) More employers offer assistance to help their staffers reduce stress, concentrate and remain productive. Full Article published at Specialized Care from Hospital to Home Improves the Health of Elderly with Heart Failure, Cuts Costs to the Health Care System (NIH News | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | May 12, 2004) A new study shows that when elderly heart-failure patients receive specialized nursing care throughout their hospital stay and at home following hospital discharge, the patients have a better quality of life and have fewer hospital readmissions. Full Article published at Less red tape planned for elder-care services (South Bend Tribune | South Bend, IN | May 3, 2004) Full Article published at Seniors groups honor Server and Becker (Evansville Courier & Press | Evansville, IN | April 29, 2004) Two local state representatives were recognized Wednesday for their work on behalf of Indiana's senior citizens, with each receiving an award from two major seniors groups. Full Article published at Legislators rap agency for inaction (Evansville Courier & Press | Evansville, IN | April 22, 2004) The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is being criticized for not following a state law that would make more Hoosiers eligible for home health care instead of spending tax dollars on nursing home care. Full Article published at The right care - right at home – People with disabilities can get treatment outside institutions with a new Medicaid waiver. (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel | Fort Wayne, IN | March 16, 2004) "A nursing home is no place for me," said 39-year-old Douglas Black. The Fort Wayne man speaks with authority: He spent a year in two different homes. Full Article published at Home care advocates demand change – State says no money available for transition costs of new law. (The Times of Northwest Indiana | Munster, IN | August 14, 2003) INDIANAPOLIS -- Advocates for a coalition of senior groups called for the state to speed up implementation of a new law that was designed to shift long-term care away from nursing homes and to home-based services. Full Article published at Seniors Groups Want State to Clear Home Health Care Waiting List (WIBC | Indianapolis, IN | August 13, 2003) Some senior citizens' advocates are demanding Governor O'Bannon unfreeze entry into home health care programs. Full Article published at A historic long term care victory for Hoosiers (As appeared in the Summer 2003 edition of the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana newsletter, Citizens Power | May 2003) The 2003 General Assembly has set the stage for dramatic change in Indiana's long term care system with the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 493. The enactment of this new law is a historic long term care victory that will benefit all Hoosiers. Full Article