The Generations Project:
Creating Consensus to Reform Long Term Health Care in Indiana

Citizens Action Coalition has had a major and consistent role in reforming long term health care in Indiana since the mid 1980's when CAC worked with many other organizations to pass the CHOICE home health care program. Since December of 2001, CAC has increased its involvement in long term health care reform through its involvement with The Generations Project. The Generations Project, which is generously funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Foundation, is a collaborative effort of ten leading consumer and human service organizations designed to respond to the long term care crisis in Indiana. The project is working through partnerships to inform, educate, organize, and offer creative solutions to re-balance Indiana's long term care system.

The Project exists because Indiana has not moved quickly enough to balance its long term health care system. "The numbers speak for themselves," indicates Will Phillips, an associate with The Generations Project, "27,000 people are on waiting lists for publicly funded home and community based care and Indiana's response has been to spend nearly 83% of its long term care budget on care in institutions. It just doesn't add up and the human and fiscal costs are simply unacceptable."

Duane Etienne, CEO of CICOA The Access Network (the Area Agency on Aging for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area) and President of The Generations Project advisory board, is quick to note the impact of the project and equally quick to thank some key participants. "Historically, there have been numerous organizations representing a variety of individuals concerned with balancing long term care in Indiana," Etienne said. "This hasn't changed, but The Generations Project is providing the opportunity for these groups to work together and to effectively and consistently utilize and resource their strengths. The passage of SB 493 is proof that we are making great progress," Etienne concluded.

The foundations funding the project have played a significant role in the success of The Generations Project. Also important however, has been the financial and professional support provided by CACEF and AARP Indiana. To learn more about long term health care in Indiana, what you can do to help, or how you or your organization can get involved, please contact The Generations Project directly or one of its member organizations.