Long-term Care in Nursing Homes

Rick Patterson

Attorney

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An overhaul of Tennessee's state services to the elderly and disabled may not be in the too distant future. A long-term care study committee will be drafting recommendations to overhaul the current system. The state could pay Tennesseans to take care of relatives and friends rather than sending them to nursing homes. "Govenor Phil Bredesen said he will work with lawmakers to "fundamentally restructure" the long-term care system, and he included $12 million in new state money in his budget plan to begin the process."

It is believed that there are many benefits to having family and friends care for the elderly. It provides dignity to the elderly, while reducing costs to the state. On the flip side, there is no question that there can be pit-falls to giving someone a monthly check and saying "Go out there and hire your own caregivers" according to Ron Taylor, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Association. It is easy to see there is a real potential for abuse. Many safeguards would have to be implemented to make such a system work. It remains to be seen whether Oregon is ready for these changes in the near future. If and when the system is implemented, Oregon will be a model state for such a system.

Additional Information Pertaining to Nursing Home and Elder Abuse