New AARP Scorecard: Maryland Ranks #14 in the Country for Long-Term Care Services and Supports for Older Americans, Including Family Caregivers

Report Finds Systemic Gaps in Maryland in Nursing Home Affordability, and the Availability of Assisted Living and Adult Day Care Facilities

WASHINGTON (September 28, 2023) – AARP’s new Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Scorecard finds that more than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, care provided in the United States for older adults and people with disabilities is painfully inadequate. The report finds that major gaps persist in every state, including Maryland, especially related to the availability of affordable nursing home and community-based care.

Ranking #14 in the country, Maryland has made some progress to improve care options for older adults, including the enactment of paid family leave, improvements in the percentage of Medicaid reimbursements for home and community-based services, an increase in the number of individuals enrolled in self-directed home and community-based services, and a reduction in hospitalizations of home care patients. However, the report shows there is still much more to be done to keep up with the rapidly changing needs of an aging population.

“The pandemic reinforced the need to strengthen long-term care for countless loved ones across the country, including in Maryland,” said AARP Maryland State Director Hank Greenberg. “AARP’s Scorecard shows that there are many roads to meet the needs of all Marylanders who deserve the very best care, including the 760,000 family caregivers in our state. It’s time to accelerate our efforts, for the sake of saving more lives.”

The LTSS Scorecard is funded by AARP Foundation with the support of The SCAN Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, and The John A. Hartford Foundation and has been updated every three years since 2011.

To view the full Scorecard and state-by-state information visit www.ltsschoices.aarp.org.

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