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 Mississippi, especially related to nursing home staff turnover, support for family caregivers, and the long-term care workforce.
For the first time since AARP began publishing the Scorecard in 2011, more than half of Medicaid long-term care dollars nationwide for older adults and people with physical disabilities went to home- and community-based services instead of nursing homes and other institution.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and AARP Mississippi is holding a telephone town hall with advice for those who care for aging and ailing loved ones.
(Jackson, MS) — The unpaid care provided by the 470,000 caregivers in Mississippi is valued at $5.6 billion, according to new state data available in AARP’s latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series. In the last report that covered 2019, the amount was $4.7 billion. The report highlights the growing scope and complexity of family caregiving and highlights actions needed to address the many challenges of caring for parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
More than 369,000 incidents of financial abuse targeting older adults are reported to authorities in the U.S. each year, causing an estimated $4.8 billion in losses. And those numbers likely understate the problem considerably. However, it’s good to remember that there are things we can do to stop elder financial exploitation.
During the AARP Mississippi Cares Conference, we will recognize a family caregiver. Family caregivers provide unpaid help to loved ones and/or friends. Their contributions are invaluable. We invite you to nominate a family caregiver.