Home-Based Care Needs a Boost

Almost 90 percent of Americans 65 and older want to stay in their home as they age, but Mississippi lags behind 35 states and the District of Columbia in using Medicaid funds to help residents achieve that goal.

Only 27 percent of Medicaid dollars earmarked for long-term care of older Mississippians and those with disabilities are allocated to home- and community-based services. The other 73 percent pays for nursing home care.

“Most people want to stay in their own home as they age,” said Kimberly L. Campbell, AARP state director. “Our state could do more to make sure older Mississippians have that option, which is much less costly than institutional care.”

To learn more about the need to rebalance Medicaid funding, go to aarp.org/balance.