State Ranks Low in Supporting Caregivers

According to a recently released scorecard on states’ efforts to provide long-term services and supports, New Hampshire has a long way to go to make it easy for Granite Staters to age in place. The state ranks 46th in the percentage of Medicaid long-term care dollars spent on services that help keep people in their homes and communities as they age. Roughly 80 percent of those dollars go to nursing home care.

In addition, the scorecard ranks New Hampshire last in support for family caregivers—even though a 2009 AARP survey found nearly 1 in 3 New Hampshire adults has cared for an adult relative or friend, providing services valued at $2.2 billion annually statewide.

According to a 2011 AARP survey, 84 percent of New Hampshire residents age 50-plus supported allowing funds now used only for nursing home care to be used for home- and community-based services as well. AARP members interested in volunteering to work on such issues are invited to an informational session Nov. 14 in Concord. To register, go to aarp.cvent.com/LTSSnov.