When we get out of school we assume that we will only have to worry about taking care of our patients. This was true regardless of the setting we would work in. It could be outpatient, hospital, home health, skilled nursing, etc. We did not expect to have to fight for continued access to us.
Yearly changes
So if you were going to start a buisness and was told that for every year you are in buisness you will be able to sell your product for less every year, would you start this buisness? Every year as therapists we get a cut to reimbursement from Medicare. Usually all other insurances quickly follow suit. It becomes more and more difficult to keep good therapists especially in rural areas.
The biggest effect is on the elderly in nursing homes
Unfortunately this pattern significantly effects our most vulnerable population. The elderly in Rehabilitation and long term care. This is especially true in more rural areas of our states. It has become harder that ever to get adequate staffing of therapists to deliver care to this population. It is even more pronounced when you include nursing staffing as well. There is such a profound shortage of nurses right now that it is terrifying. When you look at the numbers of rural nursing homes struggling to stay open and shutting down due to cuts to reimbursement, it is a scarey thought. There are minimal programs available for our elderly when they can’t take care of themselves anymore.
What can I do?
The best way to be an advocate for a loved one and their future care is to talk to your local state senators and representatives. Help them to understand the struggles of the elderly as they age out of home and need more care. There are also some great organizations that are trying to help. One of the national organizations is ADVION. Take some time to volunteer even an hour a week in a Nursing home to truly see what happens inside and understand the amount of caring and love is shared with these residents.
Why should I care?
You may not have anyone now that needs care but you never know what can happen. Life changes in a moment. A fall, a stroke, a car accident and suddenly you need more than just a short hospital stay. Or this could be your parent or grandparent. You may be actually setting the tone for the future when you would even possibly need help. Every voice helps and can be a direct effect on our elderly which are some of the most vulnerable.
Without advocates there could be no care available
Without therapists, nurses, and CNA’s in areas outside of larger cities there could easily be no care available for your loved ones. There would be no intervention to improve quality of life or maintain any sense of health as we age. We need to be a voice for those that can’t fight for their rights. Please be an advocate for our elderly and allow for proper care of our most needy population.
