The Wisconsin Board on Aging is hoping to reform the nursing home system before it becomes overwhelmed. The new policy reforms would refocus the type of people they serve. Instead of long-term care, nursing homes would specialize in medical rehabilitation and sub-acute care.
The State would expand the number of community-based alternatives such as Family Care where patients can still get medical reimbursement for care in the home. "That's going to take waivers by the Federal government and ongoing expansion of what the state has started in five counties," says Deb Menacher with Marathon County's Aging and Disability Resource Center.
The Board on Aging also suggests the state look into investing in a long-term care insurance fund and closer regulation of out-of-state companies wishing to run nursing homes.
