States are not making adequate progress toward keeping seniors and the disabled out of nursing homes by making greater use of home and community-based services.
Or so concludes a new study from AARP.
According to the study, only nine states and Washington, D.C. spend more on home and community-based services and long-term services and supports than on nursing homes. Minnesota leads the nation, spending 69 percent of its long-term-care money on home and community-based services. Other leaders include Washington state (65 percent), New Mexico (64 percent), and Alaska (63 percent).
Alabama pulls up the rear with only 14 percent.
The national average rose from 39 percent in 2011 to 41 percent in 2014.
Learn more about why this transition is considered important and what the obstacles to greater progress are in this Kaiser Health News report.