Within the final yr, home- and community-based service choices both stayed comparatively flat or dipped amongst many of the largest nonprofit senior residing suppliers.
Whereas senior residing suppliers stay usually dedicated to those providers, they’ve been robust to handle as a consequence of numerous elements, particularly staffing woes.
That and different takeaways are in response to the LZ 200, an annual report carried out by LeadingAge and Ziegler Healthcare Funding Banking that examines the nation’s 200 largest nonprofit senior residing multi-sites, government-subsidized housing multi-sites and single campuses.
Of these senior residing suppliers, 42% supplied some type of home- and community-based care. That would embrace house well being care, house care, grownup day care, persevering with care at house (CCaH) applications and Packages for All-Inclusive Take care of the Aged (PACE).
“The general dedication to HCBS has usually been secure in recent times – even with COVID’s impression,” Lisa McCracken, the director of senior residing analysis at Zeigler, informed Residence Well being Care Information in an electronic mail. “Nonetheless, we all know that the staffing pressures have completely impacted the power to develop these platforms.”
Staffing pressures have compelled well being care suppliers throughout the board to rethink launching new service strains, or investing in present ones, however “the numbers present a comparatively regular dedication throughout the LZ 200 to house care and residential well being,” Katy Barnett, the director of house care and hospice operation and coverage at LeadingAge, additionally informed HHCN in an electronic mail.
The Washington, D.C.-based LeadingAge is an advocacy group comprised of nonprofit organizations that serve the growing old inhabitants. In the meantime, the Chicago-based Ziegler is a privately held funding financial institution specializing in house well being care and senior residing, amongst different areas.
The most important suppliers on this yr’s LZ 200 included Trinity Well being Senior Communities, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, St. Paul Senior Providers, Holland Residence, Concordia Lutheran Ministries and Brio Senior Residing Providers.
Particular service line traits
Whereas there are slight drops and upticks within the determine proven above, these may also be chalked as much as respondent discrepancies on a year-to-year foundation.
As an illustration, CCaH – which has been rising in reputation over current years – fell from 10% to eight% among the many suppliers. However that’s possible not indicative of a bigger development. In truth, the alternative development is probably going occurring.
“The composition of the LZ 200 varies barely yr over yr relying on who strikes off and who merged,” McCracken mentioned. “I’d say – even past CCaH throughout the LZ 200 – that we proceed to see a dedication to that mannequin throughout the nonprofit sector.”
In truth, LeadingAge has seen extra nonprofits launch CCaH during the last yr – and heard from others contemplating launching this system – in response to Dee Pekhrun, the director of life plan communities providers & coverage at LeadingAge.
On the opposite finish, the grownup day mannequin remains to be struggling. After severe COVID-19-related points from early 2020 on, many suppliers needed to begin from scratch because the pandemic lastly eased.
“Grownup day suppliers are nonetheless navigating a lot of unclear rules round reopening of congregate settings,” Barnett mentioned. “That, coupled with the reimbursement charges for these providers from a Medicaid standpoint – a significant concern – could make it exhausting for some suppliers to justify maintaining these service strains open.”
With regard to house well being care, specialists at LeadingAge and Ziegler doubted that an unsure price setting would result in much less suppliers providing providers.
Staffing can nonetheless be a problem in house well being care, although, which makes joint ventures in style within the area. Almost 35% of the LZ 200 organizations are engaged in a proper JV with one other supplier, a well being system or a house well being or house care company. That’s up in comparison with the 29% that had been in such a partnership in 2021.
McCracken additionally talked about that there are suppliers which will look in direction of know-how as a way to clear up a few of the staffing points that they’ve confronted.
“I believe noting the position of know-how on this area is important,” she mentioned. “It might probably assist attain individuals to a higher extent than doable previously. It might probably additionally help with a few of the staffing-related challenges. Expertise and home-based providers actually do create a few of the finest platforms on the market.”