By Paul Soczynski
Chief Operating Officer,
Community Care

Wisconsin will continue a major shift in how it meets the long-term care needs of frail adults and adults with disabilities. In a drive to end long-term care waiting lists and to reduce nursing home usage by 25%, the State of Wisconsin plans to continue a five-year drive to expand community-based, long-term care services. Community Care is pleased to be a key change partner in this effort.

In 2006, the state won a $1.4 million systems change grant from the federal government to expand community-based, long-term care services, which it in turn invested in nine organizations charged with developing those services. Community Care was selected to be one of those nine organizations. Our success in operating quality, cost-effective long-term care services for more than 30 years identified us as part of the solution to Wisconsin’s long-term care crisis.

In the past, Wisconsin has consistently been one of the states with the highest nursing home usage rates in the country. The problem with this situation has been three-fold:

1. Nursing home care is expensive, but has been the only option available as an entitlement to Medicaid-funded long-term care services.
2. Older adults and adults with disabilities would prefer to stay in their own homes and communities rather than live in nursing homes. This fact is increasingly true of Baby Boomers. Since funding for community-based services is not an entitlement, consumers sometimes have no choice but to enter a nursing home for long-term care.
3. Limited funding for community-based services has led to the development of waiting lists across the state. Some people have languished on waiting lists for services for as long as eight to 10 years.

Community Care began an expansion of services in Racine and Kenosha this year and is developing plans for services in five additional counties over the next three years. Our goal is to eliminate the waiting list for long-term care services and to bring quality services that really make a difference in people’s lives.

Our success depends on the development of a strong network of providers and we are, therefore, actively pursuing discussions with providers. Our role is to identify the services needed and to work with providers to create an effective, efficient system.