1. The United States has a fast-growing population of senior citizens, which has major implications for the long-term budget outlook. The number of people aged 65 and older in the United States 52 million today is projected to increase by more than 60 percent over the next three decades, reaching 84 million in 2047. This will lead to more people turning to Social Security, Medicare, and long-term care services financed by Medicaid programs that are crucial to the economic and health security of Americans during their retirement years. Ensuring retirement security for the American middle class will mean providing these programs with additional resources. What resources are being provided by the government to support healthy aging?
2. Each state has regulations but every Medicare approved facility must govern themselves according to federal laws as well. Nursing facilities are governed by federal government regulations as well as state regulations. The federal government provides funding to nursing facilities and provides federal codes and standards that must be upheld. The monitoring of federal funds is required to ensure that funds are utilized appropriately. Annual surveys are conducted to ensure regulatory compliance. If a health care center has a poor survey or quality rating, is this the single most determining factor in selecting a health care center for a loved one? What other factors may outweigh the regulatory component?
Reference
PBS. (n.d). Today’s Nursing Homes: The Evolution of Nursing Home Care in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/nursing
