Long Term Care

THE BABY boom generation has left its mark on society throughout the 50 or so years it has been around.From Davy Crockett caps to the Beatles, from Earth shoes to minivans -- the boomers' impact has traced their different phases in life.Now, this generation is slowly but surely approaching the golden years, and there can be no doubt that the group that once defined youth culture in this country is going to redefine what it means to be elderly as well.Even before the boomers become senior citizens, their very presence is starting to raise serious questions about programs currently in place to care for the elderly.

The state of long-term care in Maryland is strong, but it faces significant challenges. That's why the majority of nursing homes in Maryland are asking the Maryland General Assembly to raise the "quality assessment" -- a tax that nursing homes pay. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Let me explain. In the skilled nursing community alone, we have a dedicated, passionate and well-trained work force of more than 32,000 employees caring for 25,000 people every day. However, we face unprecedented short-term challenges that have the potential of creating long-lasting negative consequences for older Marylanders and individuals with disabilities.

For all the work Christopher Reed has done as vice president of fundamental research for Harris Investment Management Inc. in Chicago, he still can't figure out whether he should buy long-term-care insurance for his parents. "There are so many variables in long-term care and so many issues - health, taxes, estate planning," he said. "Then you get presented with a policy and your eyes glaze over." Long-term-care policies are designed to help pay for all sorts of expenses people can incur as they age. These range from such simple things as home help in performing everyday tasks that are taken for granted, such as bathing and eating, to the cost of a nursing home, hospice or assisted-living facility.

Baltimore-based NeighborCare said yesterday that it acquired parts of privately held Health Care Professionals, a Millersville-based provider of long-term care and retail pharmaceutical services, for an undisclosed sum.The acquisition includes two pharmacies in Anne Arundel County that will be converted to NeighborCare Professional Pharmacies, and a long-term care pharmacy operation, home medical equipment warehouse and ambulatory infusion center that will...

Integrated Health Services Inc., said yesterday it has completed a deal announced in the spring to lease 43 long-term care facilities around the country and outfit them with skilled medical units.The arrangement involves facilities in the key growth states of Florida, Louisiana, and Texas and will expand the IHS network by 25 percent.The Hunt Valley-based firm is the leading provider of subacute care inside nursing homes for people released early from hospitals who still need skilled medical attention.

The Sun's honoring of FutureCare Health and Management as the No. 1 large company on its Top 75 Workplaces is well-deserved. The FutureCare team works hard each day helping Marylanders in their care return to good health. Working in long-term and rehabilitative care is a stressful, 24-hour, seven day a week job. Care giving is more a calling than a career choice. This honor is a testament to the success of the Attman family and their team's way of putting family first. This honor also is a reflection on the entire long-term care provider community in Maryland — some 36,000 men and women strong who care for more than 25,000 older, disabled and recovering patients each and every day. With more than $1.5 billion in payroll annually, the long-term and rehabilitative care providers are significant employers in Maryland.

When multiple sclerosis finally left Jane Richards unable to care for herself, she went into a nursing home. At first, the 75-year-old retired interior designer paid her own way. But within a year, the $3,500-a-month bill and other expenses had ravaged her life savings.That left her no choice.She did the same thing millions of other middle-class Americans have done. She turned to Medicaid, the medical assistance program for the poor."I'm just very thankful for it. I don't know what else people would do," said Ms. Richards, who is confined to a wheelchair at the Keswick home in Baltimore.

A Carroll delegate's proposal that would allow middle-income elderlyto receive state health care without first exhausting their financial resources will be studied this summer for possible implementation.Del. Donald B. Elliott, a Carroll Republican and owner of the Union Bridge Pharmacy, has been working to revise the state's long-term nursing care system for the last two years. This year, the bill is co-sponsored by Del. John G. Gary, an Anne Arundel Republican.Elliott has proposed creating a public-private partnership in which senior citizens could purchase a state-approved long-term care insurance policy and use the benefits to pay for nursing home expenses.

There's still time to register to vote Every citizen in the U.S.A. who is 18 years of age or older and has never been convicted of a felony has the right to vote. But they must have a voter registration identification card. A mailing address is necessary to get a registration card. Even if you are "down on your luck," "homeless," or "out of work," you have the right to vote. The great thing about being an American is being able to exercise this inalienable right. Each and every American should treasure this right and voice his opinion.

Office consultants in Westminster serve three counties DML Office Consulting LLC has announced its opening in Westminster. The company works with businesses on administrative services and onsite training for support staff and managers. The company procures services for new businesses, hires administration personnel, customizes projects and offers specialized services such as travel arrangements and seminar and event planning. The office services Carroll, Baltimore and Frederick counties and expects to expand statewide within six months.