The recently released Kentucky Institute of Aging annual report examines the state of older Kentuckians and makes recommendations on needs for services and programming.

The Kentucky Institute of Aging report is designed to raise awareness of the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, state legislature and citizens of Kentucky as they make funding decision for the needs of Kentucky’s older citizens.

The report includes three components:

  • Up to date information on select demographics including economics and social characteristics of Kentucky’s older population
  • The most recent statistics on the delivery of selected services and programs for older adults
  • And information on issues that merit focus such as long-term care; adequate rural transit and initiatives to facilitate an “age-friendly” Kentucky.

The report includes statistics and recommendations on how to best accommodate Kentucky’s older population.

Some recommendations include:

  • Focus the growth in funding for long-term care facilities on direct care to residents in the form of personnel, food and technology toward a public policy that anyone serving in a direct care role at a Medicaid-certified facility earns a “living wage.”
  • Increase financial support for community-based long-term care. It is both the will of the people and a cost effective approach to many of the anticipated increases in demand (Institutional care currently consumes 81 percent of Kentucky’s Medicaid expenditures). Kentucky is facing an exponential rise during the next 15 years in the number and percentage of its citizens who will become dependent on public support, in some fashion.
  • Support health care workforce development initiatives at all levels – high school and vocational programs, KCTCS, and health professional programs throughout the state. In addition to the rise in demand for these services, there is an economic development opportunity wrapped around an aging population: careers that stay in Kentucky and do not relocate to another state or overseas.
  • Support development of models of community based transit, ride share programs and best practices. Incorporate innovative programs from other states, especially for our rural areas.
  • Support development of models of community based transit, ride share programs and best practices. Incorporate innovative programs from other states, especially for our rural areas.
  • Encourage increased participation in individual community initiatives and the number of individual communities pursuing such initiatives including rural communities.

The full report can be found at http://chfs.ky.gov/dail/InstituteForAging.htm.