Editorial: New York’s Long Term Care Crisis

Imagine trying to explain to your 93-year-old mother that she needs tomove to a new long term care facility where she won’t recognize hersurroundings or any of her caregivers.

Or try telling a child that his father – recovering from major injuriesafter a car accident – must spend the next three months ofrehabilitation at a nursing facility an hour or more away from home.

These situations will become more and more common if Albany fails toreform New York State’s nursing home reimbursement system this year.

Since 2003, nearly 30 nursing homes in New York State have closed theirdoors – and more than 80% are losing money caring for Medicaidpatients. Nursing homes are literally fighting for survival.

And unless a long overdue reform package is adopted – like the onepassed by the state Senate and Assembly but then vetoed – morefacilities will close and more families will have to scramble foradequate care for their loved ones.

Read the rest of this opinion piece at the Albany (NY) Empire Page.