Aging Services: Six Challenges for 2015

​A series of articles posted December 15 through 19, 2014, in Long-Term Living outlines six challenges aging services providers should expect to face in 2015. The first is weathering changes in payment. These include the growth of managed care models (including in Medicare and, in some states, Medicaid), accountable care organizations, bundled payments, and other payment initiatives. The second is expanding the reach of services. Many providers are seeking ways to offer home- and community-based services, serve middle-income older adults without them having to spend down to qualify for Medicaid, facilitate aging in place and dementia care in assisted living, and provide housing with services in the face of greatly decreased funding for affordable housing. The third is improving the quality of care and services. Two major concerns are reducing rehospitalization rates and off-label use of antipsychotic medications, both of which have been added as measures on Nursing Home Compare.