Entrants's Name: Susan July

Country: United States

Field: Aging

Innovation - idea: Assisted living communities offer support services and activities that give seniors a popular alternative to nursing home care. But such communities are expensive and out of reach for low-income seniors. Lapham Park, a public housing development in the City of Milwaukee, has addressed the problem by creating the nation's first assisted retirement community for low-income seniors.

Innovation - why it is pioneering: The Venture has brought together experts and practitioners in housing, medicine, social service, and gerontology using a continuing care model to coordinate and deliver health and social services to low-income older adults who live in pubic housing. The flexibility offered by the use of waivers in the Medicaid and Medicare funding provides options for long term care and helps elderly age in place

Strategy - how it achieves impact: Created in 1993, the Venture is a synergy of public, private, and nonprofit investment, drawing on the contributions of experts and practitioners in housing, medicine, social service, gerontology and housing.The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee provides building space for Lapham Park, managed the renovation and operates the program with several partners. With funding from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Community Care Organization provides community-based, long-term care services on site to frail residents who otherwise would qualify for care in a nursing home. Milwaukee County Department on Aging funds a congregate meal site, transportation for residents and case management services, which are provided by S.E.T. Ministry. All residents have access to on-site physician services provided by St. Mary's Family Practice Clinic, funded mainly by the Medicaid program. Residents never face a waiting list for services meaning they are able to age in place and in better health

Strategy - growth plans: The Venture is being replicated in other housing authorities in the nation, and is being replicated at 2 other housing developments managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.

Impact to date: The Venture's program of consumer-focused health care has produced results. Nursing home placements have fallen from five to less than two percent a year. Some 75 percent of residents have their needs met at the facility. On-site services for independent living permit 96 percent to age in place. In addition, the number of evictions because of behavioral problems and inability to pay rent has dropped. Taxpayers also win as public dollars are saved through increased efficiency and a smarter use of resources. The Venture has reduced Medicaid nursing home costs by an estimated $1 million a year.

Future impact: The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee focused the work of practitioners in gerontology, housing, medical arts and social services to provide integrated, consumer- centered care to low-income frail elderly living in public housing. The Lapham Park Venture (Venture) has prevented the premature and unnecessary placement of frail elderly in nursing homes by redirecting existing resources and funding to help elderly age-in-place. The Venture has assisted residents in remaining in their own homes, while saving substantial dollars in Medicaid nursing homes costs. Elderly who need long-term care will encounter a coordinated financing system, along with a seamless service delivery system as well. Integrated systems of financing for long term care and services will reduce costs while providing maximum choice for older adults.

Sustainability - resource base: The Wisconsin Medicaid agency help both in planning and operating the Venture, by the use of waivers in the Medicaid program and the coordination of Medicaid and Medicare funding. Milwaukee County Department on Aging funds a congregate meal site, transportation for residents and case management services, which are provided by S.E.T. Ministry. S.E.T. Ministry provides other social services on site as well, and receives private donations to help fund some of these services. Community Care Organization provides community-based, long-term care services on site to frail residents who otherwise would qualify for care in a nursing home. Access to on-site physician services provided by St. Mary's Family Practice Clinic, funded mainly by the Medicaid program.Marquette University has graduate-level nurses available for hands-on student training. One factor that helped ensure the success of the program is that early in the process, Venture partners included residents in the planning process.

Major challenge for the field: The increasing need for long-term care services will continue to create significant budget concerns for Federal and State governments. Financing acute care is largely the responsibility of Medicare and the federal government, while long-term care financing is the primary venue of Medicaid and state governments.

Contact Information:

Name: Susan July - Managing Director
Country: United States
Website: www.hacm.org

Bio: Susan July, Managing Director for the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.