Live Well
Live Well: The Healthy Aging & Independent Living Initiative
2013 BOLD GOAL: 5% (10,850) more older adults with chronic disease will be living at home
Year 1 Evaluation Report Executive Summary (6-page .pdf)
Year 1 Evaluation Report (25-page .pdf)
Live Well Initiative Fact Sheet (2-page .pdf)
When older adults with serious medical conditions cannot receive the care they need at home, it creates a huge financial burden. We’ve identified three areas that most affect this problem.
1. Mid-stage Alzheimer’s patients have major gaps in memory and require help daily. Many family caregivers become overwhelmed, and spend their savings in an effort to qualify their loved one for Medicaid.
- The average lifetime cost for an Alzheimer’s patient is $174,000 (Texas Alzheimer’s Association, 2009).
2. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits, costing Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies millions of dollars every year.
- 20% of health care dollars are spent caring for someone diagnosed with diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2009).
3. Caregivers bear a significant physical, emotional and financial burden to keep their loved ones at home, saving billions of dollars that would otherwise be needed to pay for nursing home care.
- 40% of Alzheimer’s caregivers die from stress-related disorders before their loved one (Stanford School of Medicine, 2002).
HOW WE WILL SUCCEED:
Respite care allows caregivers regular opportunities to relax and take care of themselves, which lowers the risk of care recipients being placed in nursing homes.
Education and counseling like Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health (REACH II), can help caregivers reduce stress and depression, and improve their capacity for self-care.
- Of the 2000 served, 80% will still be living at home after 6 months
Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program teaches those with chronic health problems, like diabetes, how to deal with pain and isolation; use proper medications, exercise and nutrition; and communicate clearly with family and health professionals.
Diabetes screening and intervention identifies at-risk individuals and helps them spend fewer nights in the hospital, with fewer visits to the emergency room.
- For the 10,350 served, there will be a 20% reduction in hospital admissions and a 10% reduction in Emergency Room visits.
OUR ROLE:
- Champion the initiative by engaging experts and organizations to transform the health and human service system for older adults and caregivers.
- Monitor progress through regular evaluations and course corrections.
Your UW Gift at Work
$5 a week provides 130 hours of social activities, outings and fitness activities for an older adult to decrease isolation and loneliness. In one United Way-supported program, nine out of 10 program participants surveyed said their health had improved and their circle of friends had increased.
