A study by the University of Virginia confirms that up to 4 million older Americans living at home are not receiving adequate in-home care. Assistant Professor Aaron Yao in UVA’s School of Medicine acknowledged the lack of sufficient “house calls” made to elderly patients today.
According to the study, “About 5,000 primary care providers made 1.7 million home visits to Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in 2013, accounting for 70 percent of all home-based medical visits. Nine percent of these providers performed 44 percent of visits.”
The solution is clear. As Americans continue to age, we need more in-home care services to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Preventive care at home will help reduce the need for emergency care, controlling costs and preserving quality of life.
“If I am old and have problems, but I have my symptoms controlled,” Yao said, “then I probably won’t need to call 911. From the society’s perspective, it actually saves a lot of money.”
The more we prioritize home care solutions, the longer our seniors can remain safely in their homes.
