Opinion: Protect seniors, say no to funding cuts that hurt long-term care

Are we committed to care for our seniors in their remaining years? As a society, we have made a promise to care for each other as we age. One way we do this is by ensuring our most vulnerable have access to viable nursing facilities and assisted living communities that provide quality care across our state. 

These settings serve individuals with limited resources who need around-the-clock skilled nursing care, or just assistance with some activities of daily living. Medicaid is the primary source that pays for this, covering the cost of room, board, and care. 

More than 66% of Michigan nursing facility residents are Medicaid beneficiaries. And nearly 1 in 5 assisted living residents rely on a program that provides Medicaid funding for individuals who receive services in their home or an assisted living community. 

These beneficiaries typically are long-stay residents. The average resident is 83 years old; and while it is always the goal, their likelihood of becoming independent enough to return home is low. As home care and other options along the long-term care continuum continue to expand, these long-stay residents are much older and sicker when they ultimately reach a nursing facility. 

Due to their level of acuity, the severity of a person’s medical and personal care needs, caring for these individuals in a nursing facility, in many cases, is truly the last-resort option for enabling them to age with dignity and respect. I think we can agree that our parents and grandparents certainly deserve that. 

That’s why it is concerning that Congress is considering $625 billion in cuts that may impact Medicaid funding. These cuts could mean fewer options for at-risk seniors and potentially longer wait times for families seeking care for loved ones. 

Compounding the impact of cutting our seniors’ safety net is the fact that our population is aging quickly. We stand on the precipice of the new era. In less than 9 months, the first baby boomers will turn 80. In 2031, the floodgates will open as those baby boomers turn 85 and the demand for care will explode. 

Significant Medicaid cuts could have real, immediate consequences. Forcing skilled nursing and assisted living communities to downsize or ultimately close will leave our veterans, parents, grandparents, and eventually many of us with fewer options for safe, comfortable, compassionate care. 

You have to consider, as we all grow old, will we have access to quality care? 

With more of us living longer and potentially requiring long-term care, balancing the federal budget cannot come at the expense of our most vulnerable populations. We urge our nation’s leaders and lawmakers to remember Medicaid is the foundation that provides access to critical care.