Stories:
If It’s Not Your Issue Now, It Will Be
We’re all getting older, and even if we’re not “seniors” yet, we all have family members and friends who are.  How are they being cared for in our communities?  What issues do they face?  What issues do we as their caregivers and future elderly confront?  PCIC members have only had a few house meetings dealing solely with eldercare, but it always comes up in our health care discussions and is certainly an issue we all relate to.

Research

• In 2000 Arizona ranked 22nd nationally in percent of population age 65 and older and is projected to rank 18th in 2010, and 14th in 2030.
• The median age at death for Arizonans in 2005 was 80 years for females and 74 years for males.
• In 2005, 583 Arizonans age 65 or older died from injuries that were related to unintentional falls. Up to 20% of patients die within a year following their injury.
• 1,801 Arizonans died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2005, the sixth leading cause of death among those 65 years and older.
• Approximately 95% of non-institutionalized older adults with disabilities receive at least some assistance from relatives, friends, and neighbors. Almost 67% rely solely on unpaid help, primarily from wives or daughters.
• More than 55% of older persons treated for mental health services received care from primary care physicians. Less than 3% aged 65 and older received treatment from mental health professionals.

In addition, most ill seniors are moved out of hospitals into nursing homes/rehabilitation centers following initial treatment for their illness or injuries.  Nursing ratios at these institutions average one nurse per 20 patients.  Many of these nurses are now LPNs, rather than RNs, creating a situation where the sickest of our seniors are treated by lower-skilled caregivers.  In either case, the number of health care workers available to take care of the elderly is also declining.One of the best ways to provide respite for caregivers is through adult day care facilities.  Tucson currently has few, as these are expensive to staff and there is little funding available. As noted above, many elderly need mental health treatment.  Tucson has no geriatric in-patient mental health facility.

Possible Action Steps

• Meet with Healthy Arizona to discuss the role of elder care in the statewide ballot initiative for 2008
• Research the availability of adult day care facilities in the Tucson area. Educate congregations about benefits of the caregiver respite bill passed in 2007.
• Meet with County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry and UPH CEO Norm Botsford to research how elder care, especially geriatric mental health services, would be affected by the proposed 2008 county bond.
• Support training opportunities for home health aids and nurses at all levels, including making these opportunities available to immigrants. Back tp top

These statistics come from the Draft Arizona State Plan on Aging:  Federal Fiscal Year 2008 - 2010, pages 11 - 13, available at http://www.azdes.gov/aaa/pdf/azdraftstateplan20082010.pdf.