By Dan Grappi, Director of Enterprise Sales
Last month, the 2024 MLTSS Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, brought together a powerhouse of healthcare leaders, government officials, payers and providers to address some of the most pressing challenges in managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS). Amid all the insightful discussions, three key topics stood out:
- Support for caregivers
- Addressing the direct care worker shortage
- Extending independence for older adults at home
In this post, I will explore key highlights from the conference and how a technology-driven approach in the home can help ease some of the burden on caregivers and direct care workers while providing essential support to our most vulnerable individuals.
Support for Caregivers
Caregivers are the heart of our long-term care system, but as the senior population continues to expand, the caregiver shortage is becoming more critical. During the summit, we discussed strategies many states are using to support caregivers, such as including them in MLTSS program benefits and plan requirements. But there’s still much work to be done.
For example, the use of digital health solutions could help reduce some of the caregiver strain. Specifically, technologies like remote patient monitoring and personal emergency response systems deliver enhanced safety and quality of life for aging and vulnerable populations while easing the burden on caregivers and giving them more bandwidth to provide essential care.
Addressing Direct Care Worker Shortages
Another primary focus of discussions was the growing challenge of the direct care worker shortage. Low wages, high turnover, and burnout are driving this issue, leaving many older adults without the support and care they desperately need. The summit shed light on this national crisis, and there was a lot of talk about how technology can help fill gaps in care.
Today, digital health innovations are not just empowering individuals to manage their health from home, but they are also significantly improving patient outcomes and quality of life. In addition, these technologies can ease some of the strain from an overburdened workforce by providing monitoring support between visits. This continuous access to care and support results in earlier interventions that help prevent unnecessary escalations and ED visits while improving efficiency and care delivery at home.
Extending Independence at Home
With shortages of both caregivers and direct care workers, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities live independently has never been more important. Although a multi-faceted approach is necessary to address this mounting issue, the use of digital health tools in the home can help increase self-management while connecting individuals to care and support when needed.
By integrating these solutions and services in the home, we can better support caregivers, ease workforce shortages, and empower individuals to age safely, independently and with dignity. This connected care approach provides a path to more sustainable, personalized, high-quality care for the long term. However, ensuring these resources are covered in MLTSS programs will be critical.