Report urges healthier senior lifestyles in Nevada

Las Vegas Sun, October 28, 2002

Nevada's system for caring for frail and disabled seniors is strained, and new efforts must be made to get people to follow healthier lifestyles, according to a state task force.

Rather than relying on nursing homes to care for the elderly, communities should provide more services to help seniors continue living in their own homes, the panel says.

The recommendations were in a 10-year plan, developed by the Nevada Senior Services Task Force, that was delivered Monday to the Legislative Committee on Health Care.

The plan cited previous studies that show Nevadans drink and smoke at a rate higher than the national average and noted that this leads to many illnesses and deaths. Residents exercise less and Nevada's suicide rate is above the national average, the report adds.

Changed policies would cost about $300 million by 2010 but that would be $74 million less than the expected cost should the state follow the present route, according to the report.

"If (seniors') needs are not addressed over the next 10 years by thoughtful and creative approaches, the very families who are now assets will become overburdened and depleted trying to meet their loved ones'needs without adequate formal support,"the report said.

Nevada had the fastest-growing senior citizen population nationwide from 1990 to 2000. But still only 11 percent of Nevadans are seniors, while the national average is almost 12.5 percent.

The report assumes that the supply of nursing home beds will remain at its present level while community-based services will increase. At present most of those getting publicly financed care are in nursing homes.

The goal by 2010 is to have 60 percent of seniors who get publicly funded long-term care remain at home. The other 40 percent would be in institutions.

The report also recommends the state's Senior Rx prescription drug program be expanded from its present 7,500 members to more than 10,000 low-income members; that two dental examinations be available each year to needy seniors; and that by 2010 needy seniors pay no more than 30 percent of their income for housing and utilities.