Tennessee is one of the worst states in the country when it comes to giving seniors options in long-term care, according to advocates who addressed a special legislative committee Thursday. The committee comprised of legislators met to discuss improving long-term care.
Their goal is to create a bill that would reorganize the state's service plan.

On Thursday, experts shared their recommendations for changes before the panel.

"Tennessee is far behind the rest of the nation in terms of providing long-term care services outside of nursing homes," said Patrick Willard, new associate director of state communications of AARP.

For years, long-term care meant sending seniors and individuals with disabilities to nursing homes.

Experts believe it's time for the state to place more emphasis on home and community based care.

"When a person can survive in their own home, with some baths and some other assistance, why move them to an institution?" said James McConnell, a special consultant.

Over reliance on nursing homes also raised concerns about a lack of support for seniors and poor treatment of nursing home patients. McKendree Village, a nursing home in Hermitage, recently came under fire for such allegations.

"There are too many individuals who are the victims of inadequate care, abuse and mistreatment," said Jerry Blasingame, state long-term care ombudsman for the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability.

Not only is home care the preferred choice of most seniors, it could help save the state millions because paying for alternative long-term care is cheaper than nursing homes.

"The more involvement you have from the consumers, the better quality a system you have in the long run,"
McConnell said.

The joint committee plans to research the issue into next year and hope their efforts end with a revamped long-term care system.

"We probably can't do that tomorrow, but if we starting working on it now, sooner than later, then we will have a good system in years to come that I think Tennesseans will be proud of, said state Rep. Dennis Ferguson, committee chairman.

The experts and the panel discussed simplifying the aid process by slimming down the number of agencies and providing more funding and support for ombudsmen who act as patient advocates when something goes wrong at a facility. 

The committee also discussed the importance of providing specialized care for those with Alzheimer's and other serious ailments.

Another reason reforming Tennessee's long term care plan is so important? 

The aging baby boomer generation could overload an already stressed system.