Attorney General Josh Stein today joined elder care advocates to share a resource card designed to assist seniors and families in North Carolina with navigating care options for the aging population. June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the Department of Justice is focused on protecting North Carolinians, including senior citizens, from scams, fraud, and abuse.
“We all want to age with dignity and comfort, but it can be stressful to figure out how to best get care,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I’m grateful for the hard work our partners are doing to support families and seniors, and I’m pleased to share this card to help North Carolinians begin to understand their options for elder care.”
The card provides information on long-term care facilities and health insurance in North Carolina. It addresses basic questions about available care options, how families can start looking for care, and what actions they should take if concerned about the type of care their loved one is receiving in a Medicare or Medicaid-funded facility. The card also lists additional state and federal agencies and advocacy groups that can assist families during these important milestones.
“When it comes to long-term care, AARP found that seven in 10 Americans will eventually need care; but most underestimate the costs,” said Michael Olender, director of AARP North Carolina. “Most of those who plan ahead (78 percent), wish they did so sooner. Making a long-term care plan is more than just buying insurance or updating a will. It’s about mapping your own course and living life as you want. Small steps now will secure a safer, happier future and AARP as well as the new North Carolina long-term care resource guide can help.”
“In North Carolina, over 93,000 residents are receiving services in long-term care facilities,” said Kay Poksoy Castillo, executive director of Friends of Residents in Long Term Care. “Nationally, seven out of 10 people will require long-term care in their lifetime. Every day, these individuals are at risk for issues such as low staffing which delays their care, violation of residents’ rights, social isolation, ongoing health complexities, and many other issues. Our goal at Friends of Residents in Long Term Care is to ensure residents have a voice, that residents are respected, and that residents are supported in their care needs. With so many individuals and their families facing new care needs as they age, resources like this one will support North Carolinians in making long-term care decisions for themselves and their loved ones.”
“The NC Navigator Consortium provides free, unbiased healthcare.gov and Medicaid application assistance and provides health insurance literacy education to help North Carolina families understand what doctors, prescriptions, specialists, and care facilities are covered by their health plan,” said Nicholas Riggs, director of the NC Navigator Consortium. “The Consortium is grateful that the NC Department of Justice understands the need to connect folks with long-term care resources whose efforts will better protect North Carolinians and provide peace of mind to those in our state navigating what can be a difficult system.”
The Department of Justice works through its Medicaid Investigations Division (MID) to protect seniors from abuse by investigating and prosecuting healthcare providers that defraud Medicaid or abuse patients in Medicaid-funded facilities. Since 1979 MID has secured more than $1 billion in restitution and penalties for the North Carolina Medicaid program.
North Carolinians can report concerns about fraud or patient abuse at 919-881-2320. The department also combats elder scams through educational materials like a senior scam guide available for download.
A copy of the resource card is available online along with a comprehensive list of digital resources.