IHPI experts present aging & long-term care research in Congressional briefing

On April 25, researchers from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI) participated in a virtual briefing with the bipartisan Congressional Long-Term Care Caucus to share key research findings and policy considerations to improve home and community-based services for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. 

Caucus co-chair U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell provided opening remarks for the briefing which was organized and moderated by Courtney A. Polenick, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, a health and aging policy fellow in Rep. Dingell’s Office, and a member of IHPI who co-leads the Institute's Aging Research Network.

“When given a choice, we know that most Americans prefer to receive care in their homes, and that is why it is critical for us to learn more about how social and community support systems can help all Americans lead independent and fulfilling lives as they age,” said Rep. Dingell in her opening remarks. “We need to do more for older adults and individuals living with disabilities, so they can get the care they need in the setting of their choice.”

Rep. Dingell described the “considerable shortcomings” of U.S. long-term care services, including the lack of support for family caregivers and significant barriers to accessing home and community-based health care services. While emphasizing the need for further policy action to address these issues, she noted recent bills introduced in Congress to improve long-term care infrastructure and services.

Polenick introduced the researchers – Jeff Kullgren, HwaJung Choi, Sheria Robinson-Lane, and Xiaoling Xiang. Each briefly presented findings from their research related to long-term care services and addressed questions from Caucus members and their staff.

Jeff Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., associate professor of internal medicine and director of the U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging, discussed the poll's insights on older adults' perspectives on aging in place, caregiving, and public aging resources. Among the key findings highlighted was that only a small minority of older adults – less than 10% – said they had used or knew a lot about public programs and options for long-term care services and supports. 

HwaJung Choi, Ph.D., M.A., a health economist and associate research professor of internal medicine, presented her research on the implications of financial barriers to home and community-based long-term care services for older adults, particularly individuals with dementia, and their families. Choi and her colleagues found that the median monthly income of people 55 and older who have dementia was shown to be just over $2,000 – with substantial income differences by racial groups – while the national estimate of monthly costs for assisted living facilities is over $5,000.

Xiaoling Xiang, Ph.D., M.Phil., M.S.W., assistant professor of social work, highlighted her team's digital program, Empower at Home, which offers online therapy lessons rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy and operates in partnership with numerous community agencies serving older adults across Michigan. Highlighting the program's success to date, she emphasized the effectiveness of integrating digital interventions within community aging services to increase access to mental health care for older adults. 

Sheria Robinson-Lane, Ph.D., M.H.A., M.S., R.N., assistant professor of nursing, shared her research on racial disparities among older adults with disabilities, noting that roughly 40% of Black adults and 36% of multiracial people over 50 live with a disability compared to one-third of older adults overall. She explained that multiple layers of support -- individual, environmental, social, community, and policy -- should be considered to identify and implement equitable and inclusive strategies to help people with disabilities age in place.

Overall, the briefing underscored the importance of research-informed policy measures to enhance long-term care services and promote equitable aging for all adults in the U.S.