Florida has achieved a new distinction, but not a coveted one. The AARP Public Policy Institute reports that Florida is #51, at the very bottom, compared to all the states and the District of Columbia, in care it provides for frail, poor and middle class old people. This finding is reported in AARP’s recently released Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard 2020.
The report talks about long-term support and services, known as LTSS — the very services many older adults need to stay in their homes safely and with dignity as they age. These services consist of “day-to-day help needed by people with long-term conditions, disabilities, or frailty. It can include personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting); complex care (medications, wound care); help with housekeeping, transportation, paying bills, and meals; and other ongoing social services.” LTSS also include supportive services provided to family members and other unpaid caregivers.