ROANE CO., Tenn (WVLT) -- Governor Phil Bredesen was in Roane County Thursday to talk about long-term care for seniors.
Whether it's you or Uncle Sam, footing the bill, nursing home care can cost more than $50,000 a year, and the best homes often have waiting lists.
It's a big reason Gov. Bredesen is pushing to reform TennCare rules so more seniors can get some care in their own homes. But managing managed care is a tough task.
Carol Campbell said, "It's a lot less expensive to have somebody come in and care for you just a few times a day, rather than going into a nursing home"
For Carol and Bob Campbell, staying out of a nursing or long term care home is about a lot more than costs.
Bob said, "I can see the day where I may require a space of my own, and I would rather be at home with my wife nearby, and where my friends can stop in."
Thursday, Governor Bredesen said that changing TennCare's rules
to free up more money will allow 2300 more lower-income Tennesseans to get help getting-, and paying for more services in their own homes faster.
Leah Peters with Home Instead Health Care said, "I don't believe it's going to give seniors the choices that Governor Bredesen is hoping for."
Home Instead provides everything from companionship to Alzheimer's monitoring for almost 100 Knoxville Area Seniors.
Peters said she welcomes competition -- but questions how to guarantee quality.
"There's not enough licenser (sic) people to come out and license as-is.
I think if they do that, they're truly putting clients at risk."
Barbra Monty with Knoxville-Knox County Office on Aging said, "Any time there's money available to purchase services, there are people who want to take advantage of it."
Monty believes the Governor's promise that the proposed changes won't repeat TennCare's rookie mistakes.
Gov. Bredesen said, "We're working hard on making sure there are good licensing standards, good oversights. We've got the people and facilities to do that, and we're gonna make sure this is first class care."
For Bob Campbell, dignity always trumps dollars.
"I don't like the idea of being off somewhere and being forgotten about."
TennCare spends about $1.2 Billion a year on long-term care for elderly and disabled.
Tennessee's area offices on aging would be the gatekeepers by setting your choices for which caregivers provide certain services.
Lawmakers still haven't approved the changes, but any Changes would take affect in mid-2009.
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