While nursing home care is unavoidable for some elderly people, the utilisation of home and community-based services (HCBS) has been tested amid speculation it could prove cost-effective while also providing better patient care. Results have shown that while the average length of time services were received by home health beneficiaries was less than that received by nursing home residents, home health patients had both more frequent hospital stays and a higher rate of ED visits. However, long-term care costs for nursing home residents were tipped to be 4,582 more than costs for home health recipients, creating enhanced confidence in the governments' HCBS programs.
While nursing home care is unavoidable for some elderly people, the utilisation of home and community-based services (HCBS) has been tested amid speculation it could prove cost-effective while also providing better patient care. Results have shown that while the average length of time services were received by home health beneficiaries was less than that received by nursing home residents, home health patients had both more frequent hospital stays and a higher rate of ED visits. However, long-term care costs for nursing home residents were tipped to be up to $4,582 more than costs for home health recipients, creating enhanced confidence in the governments' HCBS programs.