Aging in Place in Tennessee: Workshop on Mapping of Home Health Agencies, Personal Support Services Agencies, and Hospice Care Facilities

Authors' Affiliations

Qian Huang, Center for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Location

D.P. Culp Center Room 304

Start Date

4-5-2024 2:30 PM

End Date

4-5-2024 3:30 PM

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Laura Trull

Faculty Sponsor's Department

Center for Rural Health Research

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Oral Presentation

Presentation Category

Health

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Introduction: In 2019, 54.1 million U.S. adults were 65 years or older, making up 16% of the total U.S. population, and it is expected that they will make up 25% of the population by 2060. With technological and medical advancements enabling people to live longer, the focus has been on improving the quality of life in later years of life. Older people face an increased risk of chronic diseases that can lead to morbidities, disabilities, and increased mortality. The WHO’s life course approach to active aging describes the progressive loss of functional capacity over the life course and the need to maintain independence and prevent disability in older age, as well as rehabilitation to ensure the quality of life. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults aged 50-80 believe that “aging in place” – remaining in one's own home and community – is important. According to the 2023 scorecard on long-term services and supports for older people, individuals with physical disabilities, and family caregivers, Tennessee ranks among the bottom tier (fifth) states in performance. This study aims to identify areas of stronger or weaker supportive resources for aging in place by analyzing the distribution of home health agencies, personal support services agencies, and hospice care facilities across Tennessee counties. Methods: The 2022 list of home health agencies, hospice care facilities, and their respective service counties was obtained from the Joint Annual Reports (JAR) of the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). The list of personal support services agencies (2024) was obtained from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services website. The total number of facilities, number of facilities per 1,000 people, and number of facilities per 1,000 people aged 65 and older were mapped and analyzed using Excel and Tableau Version 2023.2. Expected Results and Conclusions: The mapping of the home health agencies, hospice care facilities, and personal support service agencies will delineate the distribution pattern of the facilities across different urban and rural counties in Tennessee. Counties with limited service coverages can be easily identified through the maps, and this will, in turn, serve as the basis for further exploratory studies. This workshop will invite the active participation of attendees. The findings will facilitate active discussions and stakeholder input, guiding further research on the enablers and barriers to aging in place in Tennessee. Keywords: Aging in place, home health care, personal support services, hospice care, Tennessee

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Apr 5th, 2:30 PM Apr 5th, 3:30 PM

Aging in Place in Tennessee: Workshop on Mapping of Home Health Agencies, Personal Support Services Agencies, and Hospice Care Facilities

D.P. Culp Center Room 304

Introduction: In 2019, 54.1 million U.S. adults were 65 years or older, making up 16% of the total U.S. population, and it is expected that they will make up 25% of the population by 2060. With technological and medical advancements enabling people to live longer, the focus has been on improving the quality of life in later years of life. Older people face an increased risk of chronic diseases that can lead to morbidities, disabilities, and increased mortality. The WHO’s life course approach to active aging describes the progressive loss of functional capacity over the life course and the need to maintain independence and prevent disability in older age, as well as rehabilitation to ensure the quality of life. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults aged 50-80 believe that “aging in place” – remaining in one's own home and community – is important. According to the 2023 scorecard on long-term services and supports for older people, individuals with physical disabilities, and family caregivers, Tennessee ranks among the bottom tier (fifth) states in performance. This study aims to identify areas of stronger or weaker supportive resources for aging in place by analyzing the distribution of home health agencies, personal support services agencies, and hospice care facilities across Tennessee counties. Methods: The 2022 list of home health agencies, hospice care facilities, and their respective service counties was obtained from the Joint Annual Reports (JAR) of the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). The list of personal support services agencies (2024) was obtained from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services website. The total number of facilities, number of facilities per 1,000 people, and number of facilities per 1,000 people aged 65 and older were mapped and analyzed using Excel and Tableau Version 2023.2. Expected Results and Conclusions: The mapping of the home health agencies, hospice care facilities, and personal support service agencies will delineate the distribution pattern of the facilities across different urban and rural counties in Tennessee. Counties with limited service coverages can be easily identified through the maps, and this will, in turn, serve as the basis for further exploratory studies. This workshop will invite the active participation of attendees. The findings will facilitate active discussions and stakeholder input, guiding further research on the enablers and barriers to aging in place in Tennessee. Keywords: Aging in place, home health care, personal support services, hospice care, Tennessee