- A SeniorLiving.org report gave Delaware an 'F' for senior health care cost, access and quality.
- Delaware was among six states that received failing grades.
- The First State faces a unique challenge in this regard given its rapidly aging population and shortage of medical professionals.
Delaware, where estimates show those 60 and older will make up nearly 30% of the state’s population in the next six years, received a failing grade for senior health care cost, access and quality in a recent report.
SeniorLiving.org – which provides resources to older adults on housing, health, technology, safety and retirement planning, among others – gave the First State an F for senior health care services, ranking it 49th among the 50 states and District of Columbia.
Delaware was among six states that received failing grades, including Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Oklahoma. Montana and North Dakota were the only states to receive A+ grades in the SeniorLiving.org report.
The report found Delaware was the only state to rank 40th or worse in all three categories used in the grading system (with one being the best). Delaware ranked:
- 44th in health care costs.
- 40th in access.
- 41st in outcomes.
SeniorLiving.org also noted that the First State’s drug costs are “exceptionally high” – 39% higher than the national average. Additionally, Delaware had the worst stroke death rate in the nation, the report said, as well as poor death rates from cancer.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association described the report as an "alarm bell for Delaware."
"Our Alzheimer’s Association volunteer advocates have recounted numerous personal stories of negative experiences across multiple areas of Alzheimer’s and dementia care," said Sean Dwyer, the Delaware director of State Government Affairs for the association chapter. "These experiences have included complications obtaining a dementia or Alzheimer's diagnosis, misprescribing medications, harmful emergency room experiences, and extreme neglect, specifically in long term care."
The Delaware Healthcare Association, which represents hospitals across the First State, pointed out that Delaware was just ranked second in the nation for hospital quality by the U.S. News and World Report. Association President and CEO Brian Frazee added that the SeniorLiving.org ranking also measures things beyond hospital care, like drug costs.
"Notably, the report recognizes that Delaware’s population is aging at a rate faster than the rest of the nation, straining resources needed to care for this population," he said in an emailed statement Monday. "Delaware is the fifth oldest state in the nation and people use more health care resources as they age, as evidenced by the fact that health care spending for someone who is 65 and older is almost three times as much as someone who is working age."
Aging population, medical professional shortage
Delaware faces a unique challenge in this regard given its rapidly aging population and shortage of medical professionals to serve them.
The federal Administration for Community Living estimates that those 60 and older will make up 28.4% of Delaware’s population by 2030, an increase of 41% from 2012.
2023 INVESTIGATION:She was a geriatric nurse. Why did it take Delaware so long to realize she was neglected?
Meanwhile, the First State has struggled to attract and retain medical professionals across multiple fields.
Earlier this year, Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock floated the idea of privatizing the Delaware Veterans Home to address staffing shortages. And a Delaware Online/The News Journal investigation last year documented the state’s failure to investigate complaints of abuse, neglect and falls at senior living and nursing home facilities.
Efforts to improve health care
Delaware Online’s investigation prompted reform to the long-term care industry in the state, including requiring the state Department of Health and Social Services to annually inspect nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
COMPLAINT BACKLOG:How Delaware is clearing its backlog in surveying long-term care facilities
During this year’s legislative session, Delaware also aimed to combat soaring health care costs more broadly as the state saw costs climb to nearly $2 billion this year. Easily the most controversial was the creation of a hospital cost review board, which proponents say will prevent health care costs from growing unsustainably.
The Delaware Healthcare Association noted that it has worked with state partners and stakeholders to strengthen "the health care workforce, ensure access to care, advance health equity, and improve health outcomes for our growing and aging population.”
State lawmakers on the last day of session also approved legislation that will institute a 3.58% tax on hospitals’ net patient revenues, thereby generating more than $100 million in new Medicaid funding to Delaware.
Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.
Most Popular
Comments / 0