The Role of Dementia and Residential Service Agency Characteristics in the Care Experiences of Maryland Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Participants and Family and Unpaid Caregivers

TitleThe Role of Dementia and Residential Service Agency Characteristics in the Care Experiences of Maryland Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Participants and Family and Unpaid Caregivers
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsFabius CD, Millar R, Geil E, Stockwell I, Diehl C, Johnston D, Gallo JJ, Wolff JL
JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology
Volume42
Issue4
Pagination627-638
ISBN Number0733-4648
Accession Number36200297
Keywordshome and community-based services,home care,dementia
Abstract

In Maryland, residential service agencies deliver Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) to older adults with disabilities through direct care workers (e.g., personal care aides). Leveraging survey data from residential service agency administrators, linked to interRAI Home Care assessments for 1144 participants, we describe agency characteristics, and participant and family caregiver experiences by participant dementia status. Most (61.7%) participants experienced low social engagement, and roughly 10.0% experienced a hospitalization or emergency room visit within 90 days. Few (14.4%) participants were served by agencies requiring dementia-specific direct care worker training, and most were served by agencies offering supplemental services, or in which direct care workers helped with health information technology (81.2% and 72.8%, respectively). Few caregivers reported negative care experiences. Participants with dementia and those served by agencies with training and support more often reported negative care experiences. Findings lay the foundation for future longitudinal and embedded interventions within Medicaid HCBS.

DOI10.1177/07334648221128286
PMCID

PMC9991935

Link

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648221128286