Description: LTC insurers are beginning to implement population health programs to improve the lives of their policyholders before and during a claim. Measuring the financial impact of these programs can be difficult for a variety of reasons and multiple methodologies are used to evaluate treatments or programs. This article proposes two different methods of randomized control trials to evaluate the impact of these programs through a case study approach, along with additional potential considerations when evaluating effectiveness.

Description: Medical management programs have traditionally addressed more acute and short-term issues with chronic disease. As LTC becomes an important product in the insurance industry, including disease management is likely to be valuable for reducing costs and prolonging the healthy, premium-paying portion of a claimant's life.

Description: As a dementing disorder progresses, those affected become more dependent, requiring increasing personal care. This articlle discusses the economic and emotional impact of cognitive claims on families and on the LTC industry, practices under the current industry paradigm, new research, and treatments on the horizon.

Description: Paper estimates the burden of chronic disability on the U.S. elderly population, using sex-specific measures of long-term care LTC service use, intensity and costs.

Description: This paper explores deficiencies in our present health care system, and examines how they hinder the provision of optimal chronic illness care. From Financing Chronic Care Monograph, M-HB05-1.

Description: A recent study sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and ILTCI Conference Board examines morbidity improvement and how it impacts long-term care (LTC). The study was authored by P.J. Eric Stallard and Anatoliy Yashin of Duke University. This article summarizes the study’s findings and provides useful background for readers who may not be familiar with LTC services and insurance.

Description: This report estimates sex-specific trends in HIPAA ADL disability between 1984 and 2004 using the National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS); estimates age-standardized 20-year changes in ADL and cognitive impairment (CI) among the U.S. elderly using the HIPAA CI trigger; estimates the joint distribution of cognitive impairment (CI) and ADL disability among aged Medicare enrollees using the HIPAA disability triggers.

Description: In a recent study, nearly all family caregivers (80%) said they “always” or “often” provide emotional support. What if robots could cut that statistic in half? What would that mean to caregivers who have families of their own? This article is my first-hand experience with a companion robot that provides a tremendous amount of emotional support and meaningful activities. Together, they are designed to engage an older adult significantly which can lighten the caregiving burden on other family members.

Description: A physician discusses white matter lesions on the brain - their nature, causes, severity, importance, associated risks, and underwriting implications for long term care insurance.

Description: A discussion of mental health issues facing those in the role of caregiver for a loved one.