Oregon Continues Innovations and Leadership in Long-Term Care Support
For decades, Oregon has been nationally recognized for innovation and success for its long-term services and supports system for older adults and people with physical disabilities. However, today people are living longer and healthier lives. As baby boomers turn 65 in greater numbers each day here in Oregon, we will not be able to meet the needs of Oregonians, maintain the breadth and quality of our programs or continue the national leadership earned for more than the last 20 years without reviewing and enhancing our system.
This is what Long-Term Care 3.0 (LTC 3.0) is about.
The projected number of people 65 and older in 2020 will be nearly 800,000. This is an increase to about 20% of the Oregon population by the year 2040. Amongst those people, individuals over age 85 will be the fastest growing segment of the population. The number of people with disabilities who receive DHS benefits is also growing. Today, about 80,000 people with disabilities receive benefits from DHS. This is an increase from just under 50,000 people in 2006, which is an additional 30,000 people over a 6-year time span.
Oregon is invested in planning, modernization and innovations to successfully address future needs and demands. Brainstorming has begun to identify potential key components of a newly designed system….and the first phase of this is stakeholder and community input.
We look forward to gathering input on long-term services and support needs, preferences, and future direction to build a future of person-centered, locally driven long-term services and supports that meet growing demand. We strive for services to be innovative, consumer-preferred, evidence-based and cost-effective ways.
DHS-APD cannot build this future without stakeholder participation and support and invites Oregonians to participate in the process.