4.4 Million Americans Watching State of the Union Will Need Long Term Care

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Jan 18, 2011, 04:12 ET

-Signature series sheds light on the complex world of long term care-

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) today launched an informational series on the State of Long Term and Post-Acute Care, to complement President Obama's State of the Union address next week. According to national projections, of the expected 50 million individuals who will watch the State of the Union, 4.4 million of those Americans will one day need long term care services.

"4.4 million of those watching President Obama's State of the Union address next week will require long term care and services at some point in their lives," stated Governor Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. "It is critical that the funding sources, quality programs and workforce initiatives currently in place continue as these Americans age."

Featuring an interactive online component, the series will reach across all aspects of social media. AHCA/NCAL will gather information directly from the thousands of member facilities who care for the frail and elderly every day, highlighting the issues they would want to hear the President address.

Throughout its week-long State of Long Term and Post-Acute Care series, AHCA/NCAL will highlight national trends in several areas of long term care, beginning today with The State of Quality, and continuing with:

The State of Post-Acute Care (January 19)
The State of the Long Term Care Workforce (January 20)
The State of Assisted Living (January 21)
The State of Reimbursement (January 24)
The State of Long Term and Post-Acute Care (January 25)

To participate online, the public can "tweet" their comments on Twitter using the hashtag #ltcstate or post a comment on the AHCA/NCAL Facebook wall. The public is also encouraged to share comments on YouTube by uploading a video clip and tagging it with the keyword "ltcstate."

For more information, follow the series at:

http://www.ahcancal.org

http://www.twitter.com/ahcancal

http://www.facebook.com/ahcancal

http://longtermcareleader.blogspot.com

SOURCE American Health Care Association