Lutheran Homes of Michigan is providing seniors and caregivers with a 1-stop information and referral system called the Aging Enriched Network to help providers meet seniors and caregivers needs, and increases home and community based services. This is the second in a series of case studies from the Preparing for the Future Report.
The Organization: Lutheran Homes of Michigan (LHM) is one of the largest nonprofit providers of residential senior services in Michigan. The organization offers a variety of housing options as well as assisted living, skilled care, memory care, hospice, and home care programs.
In 2009, LHM received 80% of its revenues from on-campus services provided to its residents; 20% of its revenues came from home and community-based services (HCBS). By 2016, the organization hopes to receive half of its revenues from campus-based services and half from HCBS.
Technology: To increase its offering of home and community-based services, Lutheran Homes of Michigan established the Aging Enriched Network, a one-stop information and referral service for seniors, their caregivers and their families.
The network provides more than 20 categories of services that LHM has determined older adults need to stay independent. LHM provides some of these services, including home health care, transportation, in-home safety devices and telehealth technologies.
A pre-screened group of affiliated businesses, volunteer organizations and individuals provides other complementary services, including transportation, home repair and modification, light housekeeping, meals, financial and legal services, housing, mental health services, social activities and medical equipment.
Aging Enriched Resource Centers, where consumers can meet face-to-face with a nurse or other health care professional, are located on LHM campuses and in some local churches. In addition, technology powers a call-in center that family caregivers can use to access the Aging Enriched Network. The software analyzes caregiver requests and provides relevant information and referrals that callers need to keep their loved ones safe, healthy and independent at home.
Business Case: In seeking to rebalance its revenue streams, Lutheran Homes of Michigan decided that its home care model needed a complete makeover. As part of that makeover, LHM’s private duty home care agency became the Personal Services Division and no longer offers a standard menu of services that it will deliver to home-based clients.
Instead, staff members are trained and encouraged to find ways to provide whatever service a client requests or needs. Establishing the Aging Enriched Network required a modest investment from LHM to develop the program’s software.
However, because the network represents a service delivery model that is new to consumers, LHM has made a significant investment in marketing the network.
Consumers, who can join the network for free, use either their own funds or private long-term care insurance to pay for the services they receive. LHM found that an appreciable proportion of the users of this service have long-term care insurance.
You can view the full case study for Lutheran Homes of Michigan, which will be featured in the CAST Symposium at our PEAK Conference on April 22, 2012.
You can also view all 18 case studies from the Preparing for the Future report.