Long Term Services and Supports Impacting Aging in Indiana
- Jennifer Lantz
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
It started with a call from my grandmother letting me know she needed help. She knew I was a case manager but did not really understand the specifics of my role. She was living alone and had come to realize that she may actually need some of the help that I had been telling her about over the last year or so. I had shared my knowledge of services that could help my grandmother maintain her independence and remain in her own home, but she was hesitant about using them. She struggled with some self care, household care and completing some of the basics of living in her own home. “I'll never move in with my family,” she always proclaimed, not wanting to be a burden on anyone. She also did not like the idea of going to a nursing home. My grandmother loved living in her own home and wanted to stay there. Over the next ten years of her life, she remained in her own home, receiving support and services that assisted her in the independent life she wanted.
Is it even important to focus time, energy and resources on senior services and support in the community? The answer is a resounding yes! I am grateful that I had the knowledge of services and support that could help my loved one stay in her home and remain as independent as possible. The senior population is ever growing and the support Indiana provides must keep pace.
Senior Data in Indiana
According to The Indiana Business Research Center:
By 2030, one out of every five people living in Indiana will be a senior citizen (age 65 and older)
By 2030, the number of seniors in Indiana will exceed 1.4 million
By 2050, the number of people ages 65 and older will top 1.5 million, an increase of 57% from 2015 levels
As someone who works in the Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) space, I hear over and over that people do not know or do not understand how services and support work. There is a general misconception that the only option when a person needs support is to move to a nursing home. While a nursing home is an option, and needed for some, many seniors can live out their days in their own home and community with the proper support.
There have been many changes to LTSS for seniors in Indiana, and it is important to understand what those changes are as well as how to navigate the system. Understanding how LTSS works benefits not only seniors, but those that work with seniors or those that advocate for seniors. I am hopeful this information will give a basic understanding of some of the Long Term Services and Supports that are available in our state.
PathWays Program
Indiana PathWays for Aging, more commonly referred to as PathWays, is a new Medicaid program that was launched in July 2024. PathWays is a statewide Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) program that serves Indiana residents who are at least 60 years of age and Medicaid-eligible due to age, disabled or blind. The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) highlights pertinent data that supports continued focus on older adults remaining in their home and communities or otherwise known as “aging in place”.
Most older adults want to age at home or age independently in their communities
75% of Hoosiers who join the program will be able to get long-term care at home
About 120,000 Hoosiers qualify for this program in Indiana
(Data Source: https://www.in.gov/pathways/)
To support older adults aging at home, the PathWays program coordinates health-related care services including but not limited to:
Primary Care
Behavioral Health
Care Coordination
Pharmacy
Dental
Transportation
Vision Services
PathWays Waiver
Individuals may also be eligible for the PathWays Waiver as a part of the PathWays program. The PathWays Waiver can provide a suite of services that helps seniors remain in their home and community if specific eligibility criteria are met.
Some of these services include:.
Adult Day Services
Attendant Care
Home Modifications
Home Delivered Meals
Nutritional Supplements
Pest Control
Service Coordination
Specialized Medical Equipment
Structured Family Caregiving
Transportation
Vehicle Modification
If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for the PathWays waiver, or need assistance in locating other resources, please contact the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA).
It is important to understand the aging population and the LTSS system so that we can provide the best support for the best possible quality of life. Continuing to be educated on the issues and concerns related to aging, along with the available resources for seniors, should be a concerted effort for all those that reside in Indiana.
Jennifer Lantz is a Project Manager at Summit Managed Solutions. She manages projects that bring effective and innovative systematic changes to improve efficiency, functionality and practical application. She has extensive experience in the provision of coordination services. The majority of her career has been in the healthcare field with an emphasis on Long Term Services and Supports. She is passionate about issues related to aging, disabilities, and inclusion.
Summit Managed Solutions is a management consulting and professional services firm that partners with healthcare organizations across the private, public, and social sectors to create value. By providing comprehensive solution management and inclusive business operation services, Summit helps deliver specific, transformative outcomes. With consulting and managed service offerings, Summit helps partners overcome the critical challenges associated with people, process, and technology, while providing partners with flexibility, reliability, and innovation that will propel growth.