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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

ID Small Town Case Study: Who’s Going to Take Care of Grandma?

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009   

BOISE, Idaho - They can't afford it, and they know they may have to move. Those are two findings in a new case study of long-term care options in Cottonwood, Idaho, a community selected to demonstrate the challenges aging rural residents face. Report author and AARP Idaho state director Cathy McDougall says only three percent of the people they surveyed said they would be able to afford assisted living or nursing home care. Many mistakenly believe Medicare will pick up the tab of about 5,000 dollars a month for a nursing home, or close to 2,300 dollars for assisted living.

"The system is so expensive; it's unbelievable that so few people can afford what currently is available in terms of long-term care services."

She says Cottonwood is typical in that there are no long-term care services locally, and those surveyed in the town know they may have to move to get the care they need, or rely on family members.

McDougall says that as the state's population ages, more Idahoans are going to find themselves playing the role of caregiver because nursing home care and assisted living are out of reach financially, so respite care and other support services will be needed.

"There's very little support in Idaho for family caregivers; it's a very emotional job, and it also is expensive."

McDougall says she hopes the research will help move along the discussion of long-term care services in Idaho so the aging population can afford the help they need and stay home or close to home.


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