New England Home Healthcare Summit to Spearhead Discussion on Industry Future

GLASTONBURY, Conn., Aug. 7, 2013 – A tsunami of change is occurring in the healthcare industry and most of the people and caregivers who service this market will not be prepared to meet the changes that lie ahead. In the next decade, more than 1 million home healthcare professionals will be needed to accommodate the aging U.S. population(1).
 

Aging baby boomers account for 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964(2). To meet the rapidly expanding challenges and needs of baby boomers, nationally recognized industry experts on home healthcare, aging, and emerging technology will gather Nov. 3-5 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., for the region’s first-ever New England Home Healthcare Consortium Summit www.nehhc.org. Seven speakers will share their insights and provide solutions to prepare the industry to effectively address such critical issues as increasing cost pressures, the affects on families and friends, as well as baby boomer demands for expanded care needs, including new technologies.

“The future of the home healthcare industry is at stake amid unprecedented demand and rising financial constraints from baby boomers,” said Conference Chairperson and Summit Founder, Sandra Sergeant, R.N. who is also President of Caring Solutions, an award-winning home healthcare provider based in Enfield, Conn. She added, “Baby boomers’ expanding needs, technological advances and industry home healthcare issues require innovative business solutions. The Summit is designed to equip the industry to get up to speed and adapt, enabling providers to significantly improve their services and bottom lines.”

Sergeant pointed out that:
 

• The proportion of adult children providing personal care and/or financial assistance to a parent has more than tripled over the last 15 years. More than 10 million adult children over the age of 50 care for their aging parents or currently a quarter of adult children, mainly baby boomers, provide care to a parent(3);

·         More than 70 percent of Americans will need some kind of long-term care services after age 65(4) and most Americans are not prepared to meet the skyrocketing costs associated with increasing healthcare needs;

·         Home healthcare costs continue to rise and currently average $7,500 per month or $250 per day – lower than assisted living or nursing home costs that can range from $10,000 to $15,000 per month(5).

The Summit will feature some of the nation’s most well respected experts on home healthcare and aging, including:

·         Susan Reinhard, R.N., Ph.D., Senior Vice President of AARP and Director of its Public Policy Institute,
who will cover the effect this change will have on families who provide healthcare;

·         Alexis Abramson, P.h.D., an award-winning journalist, blogger, speaker, author and consultant who champions those over 50, who will discuss baby boomer demographics and specifically how the home healthcare industry can meet increasing demands;
 

·         Greg Wellems, President of Imagine! a private, not-for-profit corporation that helps people with disabilities lead fulfilling lives, who will share his business plan for SmartHomes for people with physical, cognitive or developmental challenges;

·         Robin Crow, a motivational speaker, best-selling author and experienced entrepreneur, who will offer tips on staying ahead of the curve in a quickly evolving market;

  ·         John Chapin, a sales speaker, author, trainer and coach, who will share his roadmap for attracting, satisfying and keeping customers in tough markets and economies;

·         David Mead, a speaker and facilitator inspired by Simon Sinek’s book Start With Why, who will tell how beginning by asking “Why?” can help home healthcare providers foster trust and loyalty amid change. 

For more information on the Summit and to register, visit www.nehhc.org. For more information on exhibiting opportunities, please call 800.479.2206 or email admin@nehhc.org.

About New England Home Healthcare Consortium

The New England Home Healthcare Consortium, a division of Caring Solutions, LLC, is dedicated to educating home healthcare professionals about societal, public policy, and technology issues and helping them develop strategies to address industry trends. The ultimate goal is to improve care and outcomes while reducing costs. Visit us at www.nehhc.org; follow us on Twitter @NEHHC2013; or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn.
 

SOURCE:

1.  Home Healthcare Industry Sources
        2.  U.S. Census Bureau  
        3. The MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs for Their Parents

4. & 5. CNN Special "˜InsideMan" on Aging air date: 7.28.13