Helping individuals better navigate the complex health care system and improve access to needed services is a primary component of many health reform efforts. The study’s findings suggest that service coordinators could play a valuable role in helping health care providers and payers improve access to and coordination of health services for their vulnerable elderly patients who live in affordable senior housing communities. More recent and rigorous studies are showing that housing plus services strategies have an effect on health care utilization and costs. A study by Castle and Resnick (2014) found that residents in affordable senior housing properties offering the Staying-at-Home program were less likely to use the emergency department (ED) and hospital or move to a nursing home, compared to residents in buildings not offering the program. Staying-at-Home participants were also more likely to use health care services (e.g., visit a doctor) and report health improvements. Preliminary results from an evaluation of the Support and Services at Home (SASH) program found that participants had lower growth in annual total Medicare expenditures relative to two comparison groups not participating in the program (RTI International and Leading Age, 2014).
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Edited By | Tabassum Rahmani |