The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts that 70% of individuals who reach age 65 will need long-term care services before they die. Long-term care at home services is for patients living in their homes who might otherwise be in an aging services community. Long-term care at home services represents a shifting population of patients preferring to remain in their homes while receiving the same care they would receive living in a long-term care community. Pharmacist Jim Huff joins THE EXPLORING AGING PODCAST as a special guest to discuss how to take advantage of all the long-term care service options available to aging adults.

Chapters
00:00:00: Statistics about aging population in the United States

00:01:04: Introduction to the episode and guest

00:01:28: Meet the hosts of the podcast

00:02:24: Discussion on long term care services

00:02:38: The role of community pharmacies in long term care

00:03:38: Jim Huff’s background and motivation to become a pharmacist

00:06:56: Importance of community pharmacy

00:07:14: Changes in the pharmacy profession over the years

00:08:11: What is working in the pharmacy sector

00:10:17: Balancing patient interaction and business efficiency

00:11:48: Dispensing peace of mind in community pharmacies

00:12:06: What is not working in the pharmacy sector

00:14:14: Challenges faced by rural pharmacies

00:14:54: Role of Prescription Benefit Managers (PBMs)

00:16:17: Impact of PBMs on independent pharmacies

00:18:38: Introduction to cash pricing

00:18:52: The struggle of rural pharmacies

00:19:03: Future trends in pharmacy

00:20:01: The role of independent pharmacists

00:21:11: Problems with mail-order medications

00:22:30: Pharmacy laws in Oklahoma

00:24:19: Small pharmacy struggles with military contracts

00:26:27: Group solutions and long-term care pharmacy

00:27:05: Defining long-term care services

00:29:41: Long-term care at home

00:30:29: How pharmacies support long-term care at home

00:34:10: Experience working with assisted living homes

00:38:16: Target Audience for the Discussion

00:38:35: Clarifying Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility

00:39:12: Benefits for Financially Struggling Individuals

00:40:10: Layman’s Terms: Medicare and Medicaid

00:42:04: Long Term Care (LTC) Pharmacy Services

00:44:16: Future Needs and Training in LTC Pharmacy

00:44:35: Conclusion and Preview of Next Episode