Partial or Limited Frail Elder Waivers in Massachusetts—Minimizing Costs and Need for Institutional Care in Later Life

Massachusetts will experience an exponential increase in adults living into advanced old age over the next several decades. Medicare and Medicaid costs to fund institutional care continue to rise. The Frail Elder Waiver program presents an opportunity to reduce institutional costs by providing essential support at home to older people who would otherwise require institutional care. These supports would allow the individual to remain at home longer and avoid or delay the need for institutional care. Eligibility for the waiver requires that individuals over 65 meet specific clinical requirements that may be safely managed at home with specific services. These services may include such essentials as environmental accessibility adaptation, medication assistance, supportive day programming, and home-delivered meals. Revising the waiver program to allow limited or partial services prior to the onset of substantial limitations would result in economic and quality of life gains.