The Market for Community Services for Older People.

The Supportive Services Program for Older Persons is designed to demonstrate that a private market for home and community-based health related services can be developed in response to the demand expressed by older people and their families. The objective of the program is to expand the service options available to older people by letting market forces determine what services are needed. Currently, services available to the elderly are based upon what reimbursement programs will cover, rather than the elderly's total needs. Eleven home health agencies are participating in this demonstration. The most common services being offered are house-based products, such as minor home repair, heavy chores, and handyman services. Case management and caregiver education programs are also being offered, as are a wide range of additional services, such as personal emergency response systems, transportation, and personal affairs management. The services offered under this program have been developed in response to the demands expressed by a private market. Use of this approach, rather than relying on provider determined "needs" has led to a different array of services than traditionally are provided by home health agencies. At the same time, this program was also intended to develop non-medical types of services since the framework for acute care services at home is fairly well-developed. (Author/ABL)