The aging of our population is no secret, but many don’t consider how the funding we invest today determines the future of care. Within five years, all baby boomers will be age 65 or older, and the population of people aged 80 and over in New Jersey is projected to grow by 44% in the next decade.
This demographic trend inevitably means that New Jersey’s nursing homes will be more important than ever in providing quality health care to our state’s most vulnerable residents.
At a time when we need to increase payments to our nursing homes so they can meet the increasing demand, we are instead hearing about potential Medicaid cuts. Proposed federal Medicaid cuts would have a terrible impact on nursing home residents throughout New Jersey. These cuts would mean reduced access to the quality care our most vulnerable seniors deserve, just when they need it most.