Public education to promote a health and long-term care system to allow aging with dignity

This grant supports a series of five public forums in the State of Florida. These forums will examine how health and long-term care services could be structured and managed in such a way as to safeguard the dignity of people as they age and through the dying process. They will involve the participation of leaders in government, private industry, the health and long-term care community, the religious community, and others. The expected outcome of the forums is to develop greater public awareness and stimulate broad discussion on issues addressing the many social and ethical dimensions of aging and dying. These forums are also expected to provide public input into the ongoing debate over executive and legislative actions that would restructure the state's health and long-term care services. This project embodies the three strategies of the Last Acts (SUPPORT) project -- to enlist the professional community in changing practice patterns; to involve consumers in changing expectations of the health care system; and to use the media to keep the issue visible. Examples of the issues the forums will focus on include palliative care, pain management, artificial impoverishment schemes used under Medicaid, home care and caregiver needs and, more generally, how to ensure dignity to those suffering or close to death. While the forums will be held in Florida, this work could have national implications and the forums are complementary to the work being done under the dissemination of SUPPORT.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $398,690.00

Awarded on: 5/22/1996

Time frame: 6/1/1996 - 11/30/1997

Grant Number: 29110