From November 1998 through July 2003, staff at Albert Einstein Health Care Network and its project partners developed, implemented and evaluated the Personal Care Partnership Program. It is an integrated acute and long-term care program in Philadelphia for chronically ill, low-income, elderly individuals living in personal care homes — a type of assisted living facility without skilled nursing care.

The project was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) national program, Building Health Systems for People With Chronic Illnesses.

Key Results

• As of November 2001, the program reached a peak enrollment of 213 residents in 18 personal care homes. However, as of February 2006, further enrollment required statutory change by the Pennsylvania legislature. Because of state budget shortages, that change had not yet occurred. By February 2006, enrollment had diminished to 47 residents in nine personal care homes.

Key Findings

• Residents who received Personal Care Partnership Program services exhibited improved clinical and functional outcomes, while outcomes for members of a comparison group of residents that did not receive such services remained unchanged.
• Interviews with personal home proprietors and focus groups with program staff revealed that the program reduced unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home placements. Delaying entry into a nursing facility for 11 residents saved an estimated $232,075 in placement costs.

Funding
RWJF supported this project with two grants totaling $598,780. The first grant was for the demonstration project and the second to support a two-year evaluation requested by the state of Pennsylvania as it considered moving the Personal Care Partnership Program from a demonstration phase to a permanent long-term care alternative program.