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State seniors agency director named
By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
© St. Petersburg Times TALLAHASSEE -- Floridians looking for help in caring for elderly relatives face a confusing array of state agencies and regulations. One agency pays for treatment, another handles abuse complaints, another regulates nursing homes and still another provides medical transportation and adult day care. Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday announced the appointment of a new director of the Office of Long Term Care Policy, which was created by legislators this year to coordinate long-term care with an emphasis on community-based care for seniors. Kelly W. Reed, former regional director of Physicians Total Care in Tulsa, Okla., has taken the $85,000-a-year job of directing the office, which will operate under the Department of Elder Affairs. Terry White, elder affairs director, says Florida continues to expand community-based care initiatives in an effort to delay or eliminate the need for nursing home care for an aging population. Florida has 3.2-million residents 65 or older, but only 4 percent are in nursing homes unable to live independently, White said. The state faces increasing pressure from aging baby boomers, but is also benefiting from the fact that baby boomers are generally healthier than older residents. It will be Reed's job to coordinate services provided by five state agencies that serve senior citizens. An advisory council appointed by the governor and legislative leaders will work with the new office. Members include state Sen. Durrell Peaden, R-Crestview; state Rep. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs; and people who work in health care and senior services fields. Peaden suggested that legislators will look at the way elder abuse complaints are being handled by the Department of Children and Family Services and possibly "redesign some agencies" in the spring. "I'm greatly concerned about the diminution of elder abuse investigations at DCF," Peaden said. The agency has been under fire for its handling of child abuse cases in recent months. Additional information is available at (850) 414-2000 or on the Internet at elderaffairs.state.fl.us.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times state desk
From the state wire
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