What's the Matter with Florida? Public Funding for Long-Term Care

Abstract:

This article examines the role of the state of Florida as a social service provider and how it informs the long-term care of some of its most vulnerable citizens—Holocaust survivors. It shows how the state's traditionalist political culture favors low public spending and institutional care, resulting in inadequate home- and community-based services. After a review of the services available, the author suggests that stakeholders advocate that Florida follow the lead of other state governments that have entered into public-private partnerships with insurance companies that combine private long-term care insurance with special Medicaid eligibility standards.