The Newest Health Care Worker May Be Your Handyman

The government spends a fortune on health care for impoverished older Americans, especially for people who are known as "dual eligibles," meaning they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. There are about 2.6 million dual eligibles with measurable physical limitations when it comes to dressing, bathing, walking, preparing meals and more.

According to a 2010 study for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 300 million Americans in 2006 ran up roughly $1 trillion in health care spending. People with functional limitations accounted for 14 percent of the population, and nearly $475 billion was spent on their health needs, which accounts for more than 45 percent of the nation's total health care bill. The average annual tab for their care was $11,284 per person in 2006.

In 2006, those 2.6 million dual eligibles ages 65 and older led to $37 billion in health care spending, or an average of nearly $14,200 each, according to the study, "Individuals Living in the Community with Chronic Conditions and Functional Limitations: A Closer Look," conducted by health care consulting firm The Lewin Group.

[See: 12 Surprising Facts About Boomer Retirement.]

With the numbers of seniors ages 65 and older growing by an average of 10,000 people a day during the next 15 years, the frighteningly large proportions of dual eligibles could have a detrimental impact on the government.

There are no silver bullets in addressing these challenges. But there is a blessedly common-sense research effort underway in Baltimore that could act as a blueprint for improving the quality of life for millions of older Americans, while saving money for taxpayers in the process.

Many, if not most, low-income older Americans live in substandard housing, and they receive little preventive medical care. Even if they have exactly the right set of medications to deal with their health challenges, the odds are high that they make mistakes in following their drug regimens, and have no one to consult with when there are complications. Doctors and nurses will tell you errors are the norm, not the exception, when it comes to older patients being treated for multiple chronic illnesses and conditions.

Ultimately, a large percentage of these people will wind up moving into a nursing home and effectively become a very costly and long-term guest at the government's expense, as their illnesses may progress and require expensive care.

What if, instead, that same government could come into a person's home and provide a range of preventive health care services? What if this home-based intervention also included home improvements that allowed frail seniors to be more safe and secure in their homes?

[See: A Step-by-Step Guide to Homebuying.]

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The Newest Health Care Worker May Be Your Handyman