When it comes to caring for the aging baby boomer population, health care experts see South Dakota and the nation as woefully unprepared.

A recent study in South Dakota confirms those fears.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, in Rapid City, the Department of Social Services will present the results of its Long-Term Care Study and the task force recommendations that came from it.

The hope is that by working together now, a crisis can be averted in the future, according to Deb Bowman, secretary of the Department of Social Services.

Completed in 2007, the Long-Term Care Study pinpointed areas the state must address to sufficiently care for its aging population.

The number of South Dakotans older than age 65 will double by 2025 and will constitute 24 percent of the state's population. Although aging populations are an issue for all states, the rate of growth in South Dakota is twice the national rate.

The number of elderly people with disabilities is expected to increase by 42,000 to 50,000, with the Rapid City and Sioux Falls seeing the fastest growth rates as well as the largest increases in the overall numbers of elderly.

The study showed that South Dakota must redistribute its nursing home beds, perhaps by finding more beds in urban areas and reducing beds in rural areas. One way to help manage the nursing-home bed disparity is by increasing assisted-living arrangements in the state.

Currently, the state overall ranks slightly above national averages for available beds in assisted-living facilities. But the study found that certain areas of the state need to increase those available beds.

The study also found that South Dakota must immediately double its use of home health care. By 2025, the state needs to increase at-home care services by three to four times. By providing more home health care, whether it's nursing or physical therapy services, seniors can remain in their homes. Currently, the state ranks as the second-lowest nationally in its use of home health care.

The study also recommends that the state increase community-based services to the elderly.

The task force created from the study, the Continuum of Care Needs of the Elderly in South Dakota Task Force, has made numerous recommendations based on the study's findings. One recommendation is for the creation of a single-entry system, providing one office that can direct patients and caregivers to needed services.

Many of the recommendations are expected to become legislative proposals during the 2009 Legislative session.

The public is invited to meetings starting today to discuss the long-term health needs of South Dakotans. The results of the Long-Term Care Study and recommendations from that study will be presented. To read the entire Continuum of Care Needs of the Elderly in South Dakota Task Force study and recommendations, go to dss.sd.gov/ltctaskforce.asp.

Meetings are:

* 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, 2211 N. La Crosse St., Rapid City.

* 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, Hot Springs Activity Center, Todd County High School, Room 106, and Black Hills State University, Library Learning Center, Room 009, in Spearfish. These will be presented on Digital Dakota Network, a state-wide interactive video system.

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com