The Obama administration has set aside $25 million over the next three years to help the elderly and those with disabilities to obtain home- and community-based long term care, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced in early June.

But some critics worry that the goal of home-based care, while well-intentioned, doesn’t match the realities facing the nation’s seniors and those with disabilities.

The HHS grants, along with another $27 million from Veterans Affairs, are designed to “make it easier for Americans to get the care and support they need where they need,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.

The money will be funneled to the states’ Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) over the next three years, Sebelius said. States will also compete to be selected for an “accelerated” move to single-entry-point models, “which provide one-on-one options counseling to streamline the intake and eligibility determination process for consumers,” HHS said in announcing the grants. About eight states are expected to be selected for the single-entry accelerations, the department said.

Up to 40 states will receive help for their ADRC programs starting next year, HHS said.

“We want these programs to serve as high-performing ‘one-stop shop’ models across the country,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Acting Director Marilyn Tavenner said.

But Gary Kelso, a member of Utah’s ADRC steering committee, said he was worried that the Obama administration was overlooking the vital role played by skilled nursing care centers in the lives of people who are elderly or have disabilities.

“We all want our seniors and individuals with disabilities to live at home if they so choose, but the fact remains that many of these individuals require much more care and attention than a home setting can provide,” he said in an e-mail.

“That’s where skilled nursing care centers continue to play their pivotal role in providing quality, long term care to Americans, including our veterans. Educating and encouraging individuals to live at home or in their community is a noble effort of the administration, but we hope that the focus remains on placing people in the best care setting for them and their care needs.”