Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Planning ahead for future needs: education on what to look for, understanding finances and other aging needs, seniors and elderly care,long term care

Very few individuals want to think about their future needs for aging services and long-term care until it becomes a necessity, which can often lead to poor planning. Planning ahead for unexpected illness, injury, or simply the typical needs of the elderly, can eliminate quick decision making on a wide variety of aging service options.

Assisted living facilities, retirement communities and nursing homes frequently have a waiting list for admission. In-home care service providers, such as Comfort Keepers, typically do not have waiting lists and allow for the client to continue living independently in the comfort of their own home. These services generally include companionship, home cooking, light housekeeping, shopping, transportation, and errands, but may also include personal care services such as bathing, feeding, transferring or incontinence care.

The cost of long-term care services is something for which many Americans are not prepared, and costs are expected to continually rise in the future. Today in the United States, 6,000 people turn 65 every day, and one in five Americans will be older than age 65 by the year 2030 (American Association of Retired Persons, 2003). This increase of U.S. seniors translates into more people looking for assistance with daily living activities at a staggering rate.

“We have found that many of our clients are not prepared for the monumental decisions surrounding long-term care options,” shared Clark Bongaardt, owner of the Springfield and Wayne, PA, Comfort Keepers. “It is our job to help them through the process, to the best of our abilities ensuring that when the time comes the most appropriate care is delivered.”

In the planning stages, it is often beneficial to speak with a professional about how to begin this process. Lawyers, accountants, professional care coordinators or the County Office Service of Aging (COSA) can explain the options and which direction to head.

The following is a brief overview of some of the different payment options available for long-term care:

· Long-term care insurance will provide for the assistance needed for an extended period if you cannot perform the activities of daily living.
· Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an option that falls under Medicare as well as Medicaid and offers medical and socials services to elderly individuals allowing them to continue living at home (may not be available in all states).
· Medicaid will pay for the majority of nursing home costs which covers nearly 65 percent of all residents. It is a joint state-federal program that aids individuals who fall under a certain poverty level determined by the state.
· Medicare is health insurance for people over the age of 65 as well as certain individuals who are disabled. It is an insurance program that is intended to cover the various services that focus on recovery of a medical problem.
· States may offer a variety of services to consumers under a Home and Community Based Services waiver program and the number of services that can be provided is not limited. These programs may provide a combination of both traditional medical services (i.e. dental services, skilled nursing services) as well as non-medical services (i.e. respite, homemaking, and personal care).

People often assume health insurance will cover long-term care and, unfortunately, that is often untrue. Understanding these programs will help to remove the financial burden upon you and your family.

It is easy to get confused when making a decision about home care, especially if it feels like a very distant issue. When you plan ahead for long term care, you are making decisions about your own life by choice, instead of other people making decisions for you in crisis. For many Comfort Keepers in-home care services are a care option that may be the long term solution for an individual’s care needs. However, in the event an individual’s needs go beyond what can be safely provided in the home, Comfort Keepers can be a resource and can offer research and information to help you in this process.

About Comfort Keepers
Founded in 1998 by a registered home health care nurse and her husband, the Comfort Keepers franchise system has grown to over 500 locations in 44 states, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Comfort Keepers has ranked as one of the top three franchises in senior care Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 for the past four years. For more information about Comfort Keepers, visit www.comfortkeepers.com. Each office is independently owned and operate

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