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A Extended-term care insurance coverage offers serious treatment to the man or woman struggling from severe illness or disabilities that may possibly leave him not able to acquire treatment of himself demanding extended health-related, nursing and rehabilitative care. Our examine Lengthy-phrase care insurance coverage is very hassle-free, as you will get very best insurance policy quotes prices from nicely-acknowledged insurance firms. You have the profit of finding linked to quite a few best-amount prolonged-term treatment insurance policy companies by easily getting into your zip code on our web site. On the web comparison of prolonged-time period treatment insurance quotes play an important function in assisting you choose on the finest insurance policies coverage protection appropriate for you.

How to find the finest long term care insurance costs? The buyer really should recognize the monitor record and validate the qualifications of the evaluate long term care insurance estimate organization ahead of searching for low charge insurance policy coverage.

Buy a policy when you are at the young age as you will be paying out significantly less premiums and your protection will be assured for a longer time period of time. Different discounts are supplied to the married grown ups who are residing jointly as they easily qualify for the long-expression treatment insurance saving choices. You can get the very best specialist guidance and support with us in which you can find the most affordable lengthy-expression treatment insurance coverage policy.

Buying online for greatest long term care insurance rates A consumer can get the best prolonged-expression care insurance plan at the greatest cost with the aid of our comparison services.

Online comparison is the finest long-term care insurance policy suggestion that can help you help save your tough-attained income and treasured time. Find the discounts offered with us for getting the very best assess long-term care insurance policies coverage top quality on the web. In order to locate the very best attainable insurance offer, use the Internet facility so that you are able to fetch the lowest possible prolonged-expression care insurance coverage rates.

 

Long-Term Care Insurance and the Real Cost of Self-Insuring

Financial experts comprehend that Medicare does not cover extended-expression care and that it’s a bad thought to reward property to qualify for Medicaid or Medical (in California). The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 tightened loopholes that permitted people to transfer belongings to their kids so they can qualify for Medicaid advantages.

Self- insuring for higher web value people requirements to be tackled. Long-Time period care specialists need to offer the correct information so that the clients can make an educated choice about prolonged-term treatment insurance policy. It is essential to calculate the real value of self-insuring and converse it to the customer.

It is unsafe to dismiss the inflation factor when preparing for Lengthy-time period treatment. Let us look at a married couple in their mid 50′s with $ two million of liquid assets not including their key residence. At very first glance, the few considers what their liability would be at today’s price. The common day-to-day charge for a nursing house in California is $ 210/day. So, now the pair does some rapid arithmetic and arrives at an annual expense of $ seventy six,660 with a potential five-12 months expense of $ 383,250.00.

They swiftly conclude that they can easily find the money for to self-insure when they compare the five-year price of $ 383,250 to their $ 2 million liquid web value. The issue with this is that the pair didn’t occur shut to the accurate cost of self-insuring. To do that they would have to do the following:

o Adjust present-day value of treatment for inflation

o Take into account the possible tax outcomes of taking a skilled prepare distribution or offering as asset that has appreciated in worth to spend the expense of care-out-of-pocket.

o Account for misplaced financial investment option on the funds that was invested self-insuring in the course of the five many years they pay for treatment.

Now, let us search at the real cost of care with the couple residing one more 30 yrs. This would be the approximate time one particular of them could need long-time period treatment. Present-day price of $ 210 per day could grow to more than $ 900 per day thirty a long time from nowadays. Multiplied out in excess of a five-yr care function, this would end result in an out-of-pocket price of $ one.66 million, which is substantially more than the clients had been anticipating.

In addition, if high web value individuals have a blended state and federal marginal tax bracket of just more than 37%, the could incur an further tax liability of $ 610,000 if they acquire huge enough distributions from their certified retirement options to address the price of care. The cumulative distributions could surpass $ two.27 million to address this treatment function. If the long-phrase care celebration was for only one spouse and the 2nd partner lived on yet another five many years right after the initial spouse’s dying, the second wife or husband has misplaced the use of the $ two.27 million which was invested caring for the first partner.

So what is the price to insure this danger? What is the value of purchasing a lengthy-phrase care insurance policies coverage as a hedge against the risk of needing extended-term care? If the pair is in great wellness, they may possibly be able to acquire a State Partnership prolonged-expression treatment insurance policy policy with a $ 210 daily advantage, a 5-year advantage period of time and five% compound inflation safety for a regular charge yearly top quality of around $ 2200/yr per individual. The couple would spend a whole of $ 132,000 more than thirty a long time to insure their selves towards the $ 2.27 million in prolonged-expression care costs.

To be completely truthful and honest, you can even consider into account the missing investment decision possibility on the top quality. Assuming an immediately after-tax fee of return of four%, they would drop an additional $ 124,000 of investment return, bringing the correct life span cost of purchasing long-phrase treatment insurance policies insurance policies to $ 256,000 when spending for 30 many years.

In conclusion, when most substantial web value folks understand the correct value of their selections, they see that prolonged-time period care insurance policies is an really expense-helpful hedging approach. It is important for the person to recognize the economic affect a prolonged-term care event provides to provides to their retirement. That is when you see the true price of lengthy-term care insurance coverage.

Ray Donnelly, of Senior Network Answers, discusses Long Expression Care and Long Term Care Insurance prior to Senator Kemp Hannon’s “Long Term Care Insurance Seminar” on April 26, 2012
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Long Term Care Insurance
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You can obtain and compare free Long term care insurance  quotes with the help of our online comparison facility that can help you strike a profitable insurance deal. You should buy long-term care insurance policy that provides at least one year of home health care, or nursing home care coverage. You can obtain the best affordable insurance quotes from top insurance companies and get the best long term care insurance plans in a minimum possible time. Get the best possible long term care insurance cost by giving the details like the type of policy, zip code, age and health of applicant. You must ask for the specific insurer’s financial rating and summary report before you make a financial decision regarding purchase of the long-term care insurance policy.

Is Long-term care insurance necessary?

Long-term care insurance policy is the best option for the elderly people who are above the age of 65 years as this policy ensures them that their future remains bright and they can have complete financial stability A Long-term care insurance policy helps you to pay for the custodial care services at the time of medical emergency, and thus helping to bridge the gap in your retirement savings.

With us, you have the privilege of receiving the best long term care insurance plan by simply comparing different insurance companies. It is always advised that you should purchase long-term care insurance policy before your health problems begin to surface.
Understanding Long-term care health insurance

With Long Term Care insurance, you are covered in many areas that include adult day care, respite care, nursing home facility costs, Alzheimer’s facilities, hospice care, home care, and assisted care. Long-term care insurance provides help to the insured with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, eating, and more such activities if he suffers from a chronic illness or disability. Long term care insurance is a kind of insurance that pays for medical expenses that arise beyond the typical medical or nursing expenditures. It is used for people who have long term medical disabilities. There are several facilities that are covered under the long-term care insurance policy including home care, assisted living facilities, hospital care, adult daycare as well as retirement homes.

Compare several long-term care insurance quotes
How to find the best long term care insurance rates?

Find expert advice from our leading professional expert to get the best possible long-term care insurance policy for you. Most of the elderly people are able to protect their health without depleting their financial assets with subscribing to the long-term care insurance. Various discounts are offered to the married adults who are living together as they easily qualify for the long-term care insurance saving options. You should consider buying Long-term care insurance policy at a younger age as you will be paying less premiums and your coverage will be assured for a longer period of time. It is always advised to verify the long-term care insurance company’s negative or bad reputation and if it provides sufficient client service before selecting low rate long term care insurance policy.

Compare instant long term care insurance quotes online.

Obtaining long term care insurance quotes are fast and easy with our online comparison facility, saving your lots of time and money. With the comparison of 4-5 free long-term care insurance quotes, the prospective insurers can effortlessly find most suitable insurance policy according to their budgetary and time needs. You can easily compare long term care insurance quotes to see which company and policy will suit your insurance needs. You will get the benefit of obtaining top-most long term care insurance companies names by simply entering your zip code on our website. Long Term Care Insurance can help you pay for all your expenses for the nursing facility or home care for a long-term illness.

Online shopping for best long term care insurance quotes

The Internet is an excellent tool to get multiple insurance quotes from top companies and possibly getting the best long-term care insurance rate. By using long term care insurance comparison online, you have the power to select the right plan for your personal needs. Look out for the available discounts for long term care insurance and save lots of your money. The best long term care insurance tip is to compare online insurance quotes that can really help you save your lots of money and time.

texaslongtermcareinsurance.com Suze Orman the Queen of American financial advice weighs in on the need for long term care insurance. Suze shares her emotional personal story of dealing with her mother’s long term care without the benefit of a Long Term Care Policy. Suze reminds us how important it is to purchase Long Term Care Insurance when you are young. “Purchase it now because it will cost you less money and while your health is still good and you can qualify for coverage”. Texas Long Term Care Insurance | 401 Congress Avenue Suite 1540-91 | Austin, Texas 78701 | (512) 828-6310 © OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
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What Is Long-Term Care Insurance?

Article by Peter Kenny

As people begin to live longer, long-term care insurance becomes more important. Long-term care insurance helps provide for the cost of long-term care which can be incredibly expensive. It is used to cover those issues that are generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

There is often some confusion about what this type of insurance is used for and the people who use it. Consumers should understand that individuals who require long-term care are generally not sick in the way we usually think of that word. Many of these individuals are healthy but they cannot perform the basic activities of daily living such as preparing food, eating, dressing themselves, bathing, and the like. They may need assistance with their medications, as some will often forget to take them.

Another issue that may confuse some people is that long-term care does not have to be long term. An individual may need care for only a few months to recover from surgery or illness, or they may need care for years.

It is generally assumed that as a person becomes older there will be some need for long-term care. In America, Medicare will not cover the expenses of long-term care, but Medicaid will for those who can not afford to pay.

Another issue that is confusing is that long-term care is not restricted to the elderly. Age is not always a factor with long-term care. Younger people who are not able to care for themselves have these needs as well.

When thinking of buying long-term care insurance it is important to remember that in the United States, Medicaid generally does not cover long-term care provided in a home setting, and, in most cases, Medicaid will not cover or pay for assisted living. Because there is this void in coverage, having long-term care insurance can play a huge part in what the individual can have in terms of care related services.

With this protection, long-term care insurance can pay for home care, often from the first day it is needed. It can help pay for a live-in caregiver, companion, housekeeper, therapist or private duty nurse up to 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Assisted living is paid for by long-term care insurance. The same is true for adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, and more.

Very important to some consumers is that long-term care insurance can also assist with the payments for caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

One of the very best reasons for purchasing long-term care insurance is that it helps to protect the savings of the person or persons who will be responsible for paying the bills. Long-term care without insurance can wipe out a lifetime of savings in no time at all. It can also force individuals to liquidate many, if not all, of their assets including homes.

Modern technology is allowing us to live longer but we all need to be prepared for the days when we can no longer make it through the day without some help. Long-term care insurance can be a very useful and effective way to solve that problem.

Why You Need Long Term Care Insurance

Article by Larry Lane

Long Term Care Insurance

By Larry Lane for http://www.InvestorZoo.com

Thanks to new medical breakthroughs and new drugs, we as a population are living longer and more active lives. In 1900, the life expectancy of the average American was 47. Today, there are more survivors of cancers and diseases that were previously considered incurable. Depending on when you were born, you can expect to live to 76 to 91 years old.

However, all this technology comes with a dual edged sword. The longer you live, the longer you’re going to have to stretch out your retirement dollars. According to Genworth Financial, the cost of long term care can vary from ,000 per year in Louisiana to ,000 in California. Remember this is in 2009 dollars. Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the last 20 years, you know about the skyrocketing costs of healthcare. The cost of long term care needs to be factored in as one of your retirement expenses. In general,the pundits will say you need 75-80% of your current expenses in retirement. Long term care insurance may be the wild card in your retirement plans. If you are 5, 10 or 20 years out before retirement, no one knows what the cost will be for long term care insurance.

Here are just a few surprising statistics:

1) The fastest growing age group in the country: Those ages 85 and over-Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2004: Key indicators of well-being, Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2004.

2) 70% of couples can expect at least one partner to need nursing home facilities after age 65

3) Of the older population with long-term care needs in the community, about 30% (1.5 million people) have substantial long-term care needs (three or more ADL limitations). Of these, about 25% are 85 and older and 70% report they are in fair to poor health. The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation. Long-term Care: Medicaid’s role and challenges [Publication #2172]. Washington, DC: Author, 1999.

4) In 2004, the average daily rate for a private room in a skilled nursing facility was 2 for a private room or ,080 annually, and 9 or ,685 annually for a semi-private room. The hourly rate for a home health aide was .12.

5) In 2000, annual cost estimates were ,000 for adult day care and ,300 for assisted living

6) The average length of stay for long-term care nursing home residents is 2.43 years. Source: CDC, National Nursing Homes Survey

We’ve now established you need long term care insurance. LTC insurance is inexpensive if purchased at a young age. As with most forms of insurance, it is cheaper when you don’t need it.Think of it this way, you don’t have tornado insurance on your house. That day, you hear the weatherman call for a 100% chance of a category 5 tornado.In a panic, you call your insurance agent who quotes you an astronomical price. If you would have purchased tornado insurance last year, your premiums would have been much lower. The same goes with long term care insurance. If you purchase it when you don’t need it, you’ll save money in the long run. A 65 year old will pay more for insurance than who starts to purchase their insurance in their 40s.

Long term care policies are sold by independent insurance companies, usually in conjunction with a life insurance policy. There are no standardized versions of a long term care policy. Benefits differ from company to company. Some offer to pay a fixed dollar amount for each day you receive care. Others only pay a percentage of the cost, or a pre-specified dollar amount to cover the cost of services. There also may be waiting periods before the insurance policy is placed into effect. It pays to shop around and compare. Not all long term care insurance policies and companies are the same.

As always, do you due diligence and most importantly get insured. Not only does it make good financial sense, but it will allow you to sleep soundly at night.

Larry Lane is the editor for http://www.InvestorZoo.com, a social networking site specializing in personal finance. Questions and comments can be sent to Larry.Lane@InvestorZoo.com

The article above is information of a general nature and the information provided may not apply to your personal situation. Please consult your financial planner or licensed professional for investment advice.

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What Long Term Care Insurance Policies Cover?

 

Not all elderly need long term care insurance, but it does not mean everyone should overlook this protection during their retirement years. The recent survey and studies on the cost of care in the United States are upsetting, giving the impression that people would suffer paying for exorbitant LTC services throughout their senior life. Seniors could stay in nursing homes and other LTC facilities for the average span of two years, while those with chronic health issues and cognitive disorder would take five and more years of stay.

 

Most long term care policiesoffer numerous features and options of services that consumers find difficult to select and understand. The following are what most LTCi policiescover:

 

The Daily Benefit

This refers to the amount you wish to receive on a daily basis, and it has direct effect to the price of your premium – the higher the daily benefit means more expensive premiums.

You must assess how much daily benefits you need to avoid overpayment. Take time to research on the costs of LTC services in your community or state to get a clearer picture on how much daily benefits you will need.

The Length of Benefits

 

The average stay in LTC facilities is two to five years, so it is a wise decision to keep your benefits within that time period. However, you must look at other factors such as your family’s longevity and health history, and your personal health background as well. There are few companies that offer unlimited benefits, but expect the premiums are extra expensive.

 

The Elimination Period

 

Elimination period is commonly called a “deductible” which is the same as other types of health and life insurance.

These are usually the number of days the policyholders, from zero to 365 days, would pay for their care through out-of-pocket expenses. You reserve the right to choose your elimination period depending on your financial capacity to pay the preliminary costs.

 

The Inflation Protection

 

This is the most important features in LTCi because it increases the daily benefits. Some experts recommend 5% inflation to keep the premiums controllable and the benefits increasing as much as possible. However, you must assess yourself how much inflation rate you can afford, because it will surely affect the amount of your premiums.

 

Guaranteed Renewable

This means the policy shall continue provided that you are paying the premiums and comply with the company’s policy. The coverage should continue regardless when the company stops offering the same kind of policies.  This feature does not ensure the premiums will not increase its rates or the premiums itself.

 

Levels of Care the Policy Covers

 

Most LTC policies may cover skilled and non-skilled care. Registered nurses and health care professionals provide skilled care services such as supervision on medications and therapy. Non-skilled services are generally assistance with activities at home to help the patients continue their normal lives. This means policyholders may enjoy the flexibility of using the benefits for nursing care and home care.  Some policies may include the coverage for your family members or anyone you wish to provide care for you.

Long term care insurance basics. Many people wander if they need it. This video will help answer some of your LTCi questions. www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com is dedicated to answering your questions about long term care insurance.
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What Is Long-Term Care Insurance And Precisely How May It Help You

As people begin to live longer, long-term care insurance coverage becomes more important. Long-term care insurance helps present for the cost of lengthy-time period care which could be incredibly expensive. It is used to cowl these points which can be typically not coated by medical insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

There’s often some confusion about what this sort of insurance is used for and the individuals who use it. Customers ought to perceive that individuals who require long-term care are generally not sick in the best way we normally think of that word. Many of those people are healthy but they can’t carry out the essential activities of each day living corresponding to making ready food, consuming, dressing themselves, bathing, and the like. They could want assistance with their drugs, as some will typically overlook to take them.

One other difficulty that may confuse some individuals is that long-time period care doesn’t have to be long term. A person may need take care of only a few months to recuperate from surgery or sickness, or they might want care for years.

It is generally assumed that as a person turns into older there will likely be some want for lengthy-time period care. In America, Medicare won’t cover the bills of long-term care, but Medicaid will for individuals who can’t afford to pay.

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One other difficulty that is complicated is that long-term care shouldn’t be restricted to the elderly. Age shouldn’t be always an element with lengthy-term care. Youthful people who find themselves not in a position to look after themselves have these needs as well.

When pondering of buying long-time period care insurance you will need to remember that within the United States, Medicaid generally doesn’t cowl lengthy-term care supplied in a home setting, and, most often, Medicaid will not cover or pay for assisted living. Because there is this void in protection, having lengthy-term care insurance can play a huge half in what the person can have in terms of care related services.

With this safety, lengthy-term care insurance can pay for dwelling care, usually from the primary day it’s needed. It may well assist pay for a reside-in caregiver, companion, housekeeper, therapist or non-public duty nurse as much as 7 days every week, 24 hours a day. Assisted residing is paid for by lengthy-time period care insurance. The identical is true for adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, and more.

Crucial to some consumers is that long-time period care insurance coverage can also help with the funds for caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease or different types of dementia.

One of many highest reasons for purchasing lengthy-term care insurance is that it helps to protect the savings of the particular person or persons who will likely be chargeable for paying the bills. Lengthy-term care with out insurance can wipe out a lifetime of savings in no time at all. It may possibly also drive people to liquidate many, if not all, of their property including homes.

Trendy know-how is permitting us to reside longer but we all need to be prepared for the times after we can not make it through the day without some help. Long-term care insurance generally is a very helpful and efficient solution to resolve that problem.

Why Life Insurance Is Not an Investment

A life insurance policy is basically a mutual agreement between your life insurance carrier and you. You agree to pay a certain amount of premiums for a stipulated number of years. In return, the life insurance company agrees to pay your beneficiary a certain amount of benefits if you should die during the tenure of the contract. This is the dynamics of term life insurance which is the most basic and most affordable life insurance you can opt for.

Whole or permanent life insurance includes an investment factor. It attracts customers because premiums paid accrue interest after a period of time. This interest is then added to the death benefit. However, because of the investment factor, whole life policies are more expensive than term life policies. There is debate on whether the investment factor in a whole life policy is really worth it. If you were to invest the difference between paying for term life and paying for whole life, the interest you accrue on that amount through a long-term investment plan would be greater than what a whole life insurance policy would pay you. Using a life insurance policy as an investment is something you should consider carefully as there might be other options available that could make your money work harder for you.

Coming back to the basics, death benefits are what life insurance is all about. If you have someone who depends on your income, you need life insurance. Life insurance is not complicated. It is a means of making up for the economic loss a family would experience if an earning member died. This means, after your death, your family would have enough money to afford a comfortable lifestyle. Ideally, your death benefits should be able to cover any debts, the mortgage and other priority expenses such as college education for your children or a daughter’s wedding. When you deviate from the simple purpose of term life insurance, purchasing a life insurance policy tends to become complicated and more expensive.

There are several types of term life insurance policies you could consider:

Return of Premium – If you survive the term period, premiums you have paid are returned to you without interest.

Renewable – This gives you the option of renewing your policy for another term without have to prove insurability.

Decreasing – Premiums decrease towards the end of the term.

Convertible – This gives you the option to convert a term life policy to whole life.

Level term – This type of term life insurance keeps your premiums fixed throughout the term period.

If your main objective is to protect your family in the event of your untimely death, then pure life insurance is what you need. A basic term life insurance policy is affordable and will meet your requirements. You can find the best term life insurance simply by using the services of reputable online life insurance quote providers. They offer independent and objective recommendations that can save you up to 70 percent on a life insurance policy. Fill in the questionnaire and you’ll receive the best estimates from reputed life insurance companies.

The Shylocks Of Insurance ?Insurers Tryst With Destiny

Over the years the competition in the insurance sector has become so tough that the Insurance companies have been coerced into reducing their rates and providing cheaper and leaner insurance schemes .The insured never had it better and is taking full advantage of the various schemes under offer and playing one provider against the other while securing for himself the best proposal.

Insurance itself is a security one provides for his dependents against his unforeseen demise. We have all seen touching movies on this subject and believe me, truth is always stranger than fiction and a tryst with insurance will provide an umbrella of comfort for your near and dear ones.

Insurance, today comes under many a baggage and eye catching titles. Insurance companies in the world, baring some Government owned companies like in India are private. These companies are vying strongly and aggressively with one another to offer the most attractive schemes at the lowest rates .One good way to select an ideal scheme at low rates is to go on-line to a reputed insurance broker who will take upon himself the responsibilities of studying and comparing the offers of various insurance companies, so as to obtain the best Life Assurance proposal for you.

He is in this business day in and day out and will have better knowledge of and access to the battery of companies, some of which we would never even have heard of. Also this will definitely get you a lower tariff than you could ever hope to negotiate as an individual.

At this stage, with the best offer in hand ,and comprehensive comparisons of features, premiums and waivers, you must select whether you would prefer a long term, short term, money back or even a mutual fund linked policy.

If you have the where withal, you may also log on to ON-LINE insurance schemes and compare plans of major companies to finally arrive at wise decision on the best policy suitable for you.

On the rosy side, I read some where that, pursuant to the congressional budget office thrust, the US Academy of actuaries is breathing down the necks of insurance companies to conduct an in depth study on ways and means to initiate and conclude a measurable down to earth reduction on health costs using the principle that controlled spending on health care will many fold  enthuse the influx of millions of individuals who were hitherto in the un insured sector, thus promoting large increase in volume of insurers, which will go a long way to reduce life/ health insurance premiums.

Groups of individuals working in a company can go in for Group Gratuity  insurance schemes .Also the global economic melt down  will bring with it lower cost long term schemes.

There is yet another side to this subject. Many who buy a motor car or motor cycle find that the companies provide freebies in the form of free life insurance quotes. The long term schemes allows you to avail a loan on your policy in the event of an emergency .Child insurance schemes at low premium for long periods (to be taken immediately after birth) are a boon to any parent and I for one feel strongly that every child’s destiny is fortified so that he or she can start their adulthood with confidence.

These days the legal aspects have leant more toward the benefit of the insurer and the common man. Einsured life insurance plans are very easy to understand and even a common man can get life insurance quotes in minutes. There are a lot of cheap life insurance online plan.

The Differences In Elder Care Services

Time marches on and so do we. Before we know it, we are older and so are our parents or loved ones. Caring for them and being sure their needs are met become a prime concern especially when they begin to not be able to care for themselves as they used to. This dilemma touches most every family. The thing to avoid is to remain under a veil of ignorance by not understanding your options and waiting until the last minute to make an abrupt and often uniformed decision. Care for the elderly is of utmost importance. This will be addressed in a comparison between adult day care, assisted living, and nursing home care.

Adult day care has the shortest care periods and usually lasts up to 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. People with Alzheimer’s, the feeble, the physically handicapped, those infected with HIV/AIDS, people with declining brain function and the hearing and visually impaired are included in this type of care. It serves as respite for busy caregivers and offers social and recreational activities, meals, therapy, health and social services. Usually there is an assessment made of the needs of each person before they enter the program. It is also important to find out how physically able they are because adult day care does provide rehabilitative services and personal care. One of its greatest advantages is that it helps people remain independent and be able to live with loved ones as long as they can plus it gives caregivers the break they often need.

Funding can come through Medicaid if the person qualifies, need-based scholarships, some medical insurance, long-term care insurance or tax credits for dependent care. Medicare doesn’t cover adult day care. Usually centers are non-profit (80% of them) and charge anywhere from – a day. This will vary according to location. Transportation is also provided. There are full-time nursing services and these places are licensed by the state.

The next step up in care, if the elderly are not living with friends or family, is assisted living. It is for seniors who are somewhat independent and who need more care than a retirement community has available. The focus is on allowing for individual residents’ independence, need for privacy, choice, and safety. The services offered are personal (bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, and eating), health care (which also involves management of medications), social and physical activities, 24-hour supervision, education, laundry, linen, housekeeping, unit maintenance, shopping, meal preparation, money management and transportation. A person can occupy a furnished or unfurnished studio or 1-bedroom unit with a bathroom. Some places have a shared bathroom. Also some units may have kitchenettes or even a full kitchen.

A potential resident is assessed according to physical and cognitive abilities, mental awareness, medical history (including medications being taken) and some personal history to find out if assisted living is a good option. Family members are encouraged to continue being a part of the resident’s life and are welcome to attend social activities throughout the year and on holidays. Usually assisted living places have a full-time nurse and trained staff. Meals are eaten in a dining room and assistance is given when needed. Activities are planned throughout the day and residents have the choice to attend or not. Church services are held, some being a specific denomination and there is usually a non-denominational gathering. Assisted care is regulated by the state.

Sources of funding can include personal funds, assistance for families, Social Security, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance. The cost varies, depending on the size of the unit, the services needed and location. It’s between ,000 and ,000 per month, the average being ,873.

The nursing home is the most intensive in care (along with adult family care homes). The residents have definite physical needs. They usually have physical or mental disorders or happen to be too feeble and/or unable to move around, bathe or prepare their own meals. Their ADL’s (Activities of Daily living) are minimal and low functioning. As a general rule, there will be no recovery or ability to take care of themselves, so assistance is a necessity for most or all ADL’s. There are definite medical needs too.

Nurses and nursing aids are available round the clock. Because of the residents’ needs, nursing homes are staffed with that in mind. There is full management of medication and it is administered according to a physician’s orders. A person can obtain a private room if he/she is paying with private funds. Normally, there are 2 people to a room. Meals are brought to them or residents are taken to the dining area. Besides full assistance, nursing homes offer rehabilitative services, exercise, social activities, laundry, housekeeping, and prepared meals. Families and friends are encouraged to visit.

The cost depends on where the home is and what the surcharge is that is attached for private payers versus Medicare and Medicaid. Approximately 70% of nursing home costs are paid by the state and federal governments. The government pays part or all of the fees for about 85% of the residents. Another funding option is long-term care insurance. The actual cost is somewhere around 4 a day or more and can go well above ,000 a month. This varies depending on the location and the services required.

In summary, adult day care involves hours of care, while assisted living and nursing homes offer more care progressively. It helps to research all the residential and financial options. AARP is a valuable source, as well as Medicare. There are a wealth of other websites that will help relatives and friends find the right place for their loved ones and the phone book lists companies and people that have a network to draw from.  Quality care of our elderly is essential. Knowing what can be done is being done, brings a sense of peace of mind.

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