Hello All,
Happy February! Or, as I like to call it, “I Love You Month.” Speaking of love, what gives your life, meaning, and value? Is it your family or friends? Those you hold most dear? I think for most of us, that would be the answer. But love is not always easy. Especially when you’re balancing your life, your family, and caring for loved ones who are older or aging. My hope for all of you this month, whether you are a caregiver, an extended family member, or using your superpowers to give back, is that you remember to take some time for yourself too. There is plenty of love to go around.
My thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support!
Nicole Howell
Executive Director
Love Language in the form of Long-Term Care
Finding the right long-term care facility can take weeks, even months. How do you know if you’re making the right decision, let alone ensuring the proper care will be given? It is important to know how to choose a long-term care facility should the need arise. Here are a few things to think about to help you get started.
Determine Necessary Needs – There are two types of care – Skilled Nursing and what you may call Assisted Living, but they come in several different packages such as memory care, board, and care, etc.
Paying For Care – Paying for long-term care can be daunting, but there are several ways and it is important that you know your rights. Payment sources include Medicare, MediCal, Private Pay and Long-term care insurance, but vary based on the type of facilities. Know your rights and check out our website for info.
Exploration – Bottom line, there are a lot of facilities. Ask doctors, friends, and other family members for recommendations. If you need help getting started, the Administration on Aging has an Eldercare Locator, Medicare.gov has a nursing home comparison tool, and you can also find more local resources on our website.
Visit Facilities – Online research will only get you so far. The only way to know for sure if you’ve found the right facility is to visit. Make sure to be alert. Observe and talk to current residents, employees, see what activities are going on, does the setup of the facility make sense, is it clean, etc. Also, bring a list of questions and take notes.
Paying for Long-Term Care
Financing long-term care is no small feat, and worrying about the cost is not something new. Medical care expenses can eat up a significant amount of money every month, even for those who thought they had enough saved. Planning for long-term care and how people cover these costs largely depend on personal, financial, housing, and legal situations. Here are some of the most common options available:
- Out-of-pocket
- Government programs like, Medicare, Medicaid, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), Department of Veterans Affairs
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Life insurance Policies for Long-Term Care
- Annuities
- Trusts
- Reverse Mortgages
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), individuals turning 65 years of age have a 70% chance of requiring long-term care at some point in their lives. One in five will likely need it for five or more years. If you have the time to learn more about your options and plan ahead, it is worth the time to make sure you or your loved one is properly cared for. Need help getting started now? Head on over to our website for more resources.
