Fresh articles from More Free Information Article Directoryhttp://www.morefreeinformation.com/Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:39:57 CDTMorefreeinformation.com http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13492/88/5-Simple-Steps-To-Choose-The-RIght-Senior-Care-Provider.html
Finding the right Senior Care Solution for an aging loved one
is one of the most complex decisions you can face in a lifetime It's
incredibly stressful, and often needed to be done in a very short
timeframe It is for that reason that we've developed OurParents, and
why we're outlining some best practices other families have used to
find the right answer that meets their loved ones' unique personal and
financial needs

Here is a five step program to help you make an informed choice

1 Assess where your loved one is starting from, physically and mentally

To find the right Senior Care option for your parent, you need to
honestly ask yourself some tough questions about your loved one's
current condition That includes things like:

* How mobile are they?
* Are they able to clean themselves?
* Are they keeping up with their daily medical needs (taking their
pills, etc )?
* Do they have chronic illnesses that continue to increase in severity?
* Do they have memory issues that are starting to concern you?

If you need help doing an independent assessment, use our acclaimed
FREE Care Options Advisor It is a great tool that takes about 4
minutes to complete, and asks you in plain, straight-forward terms to
describe the aging loved one's current situation, then lays out the
available senior care options you should first consider (answering
important questions like "Is in-home care a viable option for my
parent?")

2 Understand all the available care options

This is a really important decision for a family, and the senior care
industry doesn't make it any easier by all the complex terms it uses
to describe different care options

You should make sure you have a decent understanding of all of the
different senior care options that are available to you and your loved
one A great place to start is by reading this article that outlines
the major options, and what they mean

3 Determine your loved one's ability to pay

There are five primary means to pay for care, and often, families use
several of them to pay for the care of their loved one They are:

* Social Security
* Medicare
* Medicaid
* Pensions (Military / Government / Business)
* Money and/or Home owned by the aging loved one

Social Security is a primary component used to help pay for a senior's
living expenses

Medicare is the program most families use as a core component of how
they pay for Senior Care / Senior Medical Expense There are several
components to the Medicare Program, as well as insurance products that
help lessen the out-of-pocket medical expenses encountered (Medicare
Advantage)

Medicaid is a program targeted at helping senior living in poverty

Pensions, while not offered as much in businesses anymore, also can
play a role in both paying for living expenses and healthcare (some
unions and buinesses offer retirees good healthcare benefits, but
again, that is becoming rarer and rarer )

Family assets, including 401Ks, IRAs, saving accounts, as well as the
equity in a house or condo owned by the senior, can also play an
important role in determing what care options are viable Please note
that some senior care providers only accept private payments (no
Medicare/Medicaid)

There are lots of other things that can play a role in helping pay for
senior care - things like long-term care insurance We are just
focusing on the components most families ask us about

If you'd like to understand all the potential government benefit
programs that your aging loved one may be eligible for, here is a
great tool to get started

4 Search for the right senior care provider

The heart of OurParents is the 100,000 plus senior care provider
directory Once you know where (i e , what town/city/zip) you'd like
to look for a provider, just use our search tool to enter the location
in, and we'll give you a list of viable providers You can then sort
the results by things like overall Medicare quality rating, cost, and
closeness to your requested location You can also use the check
boxes on the page to specify any unique requirements you have (e ,g ,
"I need Alzheimer's support")

Each Senior Care Provider has a detailed profile page, with lots more
information about them You can see user reviews, detailed services
provided, Medicare audit results, and lots of other good information
that can help you make an informed decision Use the search tool to
narrow down your list of senior care providers you are interested in

With a single click, you can request any of these providers to reach
out to you to provide more specific information (like costs), and/or
schedule an on-site visit Again, all this is a FREE service from
OurParents

5 Interview the finalists and make the decision

No decision as important as this should be made without an actual
visit to any senior care facility you are considering (or an in-person
interview with any proposed in-home care provider)

It is important for you to see first-hand what the care experience is
like, what the person/poeple are like who you loved one will interact
with, and whether this care provider makes sense for your aging loved
one

Each situation is different Each senior has their own personality,
their own needs, their own interests You are the best judge of what
solution works best

To help you make this important decision, we have a series of
interview checklists you can use to make sure you ask all the
questions on your mind during the interview/visit


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13492/88/5-Simple-Steps-To-Choose-The-RIght-Senior-Care-Provider.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13491/88/Evaluating-A-Senior-Care-Provider.html
There are various things to look for when reviewing a care
facility, or a care provider There are various attributes that are
unique to the facility, and we have created specific check-lists for
your perusal as you visit and interview a facility, however in general
there are the following categories to watch out for:

* Atmosphere
* Physical Features
* Needs Assessments, Contracts,Costs & Finances
* Services Provided

Most seniors today live full, active, and balanced lives
Deciding to move into an assisted living facility, a senior retirement
community or any other type of senior can be a daunting and confusing
process both for seniors and for their families The process of
choosing the right Assisted Living Community can be quite complex,
but fortunately, there are resources that can help you
Assisted Living & Senior Care
The following checklist, is an excerpt from the Assisted Living
Federation of America's Guide to Choosing an Assisted Living
Residence
We recommend that you take this checklist with you when you tour the
different Assisted Living Community It should help you in assessing
the services, features, and policies offered by those communities

Atmosphere

* As you arrive at the residence, do you like its location and
outward appearance?
* As you enter the lobby and tour the residence, is the decor
attractive and homelike?
* Do you receive a warm greeting from staff welcoming you to the residence?
* Does the administrator/staff call residents by name and interact
warmly with them as you tour the residence?
* Do residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
* Are you able to talk with residents about how they like the
residence and staff?
* Do the residents seem to be appropriate housemates for you or
your loved one?
* Are staff members appropriately dressed, personable, and outgoing?
* Do the staff members treat each other in a professional manner?
* Are the staff members that you pass during your tour friendly to you?
* Are visits with the resident welcome at any time?

Physical Features

* Is the community well-designed for your needs?
* Is the floor plan easy to follow?
* Are doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodating to wheelchairs
and walkers?
* Are elevators available for those unable to use stairways?
* Does a physician or nurse visit residents regularly to provide
medical checkups?
* To what extent are medical services available, and how are these
services provided?
* Are handrails available to aid in walking?
* Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
* Are floors made of a non-skid material and carpets firm to ease walking?
* Does the residence have good natural and artificial lighting?
* Is the residence clean, free of odors, and appropriately heated/cooled?
* Does the residence have sprinklers and clearly marked exits?
* Does the residence have a means of security if a resident wanders?


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13491/88/Evaluating-A-Senior-Care-Provider.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13494/88/Avoiding-Elder-Care-Stress-Requires-Planning-And-Organization.html
Care for the elderly in home can be overwhelming To
avoid elder care stress it is important for the caregiver, or
potential caregiver, to help the aging adult organize and plan for the
unplanned events in life Taking a proactive approach with the aging
adults in your life will save you time, energy, money and undue
stress

Of course it is always best to attempt to plan for the unplanned
emergency and get all paperwork and legal papers in order while the
aging adult in your life is still well It is not always possible
Many families are unabl
senior care
e to have the necessary discussions or are in denial insisting that
everything will be fine Then, one day, a phone call comes in, and it
is the local hospital, your aging loved one is in the emergency room
and the news is not good

There is a rush to the hospital, and the healthcare professionals have
many questions that you are unable to answer While your aging loved
one is in the hospital, you now are left to look for important papers
and do other things like pay the bills for your loved one You may
even have to make serious life altering decisions, under duress,
because these were subjects that just are not discussed

This is an everyday occurrence in every hospital in the country
Families are faced with the stress of making decisions they are
unprepared to make, provide information they must research Many start
writing things on scraps of paper

There is the "to do" list, the appointment list, names and numbers of
healthcare providers, your own schedule and maybe even your families
schedule Care giving can be overwhelming and can cause an incredible
amount of unnecessary stress

Avoid unnecessary elder care stress Care for the elderly in home
requires planning and organization The key to survival is planning
and organization

Planning is important as we age We all want to maintain control,
independence and our dignity as we grow older Being proactive and
discussing the important issues with our loved ones, even putting our
wishes in writing, gives the aging adult control over their lives even
when they can no longer speak for themselves

Organization is important There are so many aspects of our lives that
we take for granted When you care for the elderly in home, it is
important to have things in one place and information easily
accessible to make life easier

The first step is to write things down When you start your
caregiver's journey, have a notebook and pen with you at all times
Stress causes distractions and you may tend to forget things

At home, it is important to get all the medical, legal, financial,
home maintenance, religious and social information together and put in
an easily accessible place Develop a system where all the names,
addresses and phone numbers are in one spot for ease and
accessibility

The medical information is important, as good record keeping can delay
time wasted when treatment is necessary Good record keeping can also
prevent another invasive or painful test being preformed It is
important to have the name, telephone number, address and specialty of
each health care provider that cares for your aging loved one

Develop a master schedule, to keep track of when medications need to
be reordered, appointments are scheduled, when the trash it to go out
etc It sounds silly, but care giving is intermittent, unpredictable
and overwhelming at times It is easy to get distracted and forget
something

Develop a file system Sections for filing will be medical bills,
legal papers, resources, financial papers Paperwork can pile up, so
make a file for things that will need to be filed When things get
overwhelming, filing may be a task to delegate to another family
member

Keep a log of those that you talk with in regards to the care of your
aging loved one A call log with the name of the individual you spoke
with, date and time and a brief snippet what the call was about is
important in case something is missed or care is delayed

Learn to make copies of medical bills, medication scripts; if you are
mailing them, insurance claims anything that you are mailing out and
any important legal documents Always have a backup plan in place If
there is an emergency, or if the primary caregiver is suddenly ill,
there must be an alternative plan in place for someone else to step
in Expect that life will have many unplanned events Try and prepare
for them

Avoid elder care stress by being prepared Care for the elderly in
home requires one to be very organized It is important to ask
questions, make sure you understand the answers so that you can learn,
plan and be organized for those unplanned life events

Diane Carbo Registered Nurse has more than thirty five years in the
nursing field Her experience as a geriatric care manager, makes her
uniquely qualified to help those who want to live out their lives in
their own homes That decision may be made when you are 20, 30, 40 or
in fact at any age, with sooner rather than later being ideal Diane
has developed a web site to make people aware of issues and options
You will find a mountain of helpful information that will be
continually updated Please visit
http://www aginghomehealthcare com/brain-fitness html sign up for
"The Caring Advocate" Ezine her free newlsetter and receive a
complimentary copy of the Home Health Care Planning Guide

Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it.]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13494/88/Avoiding-Elder-Care-Stress-Requires-Planning-And-Organization.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13495/88/Eldercare-and-End-of-Life-Decisions.html
End of life decisions require planning about your future
needs and wishes while you are healthy and able to make your needs
known Not taking time to address those uncomfortable decisions,
early, results in family members making important life altering
decisions under duress This can leave family members feuding and
angry over some of decisions that were made The discussion of end of
life issues is not only to maintain control over our life when we can
no longer express those wishes, but to be supportive of our family
members

To prepare for end of life decisions is establishing an advanced
directive or living will It is also determining responsible
individual to act as your health care power of attorney

An advanced directive or living will allow you to put in writing the
measures you want to have or not be taken when end of life care is
required As we age, we may develop conditions or health care concerns
that can be debilitating or painful In eldercare, those with some
conditions find it very easy to express their wishes and concerns For
others, that have been healthy and well, the thought of thinking about
end of life issues and decisions is remote and something they will
address some day

Discussing end of life decisions should start with your health care
professional Even though you are starting this conversation early and
when you are well, it is important to review end of life decisions on
a regular basis Your medical condition may change or you may acquire
a new diagnosis These are times when you should take the opportunity
to have those frank and open discussions about your future health care
needs

Eldercare and end of life decisions may also be discussed with your
spiritual advisor, if this is important to you Many individuals find
solace in knowing that their wishes are congruent with the beliefs of
their religion

For those that delay having an advanced directive or living will, they
take the risk of having others make life altering decisions made for
them These decisions may be contrary or even contradict your wishes
Most important decisions in life are made by having discussions with
those that have knowledge about the subject and then with our family
members Yet, for one of the most important times in our life, the
important decisions are left to strangers

Having an advanced directive in place allows those individuals such as
your health care provider and family to know and understand what
actions you want taken if and when you can no longer make those
decisions for yourself Having an advanced directive allows you to
decide what measures or extraordinary measures should be taken to
prolong life

For each person that is an individual choice Many, although terminal
want to have tube feedings, dialysis and chemo even when the treatment
will not extend their life For others, quality of life is an issue
Their choice may be to stop treatments, as the burden of participating
in that treatment is more than they can bear to face

Identifying a health care durable power of attorney (known as an
"agent") is another step in making end of life decisions for eldercare
planning A health care durable power of attorney is written legal
document that allows you to designate an individual to make health
care decisions for you when you are no longer able or competent to
make them for yourself It is important to understand that you may
revoke your health care power of attorney at any time

When choosing a health care durable power of attorney it is important
to choose and individual that you trust, that shares your same values,
beliefs and religious convictions, if that is important to you It is
important that you include this individual when developing your
advanced directive so that understand how you would direct you care if
you were able to do so

Your health care "agent" can then use your advanced directive as a
guide, and make decisions, with the assistance of your health care
providers, determine the best course of action to take based on your
health care condition at that time

It is also important to make your end of life decisions known to all
your family members and friends When eldercare end of life decisions
are made it is a very stressful time for all family members and
friends It is important to prepare those you love to understand what
your wishes are and what is important to you It will make it easier
for your health care "agent" to make those decisions when all involved
are prepared Having open discussions about your end of life wishes
with your family is healthy and encouraged It may be uncomfortable,
but, it helps everyone to understand and honor your wishes The
important thing is that you and your loved ones can be comfortable
with the decisions that are being made Many are not afforded that
luxury, as they are left to make decisions under stress and duress and
uncertainty


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13495/88/Eldercare-and-End-of-Life-Decisions.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13496/88/Family-Meetings-and-Eldercare-Planning.html
There are many issues and concerns a family faces when it
comes to elder care planning Having regular family meetings, to
discuss the ongoing issues and changes that occur while caring for an
aging loved, one allows families to make educated and appropriate
choices
Having a formal eldercare meeting is a way for families to support
each other, become aware of all the options and to discuss differences
and solutions in an appropriate setting

There are many factors that affect the primary caregiver Often
culture, gender and birth order plays a role in who becomes the
primary candidate Other family members often take the role that the
primary caregiver plays and the stress they endure for granted A
family meeting can help the primary caregiver express the importance
of everyone participating in the care of their aging loved one

Elder care planning can improve communications; assist in keeping all
the family educated on the ongoing and future issues and concerns that
are facing the family and their aging loved one

It is important to approach the family meeting in a planned and
structured manner, actually with a business like approach This
approach will prevent managing arising situations by crisis and
emotions

The first eldercare planning meeting should have goals and rules for
everyone involved Although this is uncomfortable for many family
members, setting rules is very important when conducting the family
meeting There are times when the topic of conversation can become
heated and frustrating for all involved Having goals and rules will
not alleviate these moments, but can dramatically decrease the
occurrence of these instances

The first family meeting should be held with just a few close and
involved caregivers You may want to have the first meeting with out
your aging loved one present Make that decision based on how you
think your parent may react or respond to the topic of their present
and future needs Some aging individuals want to be involved and
control their future; others are upset about any discussions about
their changing needs

The goal of the first meeting is meeting is to develop a family "team"
approach to the care giving process If there are uncomfortable or
difficult family interactions, this is the time to ask that everyone
put them aside for the sake of your aging parents

Decide an agenda, with three or four issues or concerns that will be
discussed at the first family meeting This is the time to ask all
involved to identify what they perceive are their top issue and
concerns It is also important to ask everyone involved what tasks
they would take responsibility for; such as someone to take notes and
deliver them to other family members, the research piece for community
resources, lawn care etc

This is the time to ask all involved to identify what they perceive
are their top issue and concerns Once on agenda for meeting has been
decided upon, it is important to give everyone the topics for
discussion at the meeting

The goal of the first meeting is meeting is to develop a family team
approach to the care giving process If there are uncomfortable or
difficult family interactions, this is the time to ask that everyone
put them aside for the sake of your aging parents

There are times when the family will not be able to come together with
a great deal of discomfort In these situations, you may want to
consider having an objective third party to moderate that meeting
This individual should be an eldercare consultant or a geriatric care
manager These are skilled individuals that facilitate, guide and can
lend knowledge and experience about the aging process and work with
families at every level
Keys to a successful family meeting include:

* Provide all involved of list of topics for discussion ahead of time
* Ask all involved parties to have potential solutions to the
topics, if possible
* Develop a time frame for the meeting
* Set a rule that no one can speak longer than 10 minutes on a
topic This will prevent one or two family member from controlling the
meeting Use a timer, if necessary
* Take time at the beginning of each meeting to have some family
member take responsibility to research and provide education to the
family on the disease condition or legal documents that need to be
addressed This may be sharing a fact sheet on a diagnosis or
information on an advanced directive
* Use a speaker phone or three way calling to include those family
members that live far away
* Ask everyone bring their calendars so that the next meeting can
be scheduled before finishing each meeting

Setting ground rules for a family meeting may include:

* Do not interrupt any one when they are talking
* There will be no walking out of meetings
* Agree to have discussions about "eldercare issues" as a group
There is to be no talking family member to family member with out all
involved
* There is to be no finger pointing
* Leave your feelings of past hurts, resentment and anger at the
door This is a group effort to maintain the maximum level of
independence in the least restrictive environment for as long as
possible
* There is to be no criticism of others
* Understand that aging parent will have changing needs and that
as their needs change, so will the solutions change It is important
for all to be flexible


Family meetings will not always solve every single situation and not
all will go smoothly There will be times when the family meeting is a
way to remind each family member that this is about their aging parent
and what is in their best interest It is never easy There will not
always be clear cut solutions to every problem that is addressed
Family meetings can decrease the unhealthy dynamics every family can
face under stress Including the family in the care of their aging
parents gives everyone in the family an opportunity to be involved
with their aging parent or grand parent in a way they may not have
considered before It also gives the entire family to pull together at
a time of need and develop stronger bonds and develop familial
relationships at a new and satisfying level


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it.]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13496/88/Family-Meetings-and-Eldercare-Planning.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13497/88/Healthcare-Reform-And-Senior-Care-Why-You-Need-To-Be-Concerned.html
There is so much confusion about what is in (and what is out
of) the proposed healthcare reform legislation With the Senate bill
still in committee, and the Congressional bill still being debated,
should you be concerned about the funding of Medicare and Medicaid?

The short answer is: Yes, but you are a current senior, there are some
good things in the proposed legislation For Baby Boomers, you will
face many more challenges, and the Medicare that will exist will, most
probably, be materially less than what your parents had

The basic math is as follows: The House bill has funding going down
3% over 10 years, and the Senate bill has funding decreasing 5% over
the same period

Here are a few important things to keep you eye on, as the debate
continues, and the bills get tweaked

1 Medicaid benefits will be under extreme pressure, and will most
likely be cut materially In order to make the federal economic
impact of the proposed healthcare legislation be more balanced, the US
government is looking to have the individual states pick up $37
Billion in Medicaid funding If you live in states like California,
New York, and Ohio, you know the fiscal crisis that is occurring, as
the states wrestle with huge budget shortfalls The states'
collective ability to absorb the $37 Billion of Medicaid funding is,
for the most part, almost zero That means deep cuts in Medicaid
funding for seniors
2 Government accounting may make it very difficult to ensure that
Medicare savings are used to pay off the huge Medicare funding
shortfall we will encounter over the next decade As of this year,
Medicare now spends more annually that it takes it - that's a big
problem There is a case to be made that some of the changes proposed
in the healthcare reform bills will materially reduce the annual cost
of the Medicare program Unfortunately, there are lots of other parts
of healthcare reform that would like to use these Medicare "savings"
to offset the costs of their proposed new benefit programs That's
not a sustainable model We need to ensure that the Medicare funding
deficit is addressed, or we will face a material reduction of benefits
over the next decade
3 Here is some relief in prescription costs, but it is limited at
lessening out-of-pocket deductible expenses Several measures that
might apply market pressure on prescription drugs (e g , allowing for
coverage of prescription costs of people buying drugs from from lower
cost Canadian pharmacies, etc ) are not part of either bill
4 If you are currently a Medicare Advantage plan member, there is
a very high probability you are going to see higher premium costs and
lower benefits There is no one who believes the current government
contribution to the Medicare Advantage program is sustainable The
one open question is whether there will be a "Grandfather provision"
that lets current members of the program still continue with the
current program, or whether it will be massively redesigned for
everyone, new and old
5 There are no death panels, but there will be approved tests of
new care models for selected classes of patients, especially those
that are chronically ill The results of those test will potentially
shape future changes in Medicare



At OurParents, we do believe that some form of healthcare reform is
required, if only to address the now-effectively-bankrupt condition of
Medicare Healthcare reform needs to address a much broader swath than
seniors You only need to spend a day in an emergency room (the
doctor of last resorts to many) to see how many people are slipping
through the healthcare net The challenge is what form that
healthcare reform takes, and whether it will fundamentally address the
cost of provisioning of healthcare

If you have an aging loved one, you need to understand the major
elements of the proposed healthcare legislation, and make your voice
heard, one way or the other

Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13497/88/Healthcare-Reform-And-Senior-Care-Why-You-Need-To-Be-Concerned.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13499/88/Long-Term-Care-Insurance-LTCI-A-Primer.html
Private insurance companies sell LTCI policies to offset
the costs of long-term care LTCI, like all insurance policies,
requires premiums to help recipients avoid paying large sums later on
in the event of an illness or a catastrophic event Premiums are based
on the individual's age at the time of purchase and are usually locked
in for the life of the policy
finance, ltci, long term care insurance, senior care
LTCI covers the following, depending on the policy you choose:

* Care in a skilled nursing facility
* Care in an assisted living facility
* Home health care
* Adult day health care

Buying a LTCI policy allows the policyholder to choose from many
options, such as the amount of the daily benefit, the number of years
the policy will pay benefits, and, after the applicant qualifies for a
policy, the number of days or months before the policy will begin
paying benefits
It's very important to evaluate policies carefully to see which one
offers the benefits you require with a premium that fits your budget
Policies differ in their benefits, contract conditions, deductibles
and premiums It is also important to take into account the rising
cost of health care Be sure the LTCI policy provides inflation
protection for benefits to increase as health care costs continue to
rise
Policies are generally labeled according to the place in which
benefits are paid

* Homecare-only policies pay for care at home and in an adult day
care or adult day health care facilities Make sure the policy
includes both types of day care
* Facility-only policies pay for care in a skilled nursing
facility and in an assisted living facility
* Comprehensive policies pay for care in a skilled nursing
facility, assisted living facility, adult day care or adult day health
care facility, and at home

Since LTCI claims are often paid many years after the purchase of the
policy, it is imperative to check the following:

* Financial strength of the company You can find out by checking
out Moody's
* Reputation and claims-paying history of the company

Contact your State Insurance Department for information on specific
private insurance companies Click here for listings information for
each state's insurance information
Who is Eligibile?

* Applicant must be healthy at the time of application
* Each insurance company has individual requirements and/or limitations

We recommend that you consult a financial advisor ot find out the
right time to buy an LTCI policy?

Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13499/88/Long-Term-Care-Insurance-LTCI-A-Primer.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13500/88/Introduction-to-Medicaid.html
Medicaid is a federally aided, state-operated program that
provides medical care for some low-income individuals and families
with limited resources If an individual is receiving social security
benefits, a part of those funds will go toward your medical expenses
Other than the Social Security benefits deduction, the program
provides full coverage of most medical expenses and does not require
payment of premiums or deductibles In addition, health care providers
who accept Medicaid cannot bill for any additional charges as they can
with Medicare

finance, senior care, medicaid
Who Is Eligibilie ?
Medicaid qualifications vary from state to state Medicaid Asset
Limitations are based on whether the individual is single, or married
with an at-home spouse Meeting these limitations is the most
difficult criteria when applying for Medicaid You should check the
state-specific information about Medicaid benefits for your state
Eligible individuals cannot have countable assets exceeding a certain
amount, and cannot have an income that exceeds a specified amount per
month However, the Medicaid applicant is allowed to keep a specified
amount of income per month Please refer to the Medicaid website at
for the current limitations
Countable Assets are defined as:

* Checking accounts, savings accounts and CDs
* Investment accounts, including mutual funds, stock and bonds
* Credit union accounts
* Certain life insurance policies, based on amount of face value
* Annuities that have not annuitized (beneficiary not yet
receiving payments)
* Automobiles, if more than one is currently registered
* Second homes and non-business properties
* Revocable trust accounts
* Promissory notes

Exempt Assets are defined as:

* Primary residence, if applicant is married with an at-home
spouse, or if applicant intends to return to home
* Property used in business or trade
* Pre-need burial expenses
* life insurance policies, based on amount of face value
* IRAs
* Pensions
* Annuities, if the beneficiary is receiving payments


You should notconfuse Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with
Medicaid, because people with SSI automatically have Medicaid The
reverse is not true SSI is federally funded by tax revenues It is
designed to aid the aged, blind and disabled who have little or no
income so they can meet their basic needs for food, clothing and
shelter


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it.]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13500/88/Introduction-to-Medicaid.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13501/88/Pets-Improve-ElderCare.html
Are you providing elderly care, for one or more loved
ones? If so, you may want to consider introducing a furry friend into
your caregiving routine Pets have been recognized in contributing
special qualities that help individuals with a range of challenges,
including those that require senior care Research has shown that pets
can change the mood of individuals who are depressed, or stimulate
conversation among individuals who are isolated Pets have even
sparked memories with individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's In
addition, pets have helped individuals with arthritis or other
physical problems improve t
senior care, pets
heir range of motion
While individuals around the world have been using pets in senior care
for generations, the therapy was not officially recognized until 40
years ago Today, many senior care facilities depend on volunteers to
bring pets as a supplement to elderly care
Laura Meade Kirk wrote an article for The Providence Journal in which
Dr Chris Hannifan, the president of the Rhode Island Veterinary
Medical Association, stated that the relationship between pets and
humans has been proven to provide benefits In cases of
non-communicative individuals, pets are often able to reach out to
these individuals
I have personally seen the benefits , a pet can bring to elderly care
My grandmother who was in the late stages of Alzheimer's had
completely shut down and did not communicate with people either
physically or verbally On one surreal visit I brought our family dog
with us, and my grandmother smiled at seeing the dog After that, we
took it upon ourselves to bring the dog to the senior care facility,
where grandmother was staying regularly While my grandmother did not
respond to other individuals, her eyes always shown brightly when our
family dog entered the room One of the most amazing things happened
after several months of visitation when my grandmother actually spoke
out loud that the dog was cute After that visit, we felt a true sense
of peace
If you are currently caring for a senior loved one and you are not
using a pet in their care routine, you should seriously consider the
benefits that a pet can provide to your loved one's well-being While
dogs are often the most popular choice, cats and birds provide
substantial enjoyment as well It is advised that you talk to a
professional expert in pet therapy in order to ascertain the best
choice for your family


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13501/88/Pets-Improve-ElderCare.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13502/88/Top-Questions-About-Nursing-Home-Care.html
Finding the right nursing home can be overwhelming and
stressful When assessing a nursing home there are many things you
should be considering The first step is to take time and visit
OurParents
You can search for a lot of nursing homes in your area A five star
rating system is utilized that includes the overall performance of
each nursing home based on state health surveys, nursing home
staffing, and quality indicators and outcome performance

nursing homes
You can learn a lot about a nursing home before you even wall in the
door of the facility
There are three categories that you will want to review before going
into a facility Each facility has a yearly state inspection The
results of these inspections can be reviewed online as well as in each
facility The nursing home must make the results of their survey
available and the actions they have taken to correct any identified
deficiencies If a family member or a resident living at the facility
has issued a complaint to the state that information is to be made
available to the public, as well

Another area of assessment that nursing homes are evaluated is
staffing At the Medicare nursing home compare site, you will be able
to identify home many residents are in a facility and how many hours
or minutes the professional and non professional staff are actually
interacting or working with each resident

There are nineteen areas that a nursing home's evaluated on regarding
quality measures There is an explanation on the site of why each of
these quality indicators is important to assess when considering a
nursing home

After you have identified several nursing homes that you find
acceptable, it is time to make an actual physical visit to the
different facilities These visits will give you an opportunity to
address the quality of nursing home care provided in the facility, as
well as to determine that the facility can meet the specific needs of
your loved one

Some questions to ask regarding nursing home care for your loved one:

* Does the facility develop an individualized plan of care for
each resident?
* Are the family and resident involved in developing that plan of care?
* How often is the plan of care assessed and reevaluated?
* Are there regular and consistent assignments of certified
nursing assistants to a group of residents?
* What is the turnover rate of the CNA's at the facility?
* Are there regular professional nurses with regular assignments
to the same residents?
* What is the turnover rate of professional staff in the facility?
* What is the longevity of the staff in the building?
* Do you ever work short of staff?
* How many patients are each CNA responsible for on each shift?
* How long has the nursing home administrator and director of
nursing been with the facility? How long have they been accredited and
what is their experience level? If they are new, ask how long the
previous administration or director of nursing was in that position
* Is there a schedule for a bath or shower? Does the resident have
a choice of a bath or a shower?
* Is there an intercom or paging system used in the facility? Is
it used when the residents are sleeping in the afternoon and at night?
* Is there any accommodations made for a morning or evening
routine? This is important, because some individuals like to sleep in
and stay up late Some facilities may frown on that and insist that
the resident comply with their schedule
* How often are patients checked on if they choose to remain in
their room for the day?
* How often does the menu change for the facility?
* Are there alternative menus offered if something that is being
served is not appetizing to the resident? Is this a regular list or
does the alternatives change?
* Are snacks served or offered on a regular basis?
* Does the facility survey the families and residents on a regular
basis regarding satisfaction of services and care provided?
* What is the policy and procedure for complaints or concerns? How
are these complaints handled?
* Do they conduct a satisfaction survey of their staff to identify
and improve the work place and retain good staff?
* Are there a resident and a family council to address issues and
concerns in the building?
* What are the social and recreational activities offered?
* Are there special services such hairdresser, barber, store or
transportation services available?
* Things you want to ask other family members or residents living
in the home Tell me what you consider the best thing about your
nursing home? and
* What do you think is the most disappointing thing about this nursing home?
* Do you have any problems with things going missing at this facility?

It is very important, that no matter what star rating the nursing home
you choose has received in the past, there is always to possibility
that things can change tomorrow As a family member, it is important
to visit often and visit at different times of the day Unless you
have an appointment to take your loved one out of the facility for a
few hours, go into the facility unannounced It will give you a clear
picture of what care is being provided and how that care is being
delivered Advocating for your loved one is important to maintaining
quality care on a regular basis

For more detailed information, you may review
the_guide_to_nursing_homes you_can_find_options_for nursing homes on
Ourparents' directory




Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13502/88/Top-Questions-About-Nursing-Home-Care.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13503/88/Your-folks-are-for-sale-how-does-that-make-you-feel.html
Over the last few years, I have had a front row seat to
the whole senior care experience My mom, who had been an active and
independent senior, fell ill, and my wife Cindy and I had to step in
to take care of her
As you might expect, we went to the web for help, and found a really
fragmented and dissatisfying experience We saw lots of players
trying to carve out their own niches in the senior care market, but
each with they own agendas that were not necessarily aligned with
their customers (adult children with aging parents)
Having painfully navigated ourselves to an eventual good outcome, I
decided that my next investment thrust would be in the senior care
marketplace, and commenced to spend a bunch of time late last year in
figuring out where and how to play
1 Retirement portfolios are down 36+% over the last 12 months
2 Returns on shorter-term, lower risk investments, like municipal
bonds and treasuries, are down 70+% over the last years
3 Medicare is a trainwreck: It will pay out more in benefits than it
collects this year, and will be totally insolvent by 2017
4 Social Security is following close behind: It will start paying
out more in benefits than it collects in taxes in 2016, and the giant
trust fund will be depleted by 2037
5 The Fed's policies on the dollar (something few understand) will
lead to material inflation in the next four to five years Welcome to
the land of the $1,000 Big Mac!


- Providing as much collective intelligence about each provider as
possible (their Medicare quality info, their financial condition,
feedback from residents and families, etc )
- Finding a way to get post-decision feedback into the system There
are multiple senior sites that thought of user reviews, but the
problem is that they contain almost zero content When someone used a
site to search for care options, they rarely if ever return, once the
decision is made That is a real shame Their feedback regarding
their interaction with a provider, whether they eventual chose to go
with them or not, is a key missing piece of data today
- Advocating more fundamental care innovation For example, aging in
place (finding creative ways to allow your aging parent to live in his
or her apartment or house longer) can be a win on multiple fronts for
a family Aging in place has been shown not only to improve and
extend the quality of life for a senior, under many circumstance it
can also be much more cost effective as well A recent report by
Avalere Health has shown that home health service use saved $1 71
Billion for Medicare in 2005-2006 In addition, services ranging from
adult day care to residential area-located micro communities are great
alternatives to consider for healthier seniors We need to create
much broader awareness of these options by both the adult children and
their aging parents Care innovation is the only path forward for the
US, if we are going to deal with the upcoming explosion of demand over
the next two decades
For these reasons and more, we decided to launch OurParents (available
at www ourparents com)
Here's what we are doing at OurParents as advocates of change:
We have created a free "match com" for connecting families seeking
elder care and the care providers that can meet the family's unique
needs No more charging for leads, no commissioned sales force
driving CPA deals, no more placement of parents at less suitable
facilities just to close a deal and maximize revenues, and no more
ignoring of lower and middle income families in need We want to
provide a truly unbiased service that has the best interests of the
family in mind
When it comes to that pivotal care facility decision, we are and
always will be 100% percent on the side of the consumer It is a
fundamental founding principle for us That means showing the good
(e g , Medicare honor role recognition) as well as bad (e g , watch
list facilities, facilities facing financial problems, etc ) It also
means encouraging the full community's input (e g , better descriptive
data supplied by providers as well as consumer and local senior care
ombudsman input)
While that means finding other means of monetizing our relationships,
there are enough other ways for us to do it without having to
sacrifice our founding principles We are declaring war on the
Release 1 0 model of this industry! It may have had its place, but it
has morphed into something fundamentally flawed
This is what we are offering at www ourparents com:
1 A great database of provider information - descriptions, services,
photos, quality ratings, price info, etc for over 100,000 care
providers
2 A simple and powerful search experience, modeled after best
practices in the travel industry, allowing the consumer to trade off
cost, quality, distance and special requirements quickly and easily as
they look at available options
3 Understandable, jargon free analysis of options - this helps
address a huge issue that has crept into the industry over the years,
inhibiting the dialog that needs to occur
4 Free detailed reports about each facility - This includes access to
the Medicare star rating and detailed audit findings, community data,
assessments of nearby healthcare options, and more to help a consumer
make an informed choice
5 Tools to get help you started on the journey - The first of these
is our Care Options Advisor™, a tool that lets a person quickly and
easily describe the circumstances about their loved one (health, age,
decision priorities, etc ) and be guided to the type of care options
that make the most sense to consider We've gotten really good
initial feedback from care professionals about the tool, and we think
it a great first step for a family just beginning the search for a
care solution
6 Automated follow-up tracking with the providers you are interested
in - When you find a care provider you are interested in, you can use
OurParents to help initial the request for contact, and we'll serve as
an automated follow-up tool with providers to help ensure you get a
response in a timely manner
7 User reviews from people like you, who share their own experiences
and observations about the facilities you are comparing
8 Additional resources to aid you (articles, provider selection
checklists, etc ) ,
It is a big first step for us to help introduce change into the
system, but only our first step to help drive all that's required We
are really happy with the initial feedback from our members - it's
helped re-enforce that we are on the right path - and have used that
input to further refine our service
It is high time for change Both the adult children and the aging
parent need to much better served than they are today We look
forward to take on the challenge


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13503/88/Your-folks-are-for-sale-how-does-that-make-you-feel.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13490/88/Evaluating-In-Home-Care-Services-A-Check-List.html
The first step to choosing appropriate home care services
is to understand the types of home care providers and services
available to you There are basically two types of home care services
In-Home Care
"Skilled" Home Care Services

The first type of provider is for what they call in the industry
"skilled" needs This type of agency is usually a Medicare certified
agency and requires and order from a physician for specific needs The
services provided are intermittent and for a specific length of time,
less than 28 hours per week and not usually longer than 21 days

The care is provided by professional and licensed nurses, and
therapists The aides provided by the "skilled" home care agency must
be certified This means they have some medical training to perform
the duties required of the position

To qualify for the services of a "skilled" nursing agency, you must be
home bound and have needs such as wound care, physical, occupational
or speech therapy By Medicare definition, "homebound" means you are
not able to leave the house for any purpose other than to see you
health care provider or attend religious services In most instances,
insurance will cover 'skilled" home care services, if you qualify for
the benefits under your policy It is important to check with your
insurance carrier about any co pays for visits that you receive

"Skilled" home care services may supply an aide to come in and assist
with bathing and dressing This is generally covered by the cost of
the home care services only if it is part of the care needed and
available from the home care agency Many managed care insurance
companies will not pay for those services and therefore the home care
agency is not able to offer this service as an option

When considering a "skilled" home care agency some things to
investigate and ask:

*

Visit OurParents web site and check out the providers in your
area This will not only give you names of certified agencies in your
area, but you should be able to obtain some quality information about
the home care services in your area
*

Is the home care agency surveyed and accredited by a governing
agency such as The Joint Commission's Home Care Accreditation Program?
Many insurance companies require this accreditation for payment This
accreditation means an agency has met certain requirements with
regards to staffing, training and supervision
*

Ask to see the home care agency's survey report for health and safety
*

Ask to see the outcome studies regarding your loved one's condition
*

Most states require agencies to be licensed and reviewed
regularly These reviews may be available upon request and can be
valuable for assessing the quality of care provided by an agency
Contact your Office on Aging or your state health department for a
copy of the agency's state survey
*

Ask the agency to provide references References from doctors,
hospital discharge planners, social workers and former customers of
the agency
*

What are the credentials of the providers? Are they licensed and bonded?
*

Does the agency provide resources, such as a social worker, to
assist in obtaining financial assistance, if needed?

"Custodial" home care services

The second type of home care services is what is known in the industry
as "custodial" care This level of service provides companionship,
personal care such as bathing, dressing and light housekeeping

"Custodial" home care services are usually paid by long term care
insurance, private pay and in some instances through a Medicaid waiver
program Contact your local agency on aging to learn more if these
services are available in your area

"Custodial" home care services can be expensive, but you will find
that it is much more cost effective than other institutional
alternatives

When considering "custodial" home care services some things to
investigate and ask:

*

How long has the agency been in business?

*

Does the agency provide a written plan that details services to
be provided by each caregiver?
*

Do they provide documents about financial arrangements before
service begins? It is important so that there's no misunderstanding
about the service and cost to be provided
*

Are the providers of care, insured and bonded?
*

Is there a criminal background check preformed prior to
employment with agency?
*

Does the company provide worker's compensation for employees?
This is important so that you are not responsible for any injuries
that occur on the job
*

What procedures does the agency have for emergencies? Are
caregivers available twenty four hours a day? Is there a supervisor on
call and available to speak to on off hours and weekends?
*

Is there a policy regarding replacing a sick employee? Or an
employee that has an emergency?
*

Does the agency have a policy in place on addressing and
resolving problems? Who is the agencies main contact regarding any
requests, questions or complaints?
*

Is there a requirement that a primary family caregiver be
available as a condition of qualifying for services? If so, what are
the requirements of the family members?
*

Ask the agency to provide references References from doctors,
hospital discharge planners, social workers and former customers of
the agency
*

Is it possible to interview several potential aides and make a
selection after those interviews?
*

Who will be working in the home? Will there be regular staff
providing continuity of care? What will be their specific duties?
*

Is there a professional staff member, such as a registered
nurse, that provides a plan of care to identify the needs of the
client? How often does this supervisor review the plan of care?
*

Will the family and the client be involved in planning for care
or making changes to the care plan?

Choosing home care services can feel overwhelming and stressful For
many aging seniors, the option to remain in their home is worth the
time and energy it takes to investigate home care services To be able
to remain independent and safe, in the comfort of the familiar
surroundings is the goal of many aging seniors To feel in control of
their life and choices is invaluable Home care services make that
option possible


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13490/88/Evaluating-In-Home-Care-Services-A-Check-List.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13488/88/How-To-Have-The-Conversation-With-Your-Parents-About-The-Transition.html
For Esther Rabinowitz, one of the most difficult decisions of
her life came in the year 2001 Her mother, a sharp independent woman
of 88 years, had lived alone in Brooklyn, New York, for the majority
of her later life, but had quickly become frail Initially, walking to
and from the neighborhood bakery was quite easy, but as the years
passed, climbing the stairs to the apartment building and navigating
the busy streets became a daily battle

how to have the conversation with your parents
Unfortunately, like many adult children who face the need to move
their loved ones into an assisted living facility the words seem cold,
strange and impossible to utter

After a few months, a disturbing call came in Her 88-year-old mother
had suffered a mild heart attack and had been admitted to the
hospital Using this time wisely Rabinowitz began to share her
concerns with her mother While she thought her mother would
understand the need to move She was met with fierce resistance and
was firmly told by her mother that there was no way she would move

These are some of the most heart wrenching words the child can hear
from an elderly parent How is it possible for a child to convince
their elderly parent that it is in their best interest to move to a
long-term care facility?
The Conversation

Experts universally agree that one of the hardest decisions a child
will have to ever make is moving their parents to a nursing home or
assisted living facility The primary reason for this is, that most
seniors have an unrealistic view that they are able to care for them
self for the rest of their life In respect, this is where children or
other family members can help in identifying the problem and work
collectively to instigate change

In an effort to make this process easier, begin communicating about
the future with your parents regardless of their age By opening the
lines of communication in the early stages, words like nursing home
begin to lose their sting in future conversations Experts believe
that by laying down this communication groundwork in the early stages,
children and parents will benefit in the long run

In order to avoid these problems, it is important to have
conversations with parents about what the future will hold All too
often, experts say that children do not make it their problem and
instead make it their parents' problem By talking about it and
letting your mother or father know your concerns about them living
alone you will achieve better results than telling them what they will
or will not do

Experts agree that 9 out of 10 parents do not want to burden their
children and as a result will often respond to this honest
communication method Parents are known to hide stuff from their
children in an effort to avoid scaring their children But if their
children come across as being an advocate and showing their genuine
concern about their parents, will make making the hard decisions
easier
Dealing With a Resistant Parent

Psychologists who counsel individuals in situations of having to move
an elderly loved one, know the difficulties all too well They
however, conclude that while there are no tricks or magic strategies
in persuading an elderly loved one to move, by having children ask
their parent or loved one to indulge them in visiting an assisted
living facility, it will greatly decrease the tensions for all

When placed under duress, the majority of us will resist regardless of
how sound a plan or another person's arguments are With that said,
psychologists believe that by encouraging parents to visit assisted
living facilities they will more than likely move to a different
location and/or change their lifestyle if they feel that they have
done this on their own accord

If a loved one is refusing to even entertain the idea of moving then
psychologists suggest that the child back off and seek out other
opportunities to bring the issue up in nonconfrontational ways

In many instances, psychologists believe that things may have to get
worse before they get better It may take a parent, falling, being
spooked by burglars or even having the electricity turned off as they
simply forgot to pay the bill While this is not always the case, it
can wake up a stubborn parent who is refusing to move However, in
many cases it may also be necessary for healthcare providers or other
family members to encourage the parents to move to an assisted living
facility
Creating a Care-giving Team

The truth is that care-giving is a family responsibility and needs to
include all siblings and immediate family members such as aunts and
uncles It is important for all of these family members to address the
ailing loved ones situation, by initially coming together and
discussing the problem without the loved one being present

It is important during this meeting to address financial issues, who
will act as the elders Durable Power Of Attorney for healthcare
issues, and one individual should be delegated to make critical
decisions While experts agree that this needs to be a family
approach, they advised that one person should be the primary advocate
for the loved one in need of care This individual, regardless of who
they are needs to be able to make final decisions and act as the
Durable Power Of Attorney for health care needs

Regardless of how smooth the move of a loved one to a care facility
goes many children retain guilt for moving their parents into such a
facility Experts suggest that even though a child may have promised
their parent or loved one that they would never put them in such a
place that the decision needs to be based on what is best for the
loved one to maintain a quality of life

Probably, one of the most loving acts that children or family members
can provide their parent/s or loved one is placing them in a nursing
home or assisted living center While the quality of nursing homes
varies, they generally provide an added quality of life and loved ones
often, to their surprise, thrive within the nursing home environment


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13488/88/How-To-Have-The-Conversation-With-Your-Parents-About-The-Transition.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13487/88/Introduction-to-Medicare.html
Medicare is the federally administered health insurance
program for people sixty-five years of age and older, certain disabled
people under sixty-five years of age, and people with end-stage renal
disease Medicare is divided into four parts, known simply as Part A,
Part B, Part C and Part D

The benefits associated with Part A are free and automatic once an
individual turns sixty-five Part B is an add-on that requires a
monthly premium
Benefits:

The benefits associated with each plan are:
Part A - Hospital Insurance

* Inpatient hospital care
* Skilled nursing care
* Hospice care
* Home health care (with certain restrictions)

Part B - Medical Insurance (Medicare Supplemental Insurance)

* Doctors
* Services
* Outpatient hospital care
* Durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hospital beds
* Additional medical services not covered by Part A

Part C-Medicare Advantage

* Medical savings accounts
* Coordinated care plans—private health care plans provided by
preferred HMOs, POSs, PPOs and PSOs

Part D-Prescription Drug Coverage

* Individual plans are available through Medicare-contracted
insurance companies


Eligibility and Qualifications:

Medicare is provided when Social Security benefits begin, unless the
individual is under sixty-five years of age and disabled or has
end-stage renal disease, in which case it is provided at that time
Individuals who are entitled to Part A and enrolled in Part B are
eligible to switch to Part C
Detailed information:

There are several ways to pay for nursing home facility care These
include Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance policies,
veterans benefits, and private funding Initially, many nursing home
facilities are covered by Medicare, after which your options are
long-term care insurance policies private payment or a combination of
all You should carefully read the description of all available
reimbursements
Medicare
What can you expect for Medicare coverage?

* The first 20 days are covered in any Medicare approved skilled
nursing facility
* For the days 21 through 100 Medicare will pay all covered
services The exception to this is a coinsurance that is adjustable
annually in 2008 was $128
* Doctors' visits
* Nursing care
* Semiprivate room rates
* All meals (including special diets)
* Physical, occupational and speech therapies
* Lab and X-ray services
* Prosthetic devices
* Prescription drugs
* Some medical supplies and equipment

Conditions and Limitations

* Medicare has strict coverage limitations for skilled nursing facilities
* Not including the day of discharge, the beneficiary must be in
the hospital for 3 continuous days
* An individual must be admitted to the nursing facility within 30
days of their hospital discharge
* Treatment must be similar nature to that which was treated at
the hospital
* Daily nursing or rehabilitation services are required
* There must be a determination that only inpatient services will
be sufficient
* In addition to a doctor, specifying daily nursing services They
must also recertify at intervals of 5 days and 14 days after
admission In addition to that the doctor must recertify the need for
daily nursing services every 30 days thereafter
* In addition to Doctor recertification of the need for services
Medicare will also have to review and approve the need for nursing
services
* Lastly, they must be in nursing care for 100 days or less, and
Medicare will also have to approve the length of stay A 100 day stay
is not automatically granted under the Medicare system

If you're using Medicare as your primary funding source, you should
use that criteria when searching the OurParents Directory This will
ensure that you review only nursing home that are Medicare certified
Managed-care
What Is Covered?

While typically excluding the prior hospital stay requirement,
managed-care typically covers all the same items that Medicare does
Typically there is a copayment charge, that is half of the costs
during the 21 through 100 day stay
Conditions and Limitations

Residents need to receive authorization from their insurance company,
and the facility must be Medicare certified
Medicaid

Participants using the Medicaid service must pay a portion of their
nursing care costs with any Social Security benefits they receive
What Is Covered?

In most cases, an individual would need assistance with at least two
activities and Medicaid would cover all the costs of nursing and
medical equipment that a doctor may deem necessary

In addition, Medicaid will cover the holding of a bed for a for a
select amount of time usually one to two-week period if a resident is
requiring temporary hospital care

Also to allow visits with family or friends, and absence of 18 days
per year is covered
Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI)
What Is Covered?

LTCI usually only cover facility care, but is dependent on individual
policies If you have LTCI, you should consult your policy or your
insurance agent
An overview of which facilities are covered by Medicare/Medicaid


How to find a nursing home?

You can use the OurParents directory search on our site to find
nursing homes in your area We recommendt that you make use of the
OurParents Care Options Advisor™ to get better options for your needs


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13487/88/Introduction-to-Medicare.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13486/88/What-Assistance-Is-Available-To-Help-Pay-For-Care.html
Paying for Senior Care is a very important issue that every
family needs to deal with There are many financial questions that
need to be answered, as part of the overall search for the best
solution for your loved one

* How much money does the parent have saved for retirement?
* Are there assets that can be used towards senior care costs?
* What do Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap pay for, and does my
loved one qualify?
* Do you have long-term care insurance and if so - what does it cover?
* Do you have, or should you get Medicare Supplemental insurance?
* Do we need to hire a financial advisor, and if so - how?
* What about a will?
* Who pays for geriatric care services?
* What will my VA benefits cover?
* Does Your State Accept Medicaid for Assisted Living Facilities?
* How much do the various facility types cost? And what are the
differences? When searching for facilities on OurParents, make sure
that you look at the starting prices when comparing facilities
* Is it more expensive to go to an assisted living facility or is
it better to stay at home and provide In-home care?

Planning for long-term care is complicated Each person's needs are
unique; therefore, the cost of long-term care varies greatly Some
social and physical assistance is available for free or at a low cost,
while very expensive nursing home or home health services can cost
upwards of $200 per day There are many different ways to finance
long-term care You will probably need to use a combination of payment
sources, which may include Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care
insurance and other programs, in addition to your own resources
It is recommended that you consult a professional such as an elder
law attorney, financial planner or an accountant when planning for
long-term care; this person should be well versed in estate planning,
public programs like Medicaid, and the issues and needs of older
persons
Here are many of the options that may be available to you to help pay
for senior care:
Medicare, which for long-term care, covers some skilled nursing care
either in a nursing home or in the home along with hospice care
Medicaid, the partially federally funded, but state-operated program
provides medical care for certain low-income individuals and families
who have limited resources Medicaid usually covers nursing home care,
but in some states funding is available for assisted living, homecare
or home health care
Medicare A & B enrollees who are not Medicaid recipients can sign up
for and covers some nursing home care
Managed Care (HMO) provide enhanced services for nursing home care
above Medicare's basic offering along with additional medical
assistance outside of long-term care
Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) can cover anything from non-medical
homecare to nursing care; however, it depends on the type of policy
you purchased
Veterans Benefits will cover adult day health care, home health care,
respite care and hospice care
Managed Care (HMO) provide enhanced services for nursing home care
above Medicare's basic offering along with additional medical
assistance outside of long-term care
Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) can cover anything from non-medical
homecare to nursing care; however, it depends on the type of policy
you purchased
Veterans Benefits will cover adult day health care, home health care,
respite care and hospice care
Managed Care (HMO) provide enhanced services for nursing home care
above Medicare's basic offering along with additional medical
assistance outside of long-term care
Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) can cover anything from non-medical
homecare to nursing care; however, it depends on the type of policy
you purchased
Veterans Benefits will cover adult day health care, home health care,
respite care and hospice care

Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13486/88/What-Assistance-Is-Available-To-Help-Pay-For-Care.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13485/88/What-Are-The-Different-Care-Options-And-When-Are-They-Viable-For-Consideration.html
There are many options out there but not all of them may be
viable for your particular situations Finding the best care option is
not a simple task With so many senior housing options available, it's
easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the different kinds of
communities
It's important to understand the differences between the many
solutions that are out there so you can make the right choice for your
loved one
There are 4 high level categories of solutions available to you:

* In-Home Care
* Senior Community
* Senior Care such as Assisted Living or Nursing Homes
* Alternative Micro Communities

Based on the health of your loved one, there maybe a need to choose
solutions that provide Alzheimer's Care, or in certain situation a
Hospice maybe the best solution
We'll start by explaining what these options represent, or you can use
the OurParents Care Options Advisor™ to help you better understand
your options

In Home Care
This is a good solution for seniors who can take stay at home, and
receive applicable care in their own home Care could be Home Health
Care (medical,) i e doctor-prescribed provided by skilled personnel
such as nurses or physical and occupational therapists, or
Intermediate Care (non medical) such as transportation assistance,
help with meals, light chores, companionship, etc
Home Health Care ("Skilled Home Care Services")
Home health care agencies provide in-home skilled nursing and other
home health care services, such as physical therapy and occupational
therapy Home health care agencies are licensed by the state, but must
adhere to federal regulations as well Home health must be prescribed
by a physician Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses
(LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide the care,
sometimes in conjunction with other health professionals These
providers may also enlist the assistance of a home health aide who can
help with personal care such as bathing and using the toilet Home
health aides can also administer medication under the supervision of a
nurse
Intermediate Care ("Custodial Home Care Services")
This is a type of in-home nonmedical care provided in the home It
includes custodial care and assistance with activities of daily living
(ADLs) such as eating, bathing and providing medication reminders
Homecare workers are professionally trained caregivers who provide
companionship and are responsible for maintaining a safe environment
for the person receiving care
Payment & costs:

Usually paid for privately, although some medical services are covered
by Medicaid The prices vary, and are usually an hourly fee

For more detailed information, you may review Evaluating In-Home Care
Services: A Check List You can find options for in-home care
providers in the Ourparents' directory
Senior Communities (Independent Living / Retirement Communities)
Senior Communities are for seniors who can take care of themselves but
just need someone who will check-in with them sparingly through out
the week This looking after takes place in one's home or apartment, a
retirement community, or there are independent living apartments
Congregate Care
This is very similar to independent living complexes It has the
aspects of community environment, with one or more meals per day
prepared and served in a community dinning hall Transportation,
pools, a convenience store, bank, barber/beauty shop, resident
laundry, housekeeping, and security, are all services and amenities
that may be provided there
Payment & costs:
Usually paid for privately, although some services are covered by
Medicaid The prices vary between $1,500-$3,000 per month depending on
level of care
For more detailed information, you may review Senior Communities You
can find options for Senior Communities on Ourparents' directory
Assisted Living Facility
Usually paid for privately, although some services are covered by
Medicaid The prices vary between $2,000-$4,000 per month depending on
level of care Alzheimer's Care would range from $2,500 to $4,500 for
a shared suite
For more detailed information, you may review How To Choose An
Assisted Living Facility You can find options for assisted living in
the Ourparents' directory
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are often known as are traditional nursing facilities
They provide medical nursing service for seniors with serious
illnesses or disabilities twenty-four hours a day The state and
federal governments have to license these facilities in order for them
to provide by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and
certified nurse aids


Can be paid for privately, but often covered by Medicare or Medicaid
The prices vary between $4,000-$8,000 per month depending on level of
care
For more detailed information, you may review The Guide To Nursing
Homes You can find options for nursing homes in the Ourparents'
directory

Alzheimer's Care
Alzheimer's Care facilities are for senior who require special care
due to dementia They are often set with special safeguards for
wandering and caregivers are trained in handling dementia behaviors
Alzheimer's Care is delivered in assisted living settings and in
nursing homes
Payment & costs:
Can be paid for privately, but often covered by edicaid The prices
vary between $3,000-$7,000 per month
For more detailed information, you may review the Guide To Alzheimer's
disease You can find options for facilities with Alzheimer's Care in
the Ourparents' directory
Micro Community
A Micro community is a category that encompasses various types of
smaller senior communities They are known by different names and are
often referred to as residential care homes, adult family homes,
personal care homes, adult foster homes, group homes, or board and
care homes Typically they all have the same things in common: they
provide care for seniors in a homelike setting that's very much like a
family They may serve as a good solution for your loved one
Adult Day Care
Adult Day Health Care
Like adult day care, adult day health care provides a safe, caring
setting for adults who require supervision or care during the day
Adult day health programs are designed for individuals who require a
more skilled level of care These programs offer medical services,
like rehabilitation, therapy, nursing care and special nutrition The
programs are structured and designed, often through the development of
a personal care plan, to cover the daily individual needs of each
participant Participants of adult day health care require some health
care, unlike adult day care participants
Payment & costs:
Usually paid for privately, although some services are covered by
Medicaid The prices vary between $2,500-$4,500 per month for a shared
suite
For more detailed information, you may review Evaluating A Micro
Community (Residential Care Facility) A Check List You can find
options for Micro Communities in the Ourparents' directory


Hospice Care
Hospice care is an infusion of home care and facility care provided to
benefit terminally ill patients and support their families through
their tough times For more detailed information, you may review The
Role Of Hospice In Elder Healthcare You can find options for hospice
care in the Ourparents' directory


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13485/88/What-Are-The-Different-Care-Options-And-When-Are-They-Viable-For-Consideration.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13484/88/How-Do-I-Begin-The-Search-For-Care-Options.html
Caring for elderly parents is something that many of us who
are over 50 have to undertake We are all living longer now and,
therefore, more people over 50 have living parents and many of those
parents either require care now or will do in the future Some
organizations and individuals advocate the "70/40 Rule " That is, when
your parent is 70 or older, and you are 40 or older, it is time to
start thinking and have conversations about the subject

Sometimes there is a specific event, like an illness, an injury, that
trigger the beginning of the discussion, and sometime it is the onset
of symptoms of aging, whether physical or mental, that causes us to
start considering the options for our loved ones

It is always best to be able to think and plan for the future when
time is abundant, and there is no immediate crisis Whilst it
shouldn't be something that we worry unduly about before the event, to
the possible detriment of our own enjoyment of later life, neither is
it something that we can totally ignore Like anything else, a bit of
forward planning will make life much easier if and when the time
comes Also, if we have thought about it and planned for it in a calm
and considered way, then it won't be so traumatic when it happens
This will actually help us to find better solutions and therefore be
happier with the outcome

The fact that you are here at OurParents means that you are trying to
understand your options, and we would like to assist you in the
deliberation
Before you begin the search there are five major areas that you should
be thinking of:

1 First and foremost is your loved ones age & health How mobile
is she? Is her memory functioning well? What is her ability to take
care of herself on a daily basis and how independent is she? Does she
require any special care ? These issues will determine the breadth of
the options available to you Anywhere from staying at home and
receiving in-home care to moving to a nursing home, would depend
mainly on her health and mental ability
2 You need to consider the financial situation What is your loved
ones ability to pay for care? Are there any savings or other assets
that have been made available for this purpose? Are there any long
term care insurance in place? You need to understand, as this would be
a critical factor in your decision as to what care options are
available to you You also need to understand, what are the government
aids available to you to assist with the financial burden? Are Veteran
options applicable? What does Medicare cover and is your loved one
eligible?
3 You also need to understand your family's situation and its
willingness to support your loved one on this journey Who will be the
primary caregiver? Is it just yourself? Are siblings or other family
members, willing and able to assist?
4 Another consideration is your parent's emotional readiness for
the transition Do you know whether a move will prove to be a big
issue for them, and they will fight it, or are they ready for the
change, and accept it as a necessary move? Have you had "the
conversation" yet? Do you know what to expect or are you in for a
surprise reaction?
5 Last but not least to consider is location Would you be looking
for a place in the vicinity of your loved one's current home? Would it
make more sense to move closer to yourself or to another sibling?
Perhaps it makes sense to move a warmer climate?

Having good answers to these questions will help you better assess
your options and assess your alternatives that generally fall under
the following 3 categories:

* Staying in their own home, or staying with you with various
possibilities for in-home care
* Moving to a Senior Community
* Moving to an Assisted Living Community or Nursing Home, be it a
traditional one or an alternate Micro Community

At OurParents, we have devised the ground-breaking Care Options
Advisor™ to help you assess and prioritize your options We recommend
that you make it a starting point for your search


Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13484/88/How-Do-I-Begin-The-Search-For-Care-Options.html http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13489/88/Evaluating-A-Micro-Community-Residential-Care-Facility-A-Check-List.html
A residential care facility is an option for some
individuals that require assistance or supervision, but do not care to
be part of a larger community, such as most assisted living facilities
offer A residential care home usually is a home in a neighbor or
community that provides service to as few as two seniors to ten
individuals at one time The limit for the number of individuals in
each home is governed by each state
Micro Communities, Residential Care Facility
Once called boarding homes, residential care facilities provide non
medical care services The services offered may vary from assistance
with bathing, dressing, toileting, cooking, and money and medication
management All this is provided in a small and intimate home like
setting
There are presently no federal regulations for residential care
facilities, so each facility can vary, as far as the clientele that
they will be providing services and care When looking for a
residential care facility try to take into consideration the
environment your aging loved one was living in and try to mirror that
environment for placement in a residential care facility Some
facilities are small and modest while others a very plush and have
more amenities, such as a pool, whirlpool and activities room
In some facilities, the boarders or residents live with the family
that is providing the care In other facilities, there is staff that
comes and goes There is someone available to oversee and provide
safety around the clock The staff available is not usually a
professional nurse, but a home health aide Some facilities have a
professional nurse overseeing several buildings and supervising the
aides
When looking for a residential care facility, it is important to
consider the present and potential future health care needs of the
aging senior If this is an individual that needs some assistance and
companionship, but has not medical requirements, then a residential
care facility may be the answer
It is important to consider the social and recreational needs of the
aging senior Some individuals are happy to be in a small environment
and are able to entertain themselves Some individuals require
interaction and stimulation and the company of others This is
important when considering a residential care facility Most do not
provide any kind of social or recreational activities
When considering a residential care facility, it is important to
investigate each potential facility thoroughly Some states require
licensing and are regulated by the state If your state regulates
residential care facilities, they must be surveyed on a regular basis
Contact your area agency on aging for a copy of the state survey The
facility should be able to provide you with this information, as well

Here is a checklist of things to observe when visiting a potential facility:

* Ask about the experience level of the staff and owner Ask for
references from previous residents that have lived at the facility
* Ask for professional references, such as physicians, discharge
planners, religious leaders and community leaders that have
recommended or know some one that has lived at the facility
* Discussing finances Ask for a fee schedule Are there any extra
charges that will be added to the monthly fee?
* If you have long term care insurance, will the facility bill the
client or the insurance company?
* Does the facility accept Medicaid as payment? Is there a
specific amount of time that out of pocket expenses are to be paid
before Medicaid is available?
* Are there transportation services available for doctor
appointments, going to church, or shopping? Is there a fee for those
services?
* Do the present individuals living at the home looked cared for and clean?
* Do they look happy?
* Is the building clean and well maintained?
* Do any of the rooms have a bad odor?
* Are the caregivers interacting positively with the present residents?
* Are the residents treated with dignity and respect?
* Is each resident's privacy protected when receiving care?
* What is the staff to resident ratio?
* Is there an RN on staff? Does that individual cover several
buildings or just one? How often does the RN see the residents?
* If there is no RN available to oversee the residents at all
times, is there an RN consultant that oversees the care on a regular
basis? What are the specific days and times of coverage for the RN?
* Who supervises the care provided by the aides?
* Is there regular staff to provide continuity of care?
* Does the facility make doctor appointments, order medication
refills and provide case management services for the residents?
* What is the process for the family to communicate with the staff
regarding questions or concerns?
* Are there accommodations made for meals, such as are there food
options available to allow the resident to choose from?
* Are pets accepted, if the resident can provide the care for the pet?
* Is spending money managed by the staff, when the resident is not
able to handle money? What system is in place to keep track of those
finances?
* Is there a security system in place in the facility? What type
of monitoring system is in place to keep wandering or confused
resident safe?



Choosing the right residential care facility takes time and research
Once you have decided on several facilities that meet you or your
aging seniors needs, it is time to revisit the facilities unannounced
and at different times of the day and evening This is going to be
your loved one's home, so choosing the right place can give you and
your aging senior peace of mind and the ability to age in a home
setting

Albert Simpson has been actively involved in OurParents - Find the Best Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and In-Home Care - and is very keen to continue working on it. ]]> http://www.morefreeinformation.com/Art/13489/88/Evaluating-A-Micro-Community-Residential-Care-Facility-A-Check-List.html