INSIGHTS FOR CAREGIVERS

"Long-term care" means helping people of any age with their medical needs or daily activities over a long period of time. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities. This blog deals mainly with older people who need long-term care. However, the imformation also may be useful for younger people with disabilities or illness that require long-term care. When you look for long-term care, it is important to remember that quality varies from one place or caregiver to anothe. It is also important to think about long-term care before a crisis occurs. Making long-term care decisions can be hard even when planned well in advance.

Look for long-term care that:

1. Has been found by State agencies, accreditors, or others to provide quality care

2. Has the services you need

3. Has staff that meet your needs

4. Meets your budget

Research shows that many people do not know about or understand long-term care options. Following are brief descriptions of the major types of long-term care:

1. HOME CARE - can be given in your own home by family members, friends, volunteers, and/or paid professionals. This type of care can range from help with shopping to nursing care. Some short-term, skilled home care is covered by Medicare and is called "home health care." Another type of care that can be given at home is hospice care for terminally ill people.

2. COMMUNITY SERVICES - are support services that can include adult day care, meal programs, senior centers, transportation, and other services. These can help people who are cared for at home-and their families. For example, adult day care services provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during the day. This can help adults with impairmants - such as Alzheimer's disease - live in the community. It can give family or friend caregivers a needed "break."

3. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS - Offer low-cost housing to older people with low to moderate incomes. The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and State or local governments often develop such housing programs. A number of these facilities offer help with meals and tasks such as housekeeping, shopping, and laundry. Residents generally live in their own apartments.

4. ASSISTED LIVING - Provide 24-hour supervision, assistance, meals, and health care services in a home-like setting. Services include help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, taking medicine, transportation, laundry, and housekeeping. Social and recreational activities are also provided.

5. CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES (CCRCs) - Provide a full range of services and care based on what each resident needs over time. Care is usually provided in one of three main stages: independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.

6. NURSING HOMES - Offer care to people who cannot be cared for at home or in the community. They provide skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, meals, activities, help with daily living, and supervision. Many nursing homes also offer temporary or periodic care. This can be instead of hospital care, after hospital care, or to give family or friend caregivers some time off (respite care).

HOW WILL I PAY FOR THESE SERVICES?

Long-term care can be very expensive. In general health plans and programs do not routinely cover long-term care at home or in nursing homes. Here is some general information about long-term care coverage:

1. MEDICARE - is the Federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older and for some disabled younger people. Medicare generally does not pay for long-term help with daily activities. Medicare pays for very limited skilled nursing home care after a hospital stay. If you need skilled care in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury, and you meet certain conditions, Medicare will pay for some of the costs of nursing care, home health aide services, and different types of therapy.

2. MEDICAID - is a Federal-State program that pays for health services and long-term care for low income people of any age. The exact rules for who is covered vary by State. Medicaid covers nursing home care for people who are eligible. In some states, Medicaid also pays for some home and community services.

3. PRIVATE INSURANCE - Medicare beneficiaries may supplement their policy with insurance purchased from private organizations. Most of thes policies, often called Medigap insurance, will help pay for some skilled care, but only when that care is covered by Medicare. Medigap is not long-term care insurance. Commercial insurers offer private policies called long-term care insurance. These policies may cover services such as care at home, in adult day care, in assisted living facilities, and in nursing homes. Plans vary widely. If you have such a policy, ask your insurer what it covers. If you think you may need long-term care insurance, start shopping while you are relatively young and healthy, and shop carefully.

4. PERSONAL RESOURCES - You may need to use resources such as savings or life insurance to pay for long-term care. Most people who enter nursing homes begin by paying out of their own pockets. As their personal resources are spent, many people who stay in nursing homes for a long time eventually become eligible for Medicaid.

source: www.webmd.com