One of the questions I often hear is - what are long term care services? The easy answer is the help individuals receive with eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring, and incontinence when they are unable to perform these day to day life activities independently. This type of help is often called custodial care and it is expected to be required for a prolonged period (90 days or more).
These services are not connected to recovering from an acute situation where they are improving following an accident or sickness.
Where are long term care services received?
+ In their home is the most common location, by far, and it's where people want to be. When a person first needs assistance it is usually non medical such as from a Homemaker, sometimes called a Companion. Homemaker's help around the house, prepare meals, etc. perhaps every couple days. Another kind of non medical assistance would be provided by a Home Health Aide who provides the person substantial assistance with two or more ADLs. The next level is medical related help, which could be provided periodically or around the clock. These individual have more training. The highest level of home based help is to have an RN provide more complex assistance. These services support what is often call the desire for people to - age in place.
+ Adult Day services are growing in popularity. The individual goes, during the day, to a center and receives health and therapeutic services. Individuals in these programs benefit from interacting with others in a group environment. This is a good option to give the regular care giver some rest or time to go to work. Some Adult Day service providers have transportation to take individuals to and from their home.
+ Assisted living is an excellent choice when a person needs more extensive help and can no longer live independently. They have a private room, receive meals in a common area, and have access to a range of services. One big value to the individual in Assisted Living is socializing, which improves quality of life and makes them quite popular. Safety is also an important advantage to family members in this transition since they know help is there if a person falls or has a sudden illness.
+ When more complex medical services are needed, such as around the clock nursing, they can be provided in a nursing home.
Note: Long Term Care services are not just used by people in their later years. Over 40 percent of those now using these services are between 18 and 64!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Look again at paying long term care services yourself
It's human nature for many people to react - I won't need long term care services. In this discussion a year or so ago many may have commented - If I do need a little help I'll just pay for it myself.
Times they are a changing thus there are a couple things to keep in mind today:
+ The cost of long term care services here in Connecticut continues to increases. More details on costs in Connecticut are on this page.
+ The rainy day fund many people put away in some type of investment is now significantly less because of the current economic situation.
Thus, service costs continue to go up and funds, that could pay for some services, have gone down.
Consequently, Long Term Care insurance is now even more effective as the best way to prepare for the big risk of having a Life Happens situation and a resulting need for on going assistance. Paying pennies on the dollar to buy protection for your family and yourself from this big exposure is a smart move.
Times they are a changing thus there are a couple things to keep in mind today:
+ The cost of long term care services here in Connecticut continues to increases. More details on costs in Connecticut are on this page.
+ The rainy day fund many people put away in some type of investment is now significantly less because of the current economic situation.
Thus, service costs continue to go up and funds, that could pay for some services, have gone down.
Consequently, Long Term Care insurance is now even more effective as the best way to prepare for the big risk of having a Life Happens situation and a resulting need for on going assistance. Paying pennies on the dollar to buy protection for your family and yourself from this big exposure is a smart move.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The value to you of Long Term Care insurance
Sometimes hearing stories from people who benefited from a product or service is a good way to understand it's value.
The health insurance industry company association web site does that. It's an informative site - MyLifeMyFamily - with some short videos highlighting the value of Long Term Care insurance to four individuals.
The site also has informative information on Long Term Care insurance. Take a look!
Let me know if it is useful.
The health insurance industry company association web site does that. It's an informative site - MyLifeMyFamily - with some short videos highlighting the value of Long Term Care insurance to four individuals.
The site also has informative information on Long Term Care insurance. Take a look!
Let me know if it is useful.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thinking about who pays for long term care services
The National Care Planning Council, (www.longtermcarelink.net) in a recent article, “Misconceptions about Who Pays for Long Term Care” indicates:
+ “A large majority of the American public still believes that the government will provide long term care when needed. It is this misconception that most likely prevents people from doing any planning at a younger age for the future need for care.
+ Then too, “many people believe they can give away assets prior to the need for long term care and qualify for Medicaid.” The Council suggests this belief prevents people from considering other ways to fund the cost of future care.
An important question about the idea of having the government pay is then raised. “Why go
through the expense and effort of trying to manipulate the system to get welfare care, when a little preplanning at an earlier age would be a better option?”
The articles final point is quite important. “When people understand the limitations of relying on government programs they are most likely to be more motivated to plan for the future by making provisions in advance and providing advance funding to pay for care. Prior planning also
allows people to have a choice in their care setting and in the type of services they receive.”
More information on the most effective way to pay for needed long term care services can be found at – www.LongTermCareIns-CT.com
+ “A large majority of the American public still believes that the government will provide long term care when needed. It is this misconception that most likely prevents people from doing any planning at a younger age for the future need for care.
+ Then too, “many people believe they can give away assets prior to the need for long term care and qualify for Medicaid.” The Council suggests this belief prevents people from considering other ways to fund the cost of future care.
An important question about the idea of having the government pay is then raised. “Why go
through the expense and effort of trying to manipulate the system to get welfare care, when a little preplanning at an earlier age would be a better option?”
The articles final point is quite important. “When people understand the limitations of relying on government programs they are most likely to be more motivated to plan for the future by making provisions in advance and providing advance funding to pay for care. Prior planning also
allows people to have a choice in their care setting and in the type of services they receive.”
More information on the most effective way to pay for needed long term care services can be found at – www.LongTermCareIns-CT.com
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Some big numbers and what they mean to Long Term Care
A recent report from the Social Security and Medicare Trust Fund indicates Social Security is under funded by $16 trillion and Medicare is $85 trillion in the hole. Kind of hard to think about numbers like that isn’t it?
Steve Moses of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Inc., an organization I support, summarized what this under funding really means to how most Long Term Care is currently paid in a recent eMail note. He stated the deficit:
“Will sink Medicaid LTC. That means most Americans will have to pay for their own long-term care in the future. Medicaid will no longer remain the principal LTC payor for the middle class and affluent.”
He expanded on this and indicated today:
“People on Medicaid have to contribute their income toward their cost of care. Social Security is a big part of the income of old people on Medicaid. So, when Social Security has to cut back, Medicaid LTC will lose a major source of funding.
Medicare doesn't pay for LTC but it does fund 17 percent of nursing home expenditures and 38 percent of home health expenditures. And it pays generously. That's what keeps nursing homes and home health agencies afloat financially despite dismally inadequate Medicaid reimbursements. So, when Medicare has to cut back, Medicaid LTC will be devastated.”
Medicaid for many years has been paying not only all medical related costs for the indigent but also long term care costs for many others. Thus, when Social Security and Medicare reduce their funding, which they will have to, what will happen? Steve's note answered this and stated:
“Medicaid LTC will collapse. That means most American's, all but the poorest of the poor, will have to pay for their own LTC in the future.
In other words, the idea that people must buy LTC insurance to avoid catastrophic LTC spend down which was only a myth up to now will become the reality of the future.”
More insights from Steve can be found on the Centers web site.
http://www.centerltc.com/
Steve Moses of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Inc., an organization I support, summarized what this under funding really means to how most Long Term Care is currently paid in a recent eMail note. He stated the deficit:
“Will sink Medicaid LTC. That means most Americans will have to pay for their own long-term care in the future. Medicaid will no longer remain the principal LTC payor for the middle class and affluent.”
He expanded on this and indicated today:
“People on Medicaid have to contribute their income toward their cost of care. Social Security is a big part of the income of old people on Medicaid. So, when Social Security has to cut back, Medicaid LTC will lose a major source of funding.
Medicare doesn't pay for LTC but it does fund 17 percent of nursing home expenditures and 38 percent of home health expenditures. And it pays generously. That's what keeps nursing homes and home health agencies afloat financially despite dismally inadequate Medicaid reimbursements. So, when Medicare has to cut back, Medicaid LTC will be devastated.”
Medicaid for many years has been paying not only all medical related costs for the indigent but also long term care costs for many others. Thus, when Social Security and Medicare reduce their funding, which they will have to, what will happen? Steve's note answered this and stated:
“Medicaid LTC will collapse. That means most American's, all but the poorest of the poor, will have to pay for their own LTC in the future.
In other words, the idea that people must buy LTC insurance to avoid catastrophic LTC spend down which was only a myth up to now will become the reality of the future.”
More insights from Steve can be found on the Centers web site.
http://www.centerltc.com/
Monday, April 7, 2008
Connecticut faces big shortage of nurses
The Connecticut Commission on Aging reported in early March 2008 that over the next 15 years or so the demand for long term care services is expected to rise by 30 percent.
During the same time, according to the Commission's Executive Director, "Connecticut is expected to face one of the worst nursing shortages in the nation and that shortage is expected to reach crisis proportions quickly."
In addition, the Commission indicated the state is already short about 10,000 nurses.
What can be done? One step is to buy Long Term Care insurance. You will not become a burden on family members when on going long term care services are needed but more importantly you will have money to pay for these hard to find professionals.
During the same time, according to the Commission's Executive Director, "Connecticut is expected to face one of the worst nursing shortages in the nation and that shortage is expected to reach crisis proportions quickly."
In addition, the Commission indicated the state is already short about 10,000 nurses.
What can be done? One step is to buy Long Term Care insurance. You will not become a burden on family members when on going long term care services are needed but more importantly you will have money to pay for these hard to find professionals.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Conn General Assembly considering an incentive to purchase Long Term Care insurance
The Connecticut General Assembly, in session until early May, is considering legislation that would authorize the state to provide an incentive to individuals who buy Long Term Care insurance.
If approved the incentive, perhaps $500, would be provided through the Connecticut income tax system.
Connecticut residents who know their state legislators, State Senator and State Representative, are encouraged to contact them and ask for support in establishing an incentive for the purchase of Long Term Care insurance.
If approved the incentive, perhaps $500, would be provided through the Connecticut income tax system.
Connecticut residents who know their state legislators, State Senator and State Representative, are encouraged to contact them and ask for support in establishing an incentive for the purchase of Long Term Care insurance.
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