Archive for the ‘Long-Term Care Insurance’ Category

Getting to Know: Geriatric Care Managers

Posted on: April 2nd, 2012 by aagingbetter

Are you in charge of your loved one’s care?  Managing finances and hiring new services to make living at home possible for aging or frail elderly relatives can be overwhelming for most family members. Many simply don’t know where to turn to seek advice or find a supportive advocate for their aging loved one.  Professional geriatric care managers (GCMs) are an excellent resource in these situations.  GCMs work with families to design and manage a care plan that suits each senior with services such as:

  • Care planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance, such as Medicaid or possibly Medicare, if the individual’s physician orders specific Medicare-covered home services.
  • Mediation between siblings or family members who cannot agree on the type of care the loved one needs or should have.  Unfortunately, this type of situation is not uncommon among family members with strong opinions about their parent or loved one.
  • Communication and coordination efforts across all medical and other care providers.  A good example of this would be coordinating appointments between doctor’s offices, physical therapists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, social workers, etc.
  • Act as a liaison for families at a distance, reporting back with any adjustments in care or financial issues.  When a son or daughter is trying to set up home care or other appointments from another state, a GCM can be invaluable in coordinating much of that work for the son or daughter and then reporting the results back to him or her.
  • Client and family education on management of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, heart disease and diabetes.
  • Information on costs, quality and availability of local resources, connecting to specialists when needed or helping family members make a determination of which agency or resource to use based on ratings, reputation or performance feedback.
  • Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help or other services.
  • Containing costs by avoiding inappropriate placements in such institutions as Assisted Living Facilities, nursing homes, etc., or duplication of services, and crisis intervention to avoid hospitalizations.

Payment for geriatric care management services is generally out of pocket, invoiced by the hour or by the project.  These types of services are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or most private health insurance policies.  However, some services may be billable to long-term care insurance if the loved one has such a policy.  In that case, the insurance representative that sold the policy to the parent or loved one would be able to tell the family member exactly what the policy covers and what it doesn’t when it comes to in-home care.  Checking with this individual first before making too many decisions for a parent or frail relative could save the family a lot of money out of their own pockets.  Insurance policies seldom pay after the fact.  All services must be pre-approved by the insurance company before any in-home services are started.

If you are concerned about the care of a loved one, or would just like further information on geriatric care managers in our area, contact us online or call us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Hayden or Post Falls (Main Office) area; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River area; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst area.  We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and all five North Idaho counties.

 

How to Finance Long-Term Care

Posted on: February 6th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Care coordination can often feel like a juggling act.   Coordinating long-term care means taking into consideration many aspects, like care in the home care, medical care or necessary home modifications.  But if you are in the midst of coordinating care for yourself or a loved one, one of the most important items on your checklist should be financial planning.  Many people are confused as to what certain services cost and what is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or Long-Term Care insurance, which can lead to having insufficient funds for care needs.  Including financial planning in your long-term care planning will protect your retirement assets, reduce your dependency on family members or others, and help control what kind of care you receive.

Home care agencies, like AAging Better In-Home Care of North Idaho, are valuable resources to use when planning your finances because agencies such as ours can help you address what services are covered under different programs like Medicare and Medicaid.  When discussing financial planning with a home care agency be sure to:

  • Ask that they go over the various payment options.  Many people dealing with long-term care for the first time are under the impression that Medicare or Medicaid will cover the costs of all their care—which is not accurate in many circumstances.  Companies such as AAging Better In-Home Care can direct you toward the different governmental agencies that can help you begin the process of creating realistic financial plans for in-home care.
  • Ask about state programs.  Many states have special programs that offer funding to those with special needs and require home care.  Home care agencies know their state’s programs and should be able to identify if you or your loved one qualify for any special funding.  In some circumstances, these programs are available to residents regardless of income level.
  • Ask what can be covered by your insurance.  Some insurance plans include long-term care policies, which can subsidize the policy holder’s home care costs.

For more information about financial planning for your long-term care, contact AAging Better In-Home Care online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

Options for In-Home Care

Posted on: January 2nd, 2012 by aagingbetter

The choices for in-home care are virtually limitless; there are several different models and payment options depending on the type and amount of care an individual or a loved one requires.  So how do you know what kind of care is right for you or your relative?  Some of the main models of in-home care providers include:

  • Private Duty Care: Private duty services are typically “non-medical” services that include housekeeping, transportation, laundry, meal preparation, shopping for groceries or personal care services, such as assistance with dressing, bathing or grooming.  It can also include care of those with dementia, like Alzheimer’s, or respite care for those family caregivers that need a little time away from caring for their loved one.  Private duty care services are usually paid for directly by the client or his or her family.  Some services may be covered by long-term care insurance, workers’ compensation, or armed services (Veterans Affairs) funding. An important thing to note, however, is that private duty services are not covered by Medicare.  Private duty may be covered by Idaho’s Medicaid Program but the individual would have to contact the Eligibility Department in Coeur d’Alene to determine if they qualified for Medicaid services.  It’s usually a fairly long process to become approved.

  • Home Health Care: Home health care is skilled nursing care that is usually required in the home for treatment of an illness or injury – wound care, injections, diabetes or blood pressure monitoring, and other treatments that require nursing skills.  Home health care can also provide physical, respiratory, occupational or speech therapy.  Unlike private duty care, many home health services are covered under Medicare when it’s in conjunction with a discharge from the hospital, providing that specific conditions are met.
  • Geriatric Care Management: Geriatric care managers handle the details of an individual’s life or estate that fall outside the realms of direct care providers, such as financial and estate management. They can also coordinate care for an individual, mediate family communications, or assist with moving to another living arrangement or closing up of a household. Geriatric care management is traditionally an out-of-pocket expense.

  • Hospice Care: Hospice care is a special type of in-home care, designed to provide comfort and support for patients who are nearing the end of a terminal illness. Hospice provides a range of services, including nursing, mental health, and spiritual advising. Coverage for hospice care is typically offered by most private insurance providers and through Medicare.

For more information about the different models of in-home care and what type of care is right for you, contact AAging Better In-Home Care online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

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Financial Questions and Long-Term Care

Posted on: March 23rd, 2011 by aagingbetter

When planning for long-term care, it is important to investigate how long-term care needs will be financed.  How do you know what you can afford so you can make appropriate long-term care choices?

Here are a few questions to think about:

What are your assets? It’s important to establish roughly how much money you or your loved one have available in cash, investments, and/or Social Security.

Do you anticipate needing financial support? We’re living longer than ever, which means more people are outliving their retirement savings.  Do you believe you have enough to sustain yourself (or your loved one) for the rest of their or your life?  If not, how much support will you need?

What types of insurance do you have? Understanding long-term care policies or obtaining new ones to fill any gaps can save you time and money in the long run.  The younger individuals are when they purchase a long-term care insurance policy, the cheaper the policy will be.  If you wait until you actually need the policy, usually when you’re much older, the policy will cost much more.

Keep a record of all passwords and account numbers: Keep a copy of all important account numbers and passwords, along with the contact information of your financial advisers and lawyers. This will make it easier for a family member to sort out affairs if you become ill or pass away suddenly.

Have you signed a power of attorney? Designate and finalize the paperwork for a power of attorney (POA) so that you know there is a responsible person you trust to make decisions on your behalf in the event of a medical emergency.

Providing in-home care services in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls area and the rest of northern Idaho, AAging Better In-Home Care is happy to help with your long-term care planning needs and questions.  Contact us today at (208) 777-0308 in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls or (208) 263-7889 in Sandpoint or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg area to find out more about what in-home care is all about.

 

Developing A Care Plan For The Future

Posted on: March 16th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Preparing a long-term care plan may seem daunting, but will help alleviate the burden if and when the time comes and it is necessary. Key things to consider when developing a long-term care plan are:

  • Start by identifying what types of care services may be needed. Sit down with family members and physicians and/or an AAging Better In-Home Care care manager and discuss what is perceived to be your loved one’s caregiving needs.
  • Next, outline the duties and responsibilities the caregiver will be required to provide. This helps to define the caregiver role that works best in your situation and will help clarify which type of caregiving situation is most appropriate for your loved one’s needs.
  • Compare and understand long-term care insurance options.
  • Communicate with family and friends and decide who can be counted on for help.
  • Establish clear legal directions.  A home-care company can help define these for you.
  • Focus on available finances.
  • Learn what is offered in your community.  Call the Area Agency on Aging for a list of home-care companies in our area.  That number is (208) 667-3179.
  • Make home improvements, like a ramp leading up to the front door, if necessary.
  • Take control of health and personal needs.

Asking the right questions is extremely important, as well as involving the senior who requires in-home care in the planning process.  After all, it is most often their home that the care will be given in and seniors want to maintain control of their environment and themselves for as long as possible.  For further assistance with eldercare planning in Idaho, contact AAging Better In-Home Care at (208) 777-0308 in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls or (208) 263-7889 in Sandpoint or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg area.

You may also want to check out Medicare.gov’s Long-Term Care Planning Tool, which was created with the goal of helping people better understand what long-term care services are available, how much one can expect to pay for long-term care, and what financing options are available to support long-term care costs.  The tool asks between twelve and twenty questions and then provides long-term care results by comparing your answers to those of individuals with similar profiles. Click here to view the tool.

Considering Options for In-Home Care

Posted on: January 2nd, 2011 by aagingbetter

When faced with the decision to try and stay at home in spite of declining health, increasing frailty or a disability, many individuals may not yet know about some of the options available.  Just starting the search is half the battle because most elderly individuals or family members are uncertain what services are available for themselves or their loved ones.

There are several different categories of in-home care, as well as differing payment options depending on the type and amount of care an individual requires.   So how do you know what kind of care is right for you or your relative?  Some of the main models of in-home care include:

  • Private Duty Care: Companies such as ours (AAging Better) provide private duty services as “non-medical” services which include assistance like companionship, housekeeping, transportation, shopping, meal preparation, laundry and assistance with bathing or dressing, when needed.  It can also include respite care when the family member watching after the disabled person or the elderly family member needs a break from providing that care.  In essence, there are no “medical” services provided by Home Care companies, such as giving shots, catheter care, wound care or suctioning ventilation tubes, etc.  Normally, only companies that employ nurses would be able to offer these kinds of specialized services.  AAging Better is such a company since it also employees RNs and LPNs to provide “skilled nursing” services in addition to its non-medical services.                                                                                           Home Care is usually paid for directly by the client or a family member.  If the client has a long-term care insurance policy, many of these policies will cover “chore or personal care” services in the home but it’s very important that this be determined prior to starting services with a Home Care company in order to avoid being charged for services thought to be covered by the policy.  Also, in rare instances in-home care may be approved for someone on workers’ compensation who has been injured to the point that they are unable to care for themselves in their own home.  And finally, veterans have a special program available called Aid & Attendance that may cover some of the costs of in-home care if the veteran or the surviving spouse qualifies.               A very important fact to be aware of, however, is that private duty services are never covered by Medicare–a very common misconception by the elderly and/or their family members.  However, in many states if an individual qualifies due to low income or disability, they may be able to be approved by the local Medicaid program for a certain number of hours of in-home services each week–paid for by the state.  Local health and welfare offices can answer any questions someone might have regarding how to qualify and what the application process entails.

  • Home Health Care: Home Health consists of skilled nursing or “medical” care that is usually required in the home for treatment of an illness or injury – wound care, injections, diabetes or blood pressure monitoring, and other treatments that require nursing skills.  Home Health can also provide physical, respiratory, occupational or speech therapy when ordered by the attending doctor upon discharge from the hospital.  Unlike Home Care, most often Home Health services are covered by Medicare, particularly when the services are ordered by a physician upon discharge from the hospital or when other specific conditions are met.
  • Geriatric Care Management: A small but growing phenomenon occurring across the U.S. is an industry called “Geriatric Care Management.”  These companies or individuals handle the details of an infirm or elderly person’s medical needs, life or estate that typically fall outside the realm of financial advisers and estate management.  These “managers” can  coordinate in-home care for an individual, doctor’s appointments, care of the house grounds, mediate family communications, or assist with moving to another living arrangement–and even close up a household when the elderly (or a sick) client moves or passes away.  Geriatric care management is traditionally an out-of-pocket expense.

  • Hospice Care: Hospice care is a special type of in-home care, designed to provide comfort and support for patients who are nearing the end of a terminal illness.  It is usually approved by the patient’s doctor when it is expected that the individual has about six months or less to live.  Contrary to popular myth, hospice is a comforting and often-times serene experience for the family and person facing the difficult and uncertain challenges of end-of-life transition.  Depending on the individual/s involved, hospice can provide a range of very important services, including nursing oversight, mental health and spiritual advice. Coverage for hospice care is typically offered by most private insurance providers and  through Medicare.

For more information about the different models of in-home care and what type of care is right for you or your loved one, contact AAging Better In-Home Care online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, and (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.  We’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can.

 

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