Posts Tagged ‘aging parent’

Paying For Elder Care Just Got Easier

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

By: Chuck Bongiovanni

Published: June 22, 2007

It’s not a surprise that thousands of families across the nation are facing the challlenges of an aging population. The “sandwich” generation, those who are caring for their children as well as their parents, have been feeling the financial pinch of caring for loved ones. Paying the high cost of Elder Care can cost a family thousands of dollars a month. Too many families are unaware of how utilizing a loved one’s life insurance policy can not only pay for Assisted Living and Nursing Home care, but can maintain the standards of living for the remaining spouse.

Not too many financial specialist inform their clients who have purchased life insurance policies with a death benefit over $250,000 that they can utilize a somewhat unknown option on their life insurance to pay for the high cost of Elder Care. It is called a Life Settlement and it can fully take the financial burden off of families who struggle to keep their loved one in a quality facility.

A policy owner has the right to sell his or her life insurance policy to an institution for signifantly more than the cash value of the policy. For example, a life insurance policy with a $500,000 death benefit and a $75,000 cash value can be purchased for $250,000 and up. This money can be used now to pay for assisted living, nursing homes as well as in home services also. The procedure is relatively quick with minimal paperwork. It is senseless to struggle financially to pay for the needs of elderly loved ones when they can utilize their life insurance policy to pay for care. Many, many times life insurance policies lapse when a loved one goes into assisted living or a nursing home just out of financial neccessity as well as through medicaid planning.

Instead of letting a policy lapse or into surrendership, smart families are looking into life settlements as a funding source for the high expense of Elder Care.

Chuck Bongiovanni, M.S.W. has been helping seniors and their fanmilies for over 20 years in the assisted living industry. Chuck can help your family investigate your options for paying for Elder Care through a Life Settlement. You can go to his website at http://www.LifeTransitionsOnline.com or call him directly at 480-703-7005.

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Caring For a Senior Family Member at Home

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Taking care of a loved one at home after a major illness or surgery can be an overwhelming task both physically and mentally. The responsibilities are challenging for both the one being cared for and those taking the lead for the primary care. In some cases the recovering family member may have some reservations and an unwillingness to ask their son or daughter to give up a job to care for them. In these cases, having professional home care Chapel Hill, NC can help in easing the patients concerns and allow both family members and the one being cared for with more quality time together.

In almost all cases, there are going to be reasons that your loved one may not want to consider the option of in-home health care. Therefore, it is important before relying on home care Durham NC to provide part or full responsibilities for the patients care to listen to your loved one’s concerns. Take time to note what they may be worried about and go over these during interviews while searching for just the right care service.

One of the first arguments you may hear is that your loved one doesn’t believe they need help. So, in these cases while discussing senior care Chapel Hill NC that you let your loved one know having outside help is more for your peace of mind- which in almost all situations is the reason for seeking care. Taking care of our loved ones isn’t about physically being there 24/7 but knowing that when we can’t be there someone competent and committed to their wellbeing will be but without taking away their feelings of independence.

Home care not only provides in-home medical care but can also take on some of the errands outside of the home, if the recovering loved one is a bit apprehensive about a new person in the house. As the care worker becomes more familiar to the loved one, trust and friendship is gained and can facilitate a working relationship that benefits both the patient and the family.

While recovering at home, most physicians strongly suggest that the family employ outside assistance. Therefore, if there may be other reasons that the patient balks at this kind of service, the family can simply counter that argument with the physician’s release orders from the hospital. Usually this will end the resistance and facilitate the transition from hospital to home care, in Durham, Clayton, or Chapel Hill NC.

At one time or another, most families will face taking care of a loved one, whether that be during recovery or for end of life care. And there are no easy answers or ways to ease all the burdens placed on those family members. These people are trained in medical or physical care as well as dealing with the inevitable emotional strains. The one saving grace is that there are people trained and ready to take some of the responsibilities from the family and allow everyone to be more at ease with the situation. Today, with these advances in care, many families are able to care for loved ones at home, where both the patient and the family are most at ease.

Written by Jenny Heart. Quality home care Durham NC: Receive senior care Chapel Hill NC, alzheimer’s and elder care through home care Chapel Hill NC, Clayton, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Heart

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Posted in Assisted living, aging parents, caring for your parents, eldercare, homecare, keeping seniors home, senior care | No Comments »

Making Senior Health Insurance Options Understandable

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

With the rising cost of healthcare and the current economic crisis, choosing the right senior health insurance plan is more important now than ever.  Picking an affordable senior health plan that fits your unique needs can help you enjoy your golden years by providing financial stability and peace-of-mind.  However, the array of choices for senior health insurance plans – such as Medi-gap, Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, just to name a few – can be overwhelming.   The amount of information is vast, and even finding that information can be a daunting task.  Fortunately, there are steps you can take to choose the right senior health plan with confidence.

Tips for Choosing the Right Senior Health Insurance Plan

 

If you follow a few simple steps, understanding your senior health insurance options – and selecting the best one for your needs – can be relatively uncomplicated.

  1. Understand the basics.

 

Know what your options are.  There are numerous insurance choices for seniors, including original Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Part D (for prescriptions) Medicare Advantage plans and Special Needs Plans for persons with disabilities and low income.  Each option has its own benefits and drawbacks, so being aware of all your alternatives allows you to select the best one.  Also, keep in mind that you can combine multiple plans to provide the coverage you need.

  1. Keep the big picture in mind.

 

Instead of feeling overwhelmed in the decision-making process, keep in mind what your ultimate goals are in purchasing a senior health insurance plan.  For example, know your

deadlines and when you would be able to switch from the plan in the future.  Keeping your big-picture goals in mind will keep you from becoming bogged down in irrelevant options and leave you feeling good about having made a decision on a health insurance plan.

  1. Enlist the help of a qualified expert.

 

Finding an experienced senior health insurance specialist is one of the best ways to obtain comprehensive information on your senior health plan choices.  Having an expert that will guide you through the process of choosing a plan is essential. They provide you with easy-to-understand information and clarify any confusion you may have.  Moreover, some brokers offer in-person or on-the-phone consultations, which save clients the hassle of navigating the Internet. 

Selecting senior health insurance doesn’t have to be an exhausting task.  Just keep the basics in mind, get help if you need it, and prioritize your long-term goals.  When you select the best senior health plan for your unique needs, you can rest assured that your health care is covered.

http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/simplifying-the-complicated-making-senior-health-insurance-options-understandable-670943.html

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Posted in financial help for seniors, health planning, how to pay for eldercare, how to pay for senior care, paying for eldercare | No Comments »

Leaving Your Elders In Safe Hands

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Our elderly parents very often need our support to help them to settle in their retired lives. While trying to find a solution to the issue, we may come across all types of services that are available for taking care of senior citizens. Due to your preoccupation with a job and having your own family to look after, you may not be able to provide them support. In such a case, adult day care can prove to be a blessing for many. Adult day care is beneficial to those senior citizens who need the company of people during daytime.

However, when you decide to utilize the services of an adult day care center for your elderly mother or father, ensure that they are also involved in the decision – making. The thought of adult day care center is very upsetting for an elderly parent, because it gives them a feeling of being neglected , or being treated as an infant who needs looking after. It is best to avoid using the phrase ‘adult day care’ while making the suggestion, as the elderly are sensitive people and may think you are putting them away, someplace.

There may be church programs in your local parish that the senior citizens can attend to pass their time rewardingly, and many prefer to do so. The other option is, of course, a day care center where they can enjoy the company of other like minded people. The ideal way to find a suitable adult day care center is to conduct a tour along with your elderly parent to find out what options exist locally, and make the choice together. You may, however want to get some prior information regarding the adult day care center by making enquiries with them. Some of the pertinent questions could be:
• Is transportation facility available at the assisted care facilities? Does that facility continue to operate all day? This is needed so that your parent does not get stranded at the facility for lack of transportation.
• Do they have qualified medical personnel to attend to the elderly, in case there is any kind of medical emergency?
• Is there an arrangement for food and beverages for a day-long stay? Are the food services sensitive to diet restrictions prescribed by the doctor? This would be a pertinent question if your parent is a diabetic and has to follow a restricted diet.
• How many elders are present at the care center on any given day? Too few would imply that the center is not providing good service and too many would mean lack of attention for your parent in the large crowd.
• What are the costs involved?

The activities and entertainment provided for the elderly at the adult day care center are an incentive for them to go there. For example, during the football season, if the center provides a place for all the men to gather and cheer for the game, it will be more enjoyable for your dad rather than being alone in the apartment watching the game. If the adult day care center has a variety of activities like card games or puzzles that appeal to everyone, then it will be a fun place for your parent to pass their time.

Arranging for a good adult day care center to take care of your elderly father or mother takes a load off your mind. Before making a decision to select the center for your parent, it would be a good idea to get a feel of the place by talking to the staff and spending some time yourself to gauge the atmosphere. This way, you are sure that your parent is well taken care of and passing the time in a healthy and friendly environment. They will get to know more people and generally enjoy the time spent at the center. This will prove to be invigorating for them and they will eat and sleep better, thus solving a number of problems associated with old age.

http://www.articlesbase.com/elderly-care-articles/adult-day-care-center-leaving-your-elders-in-safe-hands-740217.html

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Why In-Home Care May be Right for You in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Why In-Home Care May be Right for You

I found a great article that talks about the many positive aspects regarding the use of In-Home Care for an aging loved one.

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Posted in aging parents, caregivers, caring for your parents, eldercare issues, homecare, keeping seniors home, senior care | 1 Comment »

Choosing the Right Retirement Community in Indianapolis IN

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Here is a helpful article for anyone considering a Retirement Community for an aging loved one.

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Hiring Caregivers for In-Home Senior Care in Indianapolis, IN

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Recently there was a tragedy in Avon, Indiana where the son of an elderly woman was killed by her caregivers husband. Now it’s not been said but if I was guessing getting to the woman’s money was a likely motivation. It’s important that if you’re hiring someone to come into the home to care for an elderly person that they have been properly screened. The classifieds are filled with people looking for work as aides to the elderly. Many of these aides are well-qualified, honest people who will do a good job; but, of course, there will be some not so reputable. If you are looking to hire someone, be sure you interview and check references and qualifications. You will be responsible for scheduling that person and doing payroll and taxes as well. Be very sure you hire someone trustworthy, as the elderly seem to trust these helpers more than they should and therefore can easily be taken advantage of. It may seem more affordable to just hire them but there are risks. There are sources for pre-screened individual caregivers.

A professional home care service will eliminate your employment concerns. Professionally-provided aides are usually bonded and service is guaranteed. Home care companies take care of the scheduling and payment of their employees. Home care companies cater to the elderly in their homes by offering a variety of services.
These providers represent a rapidly growing trend to allow people needing help with long term care to remain in their home or in the community instead of going to a care facility. The services offered may include:
- companionship
- grooming and dressing
- recreational activities
- incontinent care
- handyman services
- teeth brushing
- medication reminders
- bathing or showering
- light housekeeping
- meal preparation
- respite for family caregivers
- errands and shopping
- reading email or letters
- overseeing home deliveries
- dealing with vendors
- transportation services
- changing linens
- laundry and ironing
- organizing closets
- care of house plants
- 24-hour emergency response
- family counseling
- phone call checks
- and much more.

A caregiver can make the difference in the quality of a seniors life and make it possible to stay in their home if you have the resources to make it happen. One way to help with caregiving costs is available for veteran’s and their spouses/widows. The Aid and Attendance Pension Program pays up to $1964 per month for their care. To get help finding a caregiver or homecare company in the Indianapolis area contact Aging Avenues at 317-731-3315.

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When Is It Time to Discuss Additional Care

Monday, May 25th, 2009

The following are signs that it is time to discuss additional in-home care, assisted living or long term care for a senior:

Isolation/Depression

-Is your loved one isolated from social contact?
-Are his or her sleeping habits, eating habits or activity levels changing?

Daily Activites/Eating Habits

-Is your loved one having a difficult time walking, dressing or eating?

Bruises/Falls
-Has there been an increased susceptibility to falling and bruising?Cognitive Ability
-Is your loved one’s mental reasoning ability at a level where his or her personal safety and the safety of others is at risk?

Increasing Medical Needs

-Does your loved one need medical care that you or he or she cannot provide?
-Does your loved one’s medication need to be increased?
-Does he or she need more and more help taking medications?
-Does he or she use medical equipment like an oxygen tank or need daily or weekly treatments like dialysis?
-Is your loved one in need of rehabilitative care?

Caregiver Burnout

-Is a family caregiver exhausted due to the amount of care your loved one needs?

Medication Errors/Missed Doctor’s Appointments

-Is your loved one mixing up medications, taking them incorrectly or not taking them at all?
-Is your loved one keeping his or her doctor’s appointments?

Household Management

-Can your loved one still manage the components of running a household, such as keeping a checkbook or paying bills?
-Is there a dramatic change in how the house is kept?

American Healthcare Association

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