SECURING LONG-TERM CARE

In most cases, long-term care costs increase faster than inflation. Providers often bundle their services together, making it more difficult for consumers to look for the best one.

The following are the care basic categories:

• Home Care - It encompasses errand-running, housekeeping companion, meal-preparation services, personal assistance, and certain medical treatment.
• Continuing-care Retirement Communities - If necessary, they can provide progressive care, beginning with houses or apartments where people can live independently. However, it requires huge payments upon entry, as well as high monthly fees.
• Adult Day Services - The service caters to a group of individuals with physical and cognitive needs, providing social, therapeutic, and health activities.
• Assisted-living Facilities - It aids people in their daily activities, but do not give 24-hour skilled care.
• Independent-living Apartments - For age-restricted communities that offer no services. But as time passes by, many have included non-medical services, including dining, concierge desks, and transportation.
• Hospice Care - This is for patients in the final stages of a terminal illness, but can be availed by families earlier than they might realize. Some cases are covered by Medicare.
• Skilled-nursing Facilities - It offers the most comprehensive type of care. Also known as nursing homes, such facilities are the most costly option.

There are various options for paying for long-term care, such as settling it on your own, availing aid-and-attendance benefits for wartime veterans and spouses, using long-term care insurance, and Medicaid.

Where can people seek help for searching for long-term care?

• Visit The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program’s website, which is provided to active and retired members of the uniformed services, federal and US Postal Service employees and annuitants, some other eligible groups, and qualified family members
• Genworth outlines detailed cost information by state and metro area for several types of care
• Look for local agencies by using Medicare’s Home Healthcare Compare tool
• Eldercare Locator, offered by the US Health Department, is a nationwide service connecting older Americans and their caregivers with details on senior services
• Geriatric-care managers, often registered nurses or former social workers, charge an hourly fee to assist families choose the type of care and provider, as well as evaluate contracts