Some helpful advice about care options for the senior citizens in your family

One of the growing concerns of our families today is what to do about the care of our aging seniors. 

Here is a helpful primer of our main choices, and how we go about making the best choices for our seniors.

Residential Care Options.  There are four main ones: 1. homecare; 2. independent living; 3. assisted living, which often has a memory deficit level of care, such as Alzheimer’s; and 4. the nursing home.

The choice of our seniors, not surprisingly, is to stay at home if at all possible. There are a number of reputable companies which can assist seniors to stay in their home and to outsource many routine activities such as home maintenance, financial record keeping, and various personal and health care needs. 

It is especially important that you use reliable companies that do necessary background checks on anyone who comes into the homes of your senior on a regular basis.

Geriatric care managers are resource people which are familiar with how to assess your senior’s care needs, and they know the best local options available to your senior, depending on their needs and available assets. Some providers which work in the senior care area have a geriatric care manager on staff, including at least one law firm which concentrates in part on Elder Law issues. This has been proven to be a very valuable resource to families and clients.

Senior Services (336-725-0907) is a highly reputable local organization which can inform you of names of home health care companies and geriatric care managers in our area which can assist you in assessing residential care options. 

The cost component of the equation is an important piece, because residential housing alternatives, with necessary medical care, can get expensive.

There are three ways to pay for this care:  out of our own assets in whole or in part, long-term care insurance, or an applicable governmental program.

Pay as you go. Your senior can pay for the care out of their own assets, or family members can pay for it.

Long-term care insurance. Your senior must be in reasonably good health to qualify for long-term care insurance.  If your senior qualifies medically and they decide to purchase long-term care insurance, be sure to use a qualified agent who knows fully the best and most cost-efficient options available. Be sure the company has a high rating for financial stability (deep pockets.) If you are a care provider who is in your fifties and in good health, you should consider purchasing a policy yourself as well.

Government benefits. There are very limited federal benefits available for home care, if your senior qualifies.  There are also limited state benefits at the assisted living level.

The main governmental assistance program is Medicaid for nursing home expenses.   You must have limited so-called countable assets to qualify for Medicaid. With planning, however, middle class seniors can often save some of their assets and not spend them totally on the nursing home in their last days before they are eligible for Medicaid.

There are a number of misconceptions about so-called Medicaid planning.  A reputable elder law attorney can assist you in separating fact from fiction.

It is essential that you explore necessary options before there is a health or financial crisis with your senior.  Your senior will be reluctant to go to an attorney to take full advantage of available options. But a lot of money and heartache can be spared if you examine the options available to your senior while they still have choices.