Archive for December, 2018

How to Plan, Prepare, and Realistically Pay for Long-Term Care

Published in caringfromafar.com

When you plan for your future, do you include any plans for long-term care? It’s an aspect of life that too many adults fail to properly plan for, and that can leave seniors and family members struggling to find a solution. So, if you really want to prepare beforehand, you need to make some smart plans to cope with and pay for long-term care.

Focus on Your Long-Term Care Strategy First

Use Medicare to Your Advantage

Before you begin setting aside funds for long-term care, it’s important to have a good idea of what that situation may look like for you or a loved one. For many older adults, this means taking a look at how Medicare will offset any long-term care needs. While Medicare and Medicaid offer little long-term care assistance, the former can offer peace of mind through Medicare Advantage plans. These supplemental plans cover more of your future care, but it’s important to know the enrollment dates so you don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Know What Factors Put You at Risk

Another smart way to plan for long-term care is to examine your family history and lifestyle choices. For example, seniors with Alzheimer’s are likely to need progressive long-term care, and this is a condition which tends to be passed on from one generation to the next. But knowing you have a risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s also allows you to make changes in your life to potentially halt the impact of these illnesses. You can exercise more, change your diet, and even use puzzles and games to help decrease your need for long-term care in the near future. Cognitive decline is a major risk factor for long-term care, but serious falls can be a culprit as well. Also, dedicate some time to making your home a safe spot to age in place.

Put Together Your Plan to Pay for Care

Photo by Pixabay

Assess Your Insurance Coverage Options

You know that Medicare Advantage plans can help seniors stay better prepared for the future, but do you know how Medicare or health insurance covers long-term care costs? This may be a shock, but Medicare and Medicaid offer minimal long-term care coverage. In fact, the only aspects most health insurance plans will pay for are actions directly related to your health. So, the more routine care that most long-term care seniors need likely won’t be included in your average healthcare coverage. For many seniors, this is where options like long-term care insurance come in handy. If you plan ahead, this supplemental coverage is not as expensive and can offset some of the financial burdens. Understanding this kind of coverage can be a challenge, so make sure you carefully read through and research policies before you commit.

Research Other Viable Ways to Pay for Care

Medicare may not help, and long-term care insurance is not the perfect option for everyone. So, how can seniors find other ways to make sure they get the long-term help needed? Thankfully, there are some smart solutions to help give seniors and their families financial peace of mind. If you have served in the military, you may be eligible for more comprehensive VA coverage for your future care needs. It’s a benefit many veterans and loved ones forget, but this assistance is priceless for those struggling to find ways to afford long-term care. For adults who are not veterans, there may still be tools to help with costs. Financial assistance is available for seniors and family caregivers, but you can also reduce the expenses of care by carefully researching facilities and care providers. In essence, you can cut down your expenses by planning ahead.

Long-term care doesn’t have to be stressful, expensive, or, most importantly, an afterthought. It’s an essential step most adults will likely face at some point in the future. So, you should plan for long-term care just like you do any other important aspect of life and give yourself and your family some needed peace of mind in the process.

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How to Help Your Loved One Stay in Touch with You

During the holidays, relatives will especially rely heavily on two-way communication to stay connected.

Published in caringfromafar.com 

Technology makes communicating with your loved one as easy as the push of a button, which is a true blessing for long-distance caregivers. However, your loved one might not be as tech-savvy as you are, or they may have trouble communicating due to vision or hearing deficiencies. The following are simple ways to make staying in touch a breeze:

Start with the Basics

You might have gotten rid of your landline phone years ago, but for older adults, this is the phone they grew up using and are most comfortable with. Technology is confusing, and trying to teach your loved one how to use it could be more stressful than it is helpful. In fact, a landline phone may even be the safest option, as it reduces time spent routing the call to the correct emergency response center. In addition, calls from landlines automatically show emergency responders the address, name of the residence, and a map, which could be a lifesaver should your loved one call for help and be unable to talk or get confused about where they are.

Depending on your loved one’s needs, you can switch out the landline for something more feasible such as a phone with larger buttons or a high ringer volume. Keep in mind that getting your loved one a cell phone, and teaching them how is use it, is still a good idea, as they can take it with them when they are out of the house. To really ramp up the communication measures, install a medical alert system that makes communication with emergency services quick and simple.

Set a Schedule

Once you choose the preferred communication, set up a time each day to check in and stick to it. This not only gives you peace of mind that your loved one is okay, but even simply hearing a familiar voice could be the daily pick-me-up they need. If your loved one is tech-savvy, use video chat such as Skype or FaceTime, or have a local family member or in-home caregiver assist them.

In addition to communication with your loved one, it is imperative that you chat regularly with their primary caregiver to get details and information your loved one might not feel comfortable sharing with you. If you chose to hire an in-home caregiver, check in with them daily, and don’t be afraid to request a log of what they did each day. Don’t forget to ask your loved one how they feel – sometimes caregivers aren’t the right match.

Staying in touch with your loved one will take a continued effort on your end, but it is just one of the many responsibilities that come along with being a long-distance caregiver. With the right technology and a consistent schedule, you can make the miles between you seem far less.

 

 

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How to Choose Hospice Care

Important questions to consider before you arrive at a decision

Published in NextAvenue By Liz Seegert

Part of the LIVING TO THE END OF LIFE SPECIAL REPORT

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a special report for The John A. Hartford Foundation.)

Making the decision to transition your loved one to hospice care (for people whose medical conditions mean they are expected to die within six months) is a time of emotional upheaval. It’s often accompanied by confusion, with little understanding of available options or how hospice actually works.

Knowing ahead of time which hospice services are available and the tasks you may be required to take on can help you make the right choices when decision time comes.

Home Hospice, Hospital-Based Care or Stand-Alone Facility

One of the first things you will need to decide is whether to use a home hospice service, hospital-based care or — if available — a stand-alone facility. Nursing homes may also have hospice units or hospice floors.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each, according to Gilbert Oakley, a hospice nurse with Visiting Nurse Service of New York, who’s been providing home hospice care for over a decade.

You’ll have to balance what the person who is dying wants versus what you and the family can realistically provide.

If opting for in-home hospice, a home hospice agency will work with you to determine whether an adequate support system exists. Can the family pitch in with necessary tasks — from administering pain medication to bathing to helping the person toilet? Are you financially prepared to pay for additional help beyond what insurance covers?

Medicare-reimbursed hospices (for people 65 and older) all provide the same basic services. However, there still may be differences between providers that might make one a better choice for you over another, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. The best way to know is to compare. Medicare’s Hospice Compare provides lists and ratings of hospice providers in your community.

Your loved one’s physician, hospital discharge planner or social worker can recommend specific hospice agencies or facilities. Geriatric care managers can also be a good resource. Often a physician has privileges at certain facilities, which may limit choices. Ask these experts questions about their experiences working with the agencies or facilities. Then contact a few for informational appointments.

Hospice Questions to Think About

Credit: Adobe Stock

Many of the questions are the same whether you opt for in-home hospice or facility care. Here are some important questions to consider:

Is the hospice Medicare certified? Most are, and are therefore required to follow Medicare rules and regulations. This is important if your loved one receives the Medicare home hospice benefit.

Is the hospice nationally accredited?  This designation lets you know that the agency or facility meets certain quality standards. While accreditation isn’t required, it can be a clue to the agency’s commitment to quality.

Has the facility or agency been cited in a negative way in the last few years by a state or federal oversight agency? Find out whether any violations or deficiencies been corrected.

Are the hospice’s doctors and nurses certified in palliative care (providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness)? Experience counts for a lot, but having the credential indicates specialized study in palliative medicine and/or nursing.

How quickly is a plan of care developed for the individual? Some hospices can begin the admissions process and start hospice services within a few hours — even at night or on weekends. Others may only provide intake during normal business hours. Depending on your loved one’s situation, a hospice’s ability to start services quickly might be very important.

How often will a nurse visit my loved one? Medicare only requires one visit every 14 days, but your family member may need more support, according to Perry Farmer, CEO of Crossroads Hospice, a for-profit provider. Find out the answer to this: How often do social workers, care aides, clergy, volunteers or bereavement support counselors come?

What are the options for inpatient care? Patients being cared for at home at some point may need to go to an inpatient unit for management of complicated symptoms or to give their family respite. Facilities vary — from the hospice having its own private inpatient unit to leased beds in a hospital or nursing home. If possible, visit the facilities (or delegate the task to a trusted family friend) to ensure that they are conveniently located and that you are comfortable with what they offer.

How rapid is crisis response? You want to know who would be available after normal business hours, on weekends and holidays. Ask about the hospice’s average response time and who will make the visit. Some hospices offer limited in-home support on nights and weekends, while others are able to send staff out to a patient’s home no matter when a crisis arises.

What are the expectations for the family’s role in caregiving? See whether the hospice’s expectations are consistent with what the family can provide. Often the care partner has no idea what it’s going to take to be with someone as they die at home — administering medication, helping with bathing and toileting and more. Will the hospice provide training to family caregivers?

How quickly can we expect pain and/or symptoms to be managed? Pain management is a key part of hospice care. Ask about the process if medications don’t seem to sufficiently address pain or symptoms, and how quickly they can be adjusted.

What out-of-pocket expenses should the family anticipate? Original Medicare’s hospice benefit covers everything needed related to the terminal illness, from doctor and nursing care to short term respite and grief counseling. This is true even if the individual chooses to also remain in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan. There may be a small co-pay for some services like respite care. Medigap and Part D prescription drug plans pay for other care and certain medications.

Taking this all into a account, having a plan of care is vital, according to Oakley. The caretaker(s) need to be aware of what the hospice can or cannot provide and what you or other family members must do.

If your loved one is a veteran, it’s important to select a hospice with the necessary, appropriate experience. Next Avenue published a story detailing how the toll of war on veterans can complicate end-of-life care and present unique needs that must be addressed. You may want to check out the We Honor Veterans program which works with experienced providers of this type of care.

Oakley also recommends finding out how the hospice handles patient and family concerns. Is there a clear process for sharing issues with appropriate hospice staff and ensuring the concerns are addressed, including a process for escalation if the concern is not adequately resolved at lower levels?

Facility-Based Care or Hospice Houses

There are times when patients with very complex symptoms or conditions cannot be cared for at home. Sometimes family members are geographically distant or just don’t have the emotional or physical resources to deal with the situation on a day-to-day basis.

One alternative is a freestanding facility known as a hospice house. Hospice houses offer a more home-like atmosphere than typically found in a hospital or nursing home. They’re designed for short stays and may be a good option when the person requires around-the-clock care. Some hospice house programs mandate that a patient be within a month or two of death, so be sure to ask about admission criteria.

“If you have an opportunity to go with a free-standing hospice house, jump wholeheartedly into it because the environment is created specifically to help people as they die and the family members of people as they die,” said Dr. Rebecca Allen, a geropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Alabama’s Research Institute on Aging.

Bereavement Support

Allen recommends asking all hospices about available bereavement services. Grief support can vary widely. It may include individual counseling, support groups, educational materials and outreach letters. If you opt for individual or group support, find out what credentials the session leader has.

What’s Most Important

Think about your general impressions after the initial contact with the provider. What was your reaction to the people you spoke with?

Remember to focus on what is most important to your family — most importantly the person who is dying.

Keeping that at the center will help narrow the field, whether there are three options or 30.

New York-based journalist Liz Seegert has spent more than 30 years reporting and writing about health and general news topics for print, digital and broadcast media. Her primary beats currently include aging, boomers, social determinants of health and health policy. She is topic editor on aging for the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Consumer Reports, AARP.com, Medical Economics, The Los Angeles Times and The Hartford Courant.

 

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