Prevent Hospital Stays Through Home Care

Considering senior living as the best option for you or a loved one? If youre just beginning, the search can often feel daunting. And knowing where to look for possible financial resources can seem like a mystery.Its often helpful to approach this as a step-by-step process. Answering the following questions can help get you off to the right start: What lifestyle, amenities and services are you looking for? Is help needed for physical or cognitive issues? If yes, at what level? Which of the 4 basic types of senior living listed below would provide the best fit? What is the cost of senior living? What options may be available to pay for senior living? Basic categories of senior livingFollowing are 4 types of communities available: Independent Living: Private residences for older adults to continue living independently and enjoy the activities, amenities and services offered. Assisted Living: Private residences and assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing. Amenities and other social activities included. Long-Term or Skilled Nursing Care: Full-time care by a trained staff for those requiring medical care for rehabilitation or for long-term chronic conditions. Memory Care: Specialized care for those with Alzheimers or dementia, included as part of assisted living, long-term care or in a stand-alone community. The cost of senior livingPrices vary among communities, services offered and locations. Talk to an associate at a specific community to confirm costs. Be sure to clarify what services are included or can be contracted for an additional fee.How to pay for senior livingEach type of senior living may have varying costs and different payment sources available.When you visit a community, theyll provide you with more detailed information about financial options. We also invite you to download our free guide The Dollars and Sense Guide to Senior Living.The following list offers an overview of a few of the financial resources that may be available, as well as options you might not have yet considered. Private money Personal funds are typically used to pay for independent living, the majority of assisted living and a smaller amount of long-term care. Some states do accept Medicaid for certain assisted living costs.Personal resources could include: Cash Checking and savings accounts Salaries, if youre still working Social Security payments Dividends distributed Investment accounts Retirement or pension plans Long-Term Care Insurance Depending on the policy, long-term insurance may cover the cost of home care, adult day care, assisted living, memory care and long-term care. These policies are sold by private insurance companies and other businesses or as additional insurance offered by employers.The cost of a policy is based on the age of the person at the time of purchase, amount of insurance, time period covered, deductible and any special options. Veterans Benefits Veterans or their surviving spouses may be eligible to receive monthly benefits to help cover the costs of senior living if they meet certain income and personal care qualifications. Known as Aid and Attendance, this federal benefit is offered through The Department of Veteran Affairs. It can help pay for care in the home, assisted living or a long-term care community. Life insurance conversions Your life insurance policy may be transferred to a financial account that provides monthly benefits to help pay for home care, assisted living, long-term care and hospice. These funds wont count as an asset in the Medicaid spend down process, described below. Your home Seniors may have equity built up in their home, which can provide a source of funds. If youre moving into a senior living community, selling your home may provide the money you need.Other financial options that your home may offer include: Access to cash through a home equity loan A line of credit based on your homes equity Reverse mortgage which also considers a homes equity. This funding is only available if one of the owners remains living in the home. Renting out your home. If your home is paid for, the rent received could be applied toward senior living expenses. Medicare Medicare is a federal health insurance program and will only pay for long-term care if you require rehabilitative care at home or in a nursing home, for a limited period of time and if you meet certain restrictions. It doesnt pay for general personal care, assistance with the activities of daily living, or room and board. Medicaid Medicaid will pay for long-term nursing facility care but in order to be eligible, you need to qualify for having limited financial resources. If you do have assets, however, you would need to spend them down in order to qualify. As a joint federal and state program, states may offer some assistance with assisted living costs.Considerations when calculating the cost of senior livingPeople often assume its less expensive to remain at home instead of moving to a community. But that may not be true. Look at the big picture when considering the costs of home vs senior living. If your home would need expensive renovations to make it accessible or if you would need to contract for services to come into your home, the costs may be more comparable than you might have thought.But dont forget to account for the non-financial benefits and advantages. If the safety and quality of life for you or your loved one can be achieved more successfully in a senior living community, youll want to consider the tradeoff of any monetary savings.

As we grow older, the right nutrition plays a critical role in supporting our physical and cognitive health. But eating a healthy diet can also become more of a challenge.If youve noticed your parents or another family member is losing weight, or losing interest in enjoying their favorite foods, youll want to consider why they may no longer be eating as healthily.  There are several factors that can affect an older adults dining habits. It may be harder for them to shop and prepare meals. Or depending on their health and energy, it may be easier for them to skip a meal or replace it with snacks or processed foods. If you think there may be an issue, consider taking these steps: Be observant of their eating habits. Are there specific foods they avoid? Do they still seem interested in mealtime or certain foods? Talk to your parents about the changes youre noticing. Ask them if they are having any problems that are interfering with their diet. Losing the sense of taste and smellOne factor that can have a negative effect on appetite is the loss of taste and smell. It can begin after the age of 60 as part of the natural aging process. But there are also several issues that can contribute, according to the Mayo Clinic, such as: Nasal and sinus problems, including allergies Certain medications Dental problems Smoking Head or facial injury Alzheimers disease Parkinsons disease   The impact of losing your sense of taste and smellYour sense of taste and smell work closely together. If you struggle to smell the flavors in a food, you likely wont experience the taste. And even though your taste bud cells are replaced every couple of weeks, after the age of 50 those cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate.People who have lost at least a partial sense of taste, thirst or smell can experience a significant impact to their appetite and nutrition. It can also lead to adding unhealthy amounts of salt or sugar in an attempt to create taste. Ultimately, quality of life can be affected.Losing your feeling of thirstYour feeling of thirst signals that its time to get something to drink. But as you get older, you can lose this prompt or at least its strength. If you arent paying attention, you may become dehydrated which can lead to serious side effects such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, kidney failure or a drop in blood pressure.You can address your feeling of thirst by being diligent. Check with your doctor if you are required to monitor your fluid intake but otherwise strive to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of liquid daily.You may also want to familiarize yourself with the signs of dehydration and call your doctor if you experience any of these: Little or no urination Dark colored urine Irritability, dizziness or confusion Low blood pressure Rapid breathing and heart rate Weak pulse Cold hands and feet Dry mouth Difficulty walking   Steps to take when losing sense of taste, smell, and thirstIf your parent or loved one is losing a sense of taste and thirst, there are ways you can help. Encourage them to speak to their doctor You cant reverse the natural loss of taste and smell but if there is another cause, you might be able to treat the condition such as adjusting medications, fixing any dental problems or treating nasal and sinus conditions. Experiment with spices and flavors Look for ways to make meals taste more exciting. Talk to a dietician for ideas on how to add special seasonings to enhance flavors or which foods might naturally be easier to taste. Make dining as enjoyable as possible Even if theyre unable to regain the level of taste they once had, try to make the experience itself as pleasant as you can. Dining with others or creating a pleasant environment can help. Set a beautiful table complete with flowers and add their favorite music. Provide helpful reminders to drink Remind your parents not to rely on their sense of thirst before drinking and to pay attention to how much they have during the day. Use a water bottle with measurements in the beginning or count the number of glasses theyve had and convert to ounces.

Are your parents beginning to need extra help with basic daily tasks? You may have noticed its become more of a challenge for them to safely bathe and dress or shop and prepare meals.If they could use a helping hand, an assisted living community could offer the right support for them to embrace their best quality of life.But having the conversation and getting them to say yes is not always easy.The benefits of assisted livingWhere to begin? Understanding all the advantages can be a great place to start: Private residences and an independent lifestyle Reassure your parents that they wont lose their independence if they move into an assisted living community. Theyll still have a private residence and make their own decisions. How they choose to spend their days, when and what to eat, when to go to bed, and when to wake up will all be up to them. Help and assistance when needed Explaining how much easier the challenging daily tasks could be if they move into an assisted living community can help parents better understand the services available. Whether its assistance with laundry, grooming, or managing their medications, parents also appreciate that they dont need to always call on their children for help. Activities, social events and delicious dining Older adults who have become more isolated, or have trouble attending or participating in events and activities they always enjoyed, also appreciate only having to walk out their front door to discover whats waiting. Most residents love the idea of no longer needing to plan, prepare, cook and clean-up after meals. They only need to choose from great menu selections, sit back and enjoy. Friendships and companions Social isolation and loneliness can become a reality as we grow older, due to health, mobility or logistics. And they both have a negative impact on our health. Making new friends couldnt be simpler when an assisted living community is home. Activities and social events provide a natural setting to meet others and discover how much there is in common. Secure and maintenance-free living Security and safety are issues older adults are concerned about, even if they havent shared that with their children. But a communitys security systems and knowing help is always there provide immense reassurance.Residents who have been taking care of their own homes and the responsibilities of upkeep love the freedom that comes from having someone else take over.Parents and assisted living: encouraging them to say yesIf you could use a few tips to help your parents take advantage of all that assisted living has to offer, consider these 5 ideas: Plan ahead and prepare Gather all the needed information before your conversations. Learn as much as you can so you can address any of their concerns and answer their questions.Choose the time that works best for your parents and family but plan on having more than one conversation. Dont make your parents feel pressured. Make sure they know youre there as support but its their decision to make. Point out the advantages of assisted living but remain neutral There are many benefits of an assisted living community that go beyond the help theyll receive with the daily tasks of living. Review all the advantages but strive to remain neutral in the conversations.Adult children often immediately begin trying to talk their parents into the move. This can cause feelings of intimidation or anxiety. Many parents will resist or disengage and the conversation will be over. Match their needs to the benefits of assisted living Help your parents discuss some of their challenges and match them up with the benefits a community offers.For example, if theyre struggling to bathe safely, point out how a compassionate caregiver is trained to help in a way that preserves their dignity and independence.Is cooking a challenge? Discuss the advantage of just enjoying a delicious meal and not even having to help clean up afterward. Offer to be their partner Approach the situation as a partnership. Ultimately, this is their decision to make. Your role is one who is providing information, support and love. Offer to help them explore the different options available. Together, discuss why one solution may work better than another. If their answer today is no, what action would they consider if their health or abilities change in the future.  See an assisted living community in person Your parents may not realize what todays assisted living communities look like or know all that they provide. Ask if theyd like to see community life first-hand and arrange to take a tour together.Make sure theyre able to see different residence choices, sample a meal, and if possible, take part in some of the activities and amenities available. Ask about opportunities to visit with other residents and get their point of view.