Study Reveals Unmet Needs of Seniors Relying on In-Home Care

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Entrusted Legacy Law

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Jan 12, 2023

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Pennsylvania - Greater Pittsburgh Area

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When an older person requires help with daily living, options range from residential facilities to in-home care. Typically, less expensive than care facilities, professional in-home care can benefit older adults by allowing them to remain in a home setting. Although some view staying in one’s home as favorable to nursing home care, recently released findings have shed light on the serious issues facing those who rely on in-home care. 

A staggering 50 percent of all older adults using professional home care aren't getting the help they need, according to an analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Half of all adults who rely on home care don't have adequate help with showering, dressing, laundry, or cooking. Compared to those residing in facilities, older adults in in-home care are more likely to miss meals and medication and remain in soiled clothing for extended periods. 

Older adults with in-home care were also nearly five times more likely than adults in living facilities to have persistent unmet needs. Fulfilling these needs may require care for longer durations or more complete care that addresses the full range of an adult’s needs, from laundry to food preparation. 

The Effect of Stepfamily Relationships 

While challenges can affect all older adults aging in place at home, the negative consequences can be more pronounced for those with stepfamilies. Societal changes have made stepfamilies more common, and one in eight older adults with mobility limitations now has a stepchild. Yet in comparison to older adults with only biological offspring, those with stepchildren are half as likely to receive help from their children, research shows.

Stepfamilies might see children’s attention divided between a greater number of parents. Adult stepchildren who never received care from their stepparents because, for instance, the marriage occurred later in life, might not feel obligated to help. Children might also feel closer bonds and a sense of responsibility to their biological parents. 

Although biological children are more likely to help, even adults who lived with partners and had biological children still had unfulfilled needs when they remained at home.  

Challenges Facing People With Dementia Who Receive Home Care 

Like those with stepchildren, low-income individuals with dementia are also more susceptible to the inadequate in-home care. Many older adults with dementia are dual enrollees in Medicaid and Medicare and, consequently, have fewer assets to cover in-home services. They also have less family support. 

Individuals with dementia are twice as likely to have unmet needs compared to older adults without dementia who utilized in-home care. Many older adults with dementia couldn't afford sufficient in-home care and had less family support to fill in the gaps in care.

Older adults evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of different care options should speak with us to help them assess their unique needs and plan for their care. 

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Our Firm Prepares You for Life What makes our firm different is that we were built with the needs of growing families in mind. We understand you are BUSY, you are growing, you are planning for a life of prosperity and you value ease, convenience and efficiency. You are raising children, and caring for elderly parents, while also working hard to build your own nest egg for a lifetime of support. You want to know youve made the best decisions for your family and that your plan will work when your loved ones need it most. You want to make sure your minor children would be raised by the people you choose, and never by anyone you wouldnt want, and that your teens and adult children are properly prepared to care for you and what you leave behind.  You want to feel confident that youve made the right choices, and handled everything so that you arent leaving behind a mess, when something happens. That is our focus as well. Weve developed unique systems to give you the same access to a Personal Family Lawyer as was previously only available to the super-wealthy, so you can have the guidance you need to build and maintain a life of prosperity and wealth. And, to keep your family out of court and out of conflict, which is the greatest risk to the people you love and all you have created, even if youve already worked with a traditional lawyer or created documents online. Our Team Is Here for You We encourage communication with our clients. In fact, weve thrown out the time clocks so you never have to be afraid to call with a quick question. Everything we do is billed on a flat-fee basis, agreed to in advance, so there are never any surprises. We have a whole team to serve you. When you call our office to ask your quick question, you wont have to wait hours or days for a phone call back. Youll get your question answered, right away. And, if you need to schedule a more in-depth legal or strategic call with your Personal Family Lawyer, a call will be scheduled when you're both available and ready for the call so we can make the very best use of your time and not waste your time by leaving voicemail after voicemail back and forth. And, we ensure the most important details of your planning are followed through on and your plan continues to work throughout your lifetime. We have a funding coordinator to ensure your assets are owned the right way throughout your lifetime and none of your assets will end up going through a long, expensive court process or being lost to the state because they were missed after your death. Weve created unique membership programs to keep your plan up to date year in and year out as well as give you access to our Trusted Team of Legal Experts for guidance on ANY legal or financial matter. One day you will need a lawyer. I dont know why and I dont know when, but when you do, you will be grateful you can call on us and well be here to advise you or get you out of a jam. We Help You Transfer Your Life and Legacy Lastly, we believe your financial wealth is only a small part of your overall Life and Legacy Planning which is made up of your far more valuable and most often lost upon incapacity or death intellectual, spiritual and human assets. These assets are what make you who you are, and sum up whats most important to you. And, a survey of inheritors has revealed that what they care about even more than inheriting your money, is inheriting these intangible assets.   Most estate plans only focus on the transfer of your financial wealth to the next generation. Most people have such great intentions of passing on the intangible, but very few ever get around to it. Its just not a priority, until its too late. How much do you know about your grandparents values? Their most prized personal possessions? How they felt about you? What they had learned during their lifetime? If you are like most people, you know very little. Thats why we build the capture and passage of these most valuable assets into every estate plan we create. Not only will we help you pass on your money, but also your values, your insights, your stories and your experience the truly valuable assets your loved ones care about the most.  Weve developed a tool that allows us to capture and pass on your whole family wealth, including your Intellectual, Spiritual and Human assets.  I cant go into all of the details here, but well definitely talk about it when you come in for your Life and Legacy Planning Session.