Massachusetts - Greater Boston

As a primary caregiver for a senior loved one, you may sometimes feel drained and exhausted. Like most family members, you probably never expected to be a caregiver for an older loved one and did not imagine the challenges.Caregiving responsibilities can be demanding on your physical and emotional well-being. Carving out time for yourself can seem impossible, especially with the added demands of family and work life.Fortunately, professional respite care is an excellent resource for times when you need a much-needed break or a breather.Why is Respite Care Important?Respite care is temporary, short-term assistance to support your loved one at home while you work, travel, manage other responsibilities, or handle personal tasks. Respite care can provide essential relief from the stresses of caregiving so you can focus on yourself.A respite care plan can continue your seniors desire to age in place at home when you need coverage for an unexpected event, a vacation or out-of-town work trip, or even just a pause from your regular caregiving routine.While caring for an older adult is a rewarding job, it can also be arduous. Taking breaks from your senior care duties is essential for your physical and mental health. In fact, family members responsible for senior care are at a higher risk of caregiver burnout, which can cause depression, anxiety, and fatigue.A respite care plan can give you time to relax, refresh, and attend to your personal needs before you experience caregiver burnout. Routine respite care can improve your resilience, energy levels, and balance between various aspects of your life so you can continue to support your loved one.Unfortunately, many primary caregivers wait until they are exhausted and overwhelmed to investigate respite care options. The best time to establish a respite care plan is before these feelings begin.Planning for respite care allows you and your loved one to research multiple options, including other adult day care, assisted-living facilities, or in-home care. Understanding your options in advance will give you time to make the best choice for your loved one and budget.What Are the Advantages of In-Home Respite Care?In-home respite care can be a fantastic option for older adults who want to age in familiar surroundings.While adult day care and assisted living facilities provide on-site respite care, they entail your senior to leave home. Unfamiliar surroundings can be stressful and tiring for older adults. In addition, some centers do not provide transportation and may require seniors to attend a certain number of days or hours per week on an ongoing basis.When you choose in-home care from Visiting Angels, a professional caregiver will come to your loved ones home and provide personalized and compassionate care tailored to their unique needs.Visiting Angels offers flexible scheduling options that range from a few hours to 24/7 care and can be scheduled a few times a year or on a recurring basis. An established relationship with a Visiting Angels respite care professional can make it easier for you and your loved one if you experience an event or emergency requiring you to change your loved ones care schedule.CONTACT US today to learn more about our helpful respite home care services. We are available 24/7, call us at 781-395-0023 for any questions you may have. 

What is a CCRC? What defines a Lifecare community? Is there a difference? In this article, you will learn about the available contract types at CCRCs so you can make an educated decision about thetype of community thats best for you. CCRCsalso referred to as continuing care retirement communities or Life Plan communitiesoffer a secure pathway for aging and future healthcare needs and eliminate the need for a disruptive move if you ever need a higher level of care. Residents typically enter these communities as independent living residents and enjoy access to continuing on-site healthcare, including assisted living and memory care, should the need for such services arise.There are three types of care contracts available at CCRCs (Type A, Type B and Type C), all offering different levels of care coverage.1.     Type A Contract: LifecareType A Lifecare contracts include coverage of all potential care costs as part of the initial contract, which includes housing, services, and amenities.  All Lifecare communities are CCRCs, but not all CCRCs offer a Lifecare contract.  A Lifecare contract requires an entrance fee but ensures predictable monthly fees regardless of your care needs. Plus, couples with a Lifecare contract can occupy two residences on the same campus but only pay one monthly fee.Those who opt for Lifecare know they can count on high-quality care available at predictable rates for the rest of their lives. Generally, Lifecare residents pay far less for these services than they would on the open market as part of a smartfinancial plan to protect themselves and their estate from the ever-increasing costs of long-term care.2.     Type B Contract: Modified CareType B Modified Care Contracts offer lower upfront deposits and monthly fees but also have limitations on covered long-term care services. Healthcare is typically provided in one of two ways:         1.     A limited number of free days included as part of the entrance fee, with additional care billed at per diem market rates        2.     An ongoing, minimally discounted rate Healthcare services may be delivered on or off site, and two monthly fees may be incurred if couples require different levels of care.   3.     Type C Contract: Fee-for-Service Care       With a Type C Fee-for-Service Contract, access to long-term care, while typically guaranteed, is charged at market rates. If a resident requires care on a short-term basis, to maintain their independent living residence,      that resident would be required to pay the monthly fee on the independent living residence plus the costs of housing and healthcare received in assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing. While theres no upfront expense under this plan, the market costs of care can rapidly exceed the amount of an upfront entrance fee without the benefits of pre-arranged long-term care costs.Making a DecisionSo which CCRC contract is the best? Theres no one right answer for everyone. It comes down to making the decision that youre comfortable with after considering things like your family history regarding life expectancy and health in addition to knowledge about the different types of CCRCs. ContributingWriter Adam Manchester, Executive Director, New Pond Village [email protected] 508-660-1555

In Massachusetts, as mandated by the Federal government, if you die with a probate estate (assets in your own name), and have received MassHealth benefits at any time after age 55, or at any time during your life if you end up in a nursing home, MassHealth can recover the benefits paid from your estate. Two recent developments and a proposed law are important to know. In the last few years, the use of Senior Care Option and PACE programs, which provide complete health care to elders in need, began expanding. While these can be great programs, what wasnt known is that MassHealth, who pays premiums to private companies that provide these programs, will seek estate recovery for these premiums (as much as $3000 per month), after the death of the MassHealth recipient. This could mean a substantial lien against the home or other assets of a MassHealth recipient. Once this became clear, Elder Law attorneys went to Court and obtained a ruling that MassHealth can only collect these premiums if they give Notice to beneficiaries in advance. You may have received such a notice if you are receiving or have received MassHealth benefits. At the same time as this was going on, Elder Law attorneys and advocates put a bill together and filed it with the Massachusetts legislature to make changes to Estate Recovery laws to make it fairer and limit Estate Recovery to only those things the Federal government mandates. This bill is pending. As a result of both advocacy and the filing of the Estate Recovery bill, MassHealth made revisions to their own regulations this last fall. These revisions expand exemptions to avoid Estate Recovery (no estate under $25,000 is subject to Estate Recovery, Caretakers), and deferments to collection of Estate Recovery (spouses, deaf and disabled children). If you or a loved one need or are receiving MassHealth benefits, you may want to consult an Elder Law Attorney to see how these changes in Estate Recovery may affect you.   This article was submitted by Estate and Elderlaw Attorney Timothy R. Loff, Esq. of the Law Offices of Timothy R. Loff, Newton, 617-332-7021 or [email protected]. 

We are delighted to announce our outstanding achievement of a perfect 3 out of 3 High Performance Rating in both the Short-Term Rehab and Long-Term Care categories as part of US News & World Reports Best Nursing Homes Ratings for 2024! Of the 15,007 nursing homes assessed, we are among the top 19%, earning recognition as one of the Best Nursing Homes for our exceptional care in short-term rehabilitation and long-term support. These assessments underscore our steadfast commitment to enhancing the lives of our valued residents and patients on a daily basis.To learn more about our rating and the detailed report, click here: https://health.usnews.com//mary-ann-morse-nursing Our deepest appreciation to our committed team of staff, clinicians, nurses, therapists, and professional caregivers, whose steadfast dedication plays a crucial role in upholding our exceptional standard of care and support for todays aging adults and their families.Learn more about Mary Ann Morse Healthcare Center here: Long-Term Care Services in MetroWest | Mary Ann Morse Healthcare