Long term care is a term that means both medical and non medical services that are used by individuals that have a disability or a chronic illness. They include both personal and health related needs. Some of these needs classified as non medical would be getting dressed or taking a bath. In many cases long term care takes place in a facility of some sort that provides either assisted living or nursing care. But, it can also take place in the home of a relative or the home of the person needing care. It should be noted that not all people receiving this type of care are elderly.
The baby boomer generation is starting to get to the point of needing some sort of care. Statistics point to 12 million seniors will flood care services in around 2020. Many times family members will take a person needing care into their home and care for them but still need help. Others will be placed in a nursing home or other facility.
Care for a long period of time can cost a great deal of money. Many people make a living caring for those that have trouble caring for themselves and they should be compensated for it. Medicare will pay for those that become sick and because of health reasons they go into nursing care. However, if the person is in relatively good condition and just can not do a few things for themselves Medicare will not pay and other arrangements need to be made. Help in bathing, or cooking, or cleaning, or getting dressed is called custodial care and these things are not covered by Medicare.
In some states a low income person that has no assets at all might be approved for medical and custodial care through Medicare. It is hard to say if it will or not because every state has different rules. There are several factors that dictate if a person can use Medicare for long term care and they include income and the resources that person has at hand.
Care that lasts long term has several different levels with nursing care just the tip of the iceberg. There are services that deliver meals, there are transportation services, cleaning services or adult day care services. They have low costs but must be paid for out of pocket of the individual or the family of the individual.
If a person needs to be supervised part of the day but not for 24 hours adult day care may be the answer. Here the person will participate in social and recreational plans throughout the day. Another service provides a button that is worn around the neck and can be pushed if there is an emergency of some type. Telephone services call the individual on a daily basis and if they do not answer they send help. This service is great for the person that wants to stay independent as long as possible. If a person can not drive there are volunteer services that will take them where they need to go. Medicare will pay for transport in an ambulance for an emergency but nothing else. If a person can no longer cook for themselves there is Meals on Wheels. Cleaning services are also available but must be paid for with other funds besides Medicare. In many cases the financial burden falls on the individual or their families.
Long term Care insurance is available and will cover non medical and custodial services as well as nursing care. The cost varies from area to area and depends on the age and health of the person. It is paramount that a person obtain this insurance prior to needing it because you have to pass a physical in order to be able to buy it. It is available to people in all ages but the younger you are the less you will have to pay. These policies generally have to be sought out and purchased individually. They are rarely part of an employment benefit package. - 30547
The baby boomer generation is starting to get to the point of needing some sort of care. Statistics point to 12 million seniors will flood care services in around 2020. Many times family members will take a person needing care into their home and care for them but still need help. Others will be placed in a nursing home or other facility.
Care for a long period of time can cost a great deal of money. Many people make a living caring for those that have trouble caring for themselves and they should be compensated for it. Medicare will pay for those that become sick and because of health reasons they go into nursing care. However, if the person is in relatively good condition and just can not do a few things for themselves Medicare will not pay and other arrangements need to be made. Help in bathing, or cooking, or cleaning, or getting dressed is called custodial care and these things are not covered by Medicare.
In some states a low income person that has no assets at all might be approved for medical and custodial care through Medicare. It is hard to say if it will or not because every state has different rules. There are several factors that dictate if a person can use Medicare for long term care and they include income and the resources that person has at hand.
Care that lasts long term has several different levels with nursing care just the tip of the iceberg. There are services that deliver meals, there are transportation services, cleaning services or adult day care services. They have low costs but must be paid for out of pocket of the individual or the family of the individual.
If a person needs to be supervised part of the day but not for 24 hours adult day care may be the answer. Here the person will participate in social and recreational plans throughout the day. Another service provides a button that is worn around the neck and can be pushed if there is an emergency of some type. Telephone services call the individual on a daily basis and if they do not answer they send help. This service is great for the person that wants to stay independent as long as possible. If a person can not drive there are volunteer services that will take them where they need to go. Medicare will pay for transport in an ambulance for an emergency but nothing else. If a person can no longer cook for themselves there is Meals on Wheels. Cleaning services are also available but must be paid for with other funds besides Medicare. In many cases the financial burden falls on the individual or their families.
Long term Care insurance is available and will cover non medical and custodial services as well as nursing care. The cost varies from area to area and depends on the age and health of the person. It is paramount that a person obtain this insurance prior to needing it because you have to pass a physical in order to be able to buy it. It is available to people in all ages but the younger you are the less you will have to pay. These policies generally have to be sought out and purchased individually. They are rarely part of an employment benefit package. - 30547
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