JustLongTermCare.com

Long Term Care: Home Health Care

jerjer77 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:20:44 +0000

Depending on your needs, you may be able to get help with your personal activities (for example, help with the laundry, bathing, dressing, cooking, and cleaning) at home from family members, friends, or volunteers. If you think you need home care, talk to your family to see if they can help with care or help arrange for someone to come to your home to help.

Some home care can only be given by licensed health workers, such as if you need skilled nursing care and certain other health care services that you get in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury. Skilled nursing care includes services and care that can only be performed safely and correctly by a licensed nurse (either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse) or a licensed therapist. Remember, Medicare only pays for home care if you meet certain conditions. For more information, look at the Medicare booklet, Medicare and Home Health Care.

You can also hire a home health care agency for care in your home if Medicare doesn’t cover it. In this case, you will need to pay for this care on your own. Home care costs can vary depending on where you live, the type of care you need, and how often you need care. Usually home care is charged by the hour.

To locate home health agencies that provide services in your area, look at Home Health Compare on this website. You can also look at the National Association for Home Care website to get information about home care and hospice. This website includes information on how to find a home care or hospice agency and how to prepare for care.

The following home health services may be available in your community:

Skilled nursing care
Homemaker/Health aides
Personal care aides
Respite care
Medical equipment
Home repair and modification
Hospice

Long Term Care Nursing Homes

jerjer77 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:17:50 +0000

These facilities provide care to people who can’t be cared for at home or in the community. Nursing homes provide a wide range of personal care and health services. For most people, this care generally is to assist people with support services such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom, for people who can’t take care of themselves due to physical, emotional, or mental problems. Medicare doesn’t pay for this type of care and doesn’t pay for most nursing home care.

Some nursing homes may provide skilled care after an injury or hospital stay. Medicare pays for skilled nursing facility care for a limited period of time if you meet certain conditions. For more information, look at the Medicare booklet, Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care. To locate nursing homes in your area, look at Nursing Home Compare on this website.

The cost for nursing homes can vary depending on where you live and what type of care you need.

To find out information on accreditation of nursing homes in your area, look at the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) website.

Nursing Home: Checklist

It is important for you and your family members to visit the nursing home to make sure that it meets your needs, as well as those of your family. A few things to consider when choosing a nursing home are listed here.

Is the nursing home accepting new residents?	Yes_____ No_____
Is the nursing home easy to visit for family and friends?	Yes_____ No_____
Does the nursing home use hospitals where my doctor practices?	Yes_____ No_____
Does the nursing home have the services I need?	Yes_____ No_____
Does the nursing home have a variety of activities I might enjoy?	Yes_____ No_____
Do residents appear clean and well groomed?	Yes_____ No_____
Do the residents have the same staff on a daily basis?	Yes_____ No_____
• Is there enough staff available to assist residents?	Yes_____ No_____
• Does the staff respond quickly to residents’ calls for help?	Yes_____ No_____
Does the nursing home have an active resident and/or family council?	Yes_____ No_____
Is the nursing home clean and pleasant?	Yes_____ No_____
Is the nursing home certified by Medicare and Medicaid?	Yes_____ No_____
Are the nursing home and current administrator licensed?	Yes_____ No_____
How much is the cost of care in this nursing home?	__________________
• What services are included in this price?	__________________
• What additional costs will I have to pay?	__________________

Ask to see the nursing home’s last annual state inspection report. Did the report find any problems? Ask how the problems were fixed.

Long Term Care: Steps to Choosing

jerjer77 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:07:08 +0000

Long-term care is made up of many different services and may include help with activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, eating, and using the bathroom, as well as help with care most people do themselves like taking medications. Long-term care can take place at home, in senior centers, at community centers, in special retirement or assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes. Someone with a long-term physical illness, a disability, or a memory or thought problem (such as Alzheimer’s disease) often needs long-term care.

Choosing long-term care is a very important decision. You should plan and think about long-term care before you need care or before a crisis occurs. Planning ahead allows you the time to talk with your doctor about your health and any problems you may be having. It is also very important to talk with your family about the kind of long-term care services you think you might need someday, how much they would cost, and how you would pay for them. The best time to talk about long-term care is before you need services. This section gives you some steps that may help you choose the type of long-term care that meets your needs.