Understanding Elderly Care- Series Part 2

There are several options available to families these days. Two of the important factors which influence the decision on where to place your loved one are the financial ramifications and the other is the type of care needed. Both will be discussed in this article.

With the high cost of medical care these days many families opt for taking care of their loved one at home. There are still options available to help make this easier both physically and financially.

The family can hire an outside agency to help care for their loved one, but this can be costly. Services charge an hourly rate usually ranging from about $18 to $25 per hour. If over-night care is needed then the cost goes up. Many cannot afford this service. There are advantages to this in that the agency can be hired for short amount of time. For example, if the elder just needs assistance with shopping or the lunch meal then the agency can provide a caregiver for 2 hrs per day to assist them. This would be far less expensive than placing the individual in an Assisted Living or Board and Care.

Another way is for families to apply for in-home support services if they meet the criteria. The IHSS Program is available in California (other states may also have similar services available, please check with your Medicaid program).The IHSS Program will help pay for services that will help the elderly person to remain safely in their own home. This program is to be used as an alternative to long term care (nursing homes), assisted living or board and care facilities. In order to be eligible, the person must be over 65 years of age, or disabled, or blind. Disabled children are also eligible for IHSS. Also listed below are other eligibility requirements:

· Is the person a currently receiving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP); or

· Does the person meet all the eligibility criteria for SSI/SSP except that their income is more than that of the SSI/SSP income levels; or

· Does the person meet all the eligibility criteria for SSI/SSP, including the income requirement, but still is not receiving SSI/SSP; or

· Is the person a Medi-Cal recipient which meets SSI/SSP disability criteria.

Some of the services which can be approve through IHSS are housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care services (such as bathing, grooming and toileting), assistance with wound dressing changes, stoma care, companionship to medical appointments, and protective supervision for the mentally impaired. There other services provided check with the program directly. The services of the program can be provided by family member or an outside agency.

The problem with this model is that most elderly patients need more than just a few hours of care. The IHSS program will approve up to 4 hours of paid assistance depending on what they determine the need is. In that case the burden falls upon the family to care for the person for the remaining 20-22 hours hrs per day.

If the family finds that caring for the elder in the home is to difficult they can opt for other residential care options such as a Board and Care or Assisted Living Facilities. The term residential care refers to a facility where non-medical long term care is being provided in a single family residence, a retirement residence or in any appropriate care facility.

A Board and Care facility is usually a 1-6 bed facility and has a home like environment in that they are set in residential homes. The potential resident must be able to take their own medications with minimal assistance, they should be ambulatory but can use assistive devices such as a walker, should be able to feed themselves with minimal assistance. This type of facility is completely private pay. Meaning the family or resident will have to pay out of their pocket. Some do accept SSI/SSP as payment, but they are difficult to find and the patient has need very little assistance. The cost per month for this type of facility can range from $1500 on the low end to $ 4500. The cost will depend on the "level of care." This means, for example, that for the basic room and board there is one price, but if the resident needs more assistance such as with bathing and grooming and/or with taking medications there will be an increase in cost. But on average the cost of a shared room in a 6 bed or smaller facility is $2500 per month and for a single room is it $3500 per month. Again, keep in mind tat these facilities do not accept insurance payments.

Another type of residential care facility is the large Assisted living facility which provides assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), but allows one to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Assisted living exists to bridge the gap between independent living and nursing homes. Residents in assisted living centers are not able to live by themselves, but do not require constant care or 24hr nursing care either. Assisted living facilities offer help with ADLs such as eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and assistance with medications. Assisted living is not an alternative to a nursing home, but an intermediate level of long-term care appropriate for many seniors. Many of the facilities also have special memory care units for those with Alzheimers and Dementia that are not at the advanced stages which require more medical care. The cost per month for this type of facility ranges from about $3,000 to $5,000. The level of care needed is what affects the cost. You just basic room and board it is in the $3000 range. If the resident needs assistance with meals or dressing for example, the cost will be higher because more care is being provided. Another factor in cost is if the resident lives in a shared room or a private room. Again, these facilities are private pay only. Meaning they do not accept insurance payments of any kind.

The final type of facility is the Long Term Care also known as a Nursing Home. In these facilities they provided total care. Meaning they provide assistance at all levels. There is not just supervision 24hrs per day, the is actual medical care provided 24 hrs per day. Assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers are welcome. The main difference is that nursing care such as wound care, IVs, injectable medications, and mechanic feedings are allowed. Resident that require outside care such a hemodialysis can still attend there treatments and then have 24 hr nursing service to monitor them. The care provided is much more extensive in Long Term Care. The cost is much greater, but insurances are accepted and Medi-cal does pay for services at this level. The average cost is about $5200 for shared room to $7000 for a private room. The charges are for the total care of the patient including their medications and the visits with the facility physician. If the resident is a private pay patient then the fees may vary as the medications would not be included in there care unless they resident was covered under Medicare part D.

Some of the basics have been discussed. Elder care is very complicated and there is much more to it than what has been given here. In the next part of this series other services such as Hospice care will be discussed. Understanding what is available and how to use it is so valuable in making the best informed decision. It will allow your loved one to ascertain the right kind of care while giving everyone comfort with the decision.