This New York Times article discusses challenging the Assisted Living ballooning monthly bills. The article states the most frequent cost increase is when a resident moves to the next level of care i.e. increased supervision with medications or diabetic injections, bathing or dressing help, incontinence issues, etc. However, the costs can soar due to arbitrary decision-making from the Assisted Living Facility’s internal policies. These increases are subjective and weighted in favor of the Assisted Living Facility. By utilizing Senior Life Care Planning we can help advocate against these increases. Therefore, keep mom or dad in a safe environment at a…
“When you buy a car or a house, you expect to haggle for the best price. It turns out that you can do the same thing when you shop for long-term care.” There are some things you just don’t haggle about but, perhaps contrary to what you would guess, it turns out that long-term care isn’t one of those things. Long-term care is expensive, to say the least, but as explained in a recent article in SmartMoney, there are some expenses that may be negotiable. Nursing homes usually will not negotiate fees, but you may be able to negotiate with…
At Senior Life Care Planning we receive telephone calls from the children of aging parents stating that their parents need and must move to an assisted living facility; what is the best assisted living facility in the area and how much does it cost? However, before the parents are “shipped off” to the facility, what are your parent’s needs and requirements; is it time for your parents to move; can they stay at home, with or without care; and are they willing to move? What is really behind the call? Caregiver burnout, frustration, communication issues or not knowing where else…
Most assisted living residents pay from their own funds, some with long term care insurance, and some veteran’s benefits or with help from family. Annual cost increases typically come in two forms: increases to cover rising expenses, or an upgrade to the next tier of care i.e. additional help with bathing, eating, medication management or dressing. A MetLife Mature Market Institute study reported that assisted-living costs climbed 5.2 percent from 2009 to 2010, to a national monthly average of $3,293, outpacing both inflation and the interest earned on savings and bonds. Also, with Social Security not increasing in 2011, this…
The cost of nursing homes and other assisted living facilities continues to rise significantly, according to the Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs conducted by insurance provider MetLife. Private-room nursing home rates rose 4.6% in 2010, increasing to an average of $229 per day or $83,585 per year, while assisted living rose 5.2% on average to $3,293 per month, or $39,516 per year. "The cost of care in nursing homes and assisted living has been and continues to be high and, in the past year, the increases have even outpaced medical care inflation of about 3%," Sandra Timmermann, director of…
As adult children of aging parents, you are facing tough decisions on moving your parents from their home to an assisted living facility. Parents do not want to lose their freedom, or leave their home. Additionally, you may be hesitant about the choice of the assisted living facility. Is it a good fit for my parents? How will they be treated? Can we afford this facility? What happens if the money runs out? Are we responsible for their costs? These are some indicators that your parent may need the additional services of an assisted living facility. Your parents are failing…
Indeed, some 800,000 people already have made that choice. Continuing care residential facilities offer a wide range of options designed to evolve with your needs. Unfortunately, it is just this wide range of options that can make the process of choosing the best facility for yourself or a loved one all the more confusing, especially when it comes to determining costs. Smart Money recently ran an article on the Confusing Costs of Continuing Care, outlining some of the more vexing difficulties, and offering tips on how to research a facility before making a choice. Continuing care facilities can vary widely…
The following is an estimate of the costs of the varying types of senior care for your aging parents: Telephone Calls – Telephone home call "care" can cost approximately 40 per month, for safety checks, medication management, etc. Home Care – Depending if you hire an agency, approximate costs $20 per hour, $7,500 for 24/7 care; or a private individual approximately $10 per hour, although you have to pay taxes, insurance on top. Respite Care – Otherwise, known as Hospice, can be paid by Medicare. Visiting Nurses – If treatment prescribed by physician, may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid….
No. The personal allowance reduction is only for single claimants receiving Medicaid, in the nursing home. The Medicaid Waiver program, i.e. residing at home or at an assisted living facility, are not part of this automatic reduction.
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