The websites of CarePatrol, based in Gilbert, Ariz., and ABCSP (which also operates under the name Always Best Care), based in Roseville, Calif. claimed their employees had detailed, personal knowledge about the assisted-living homes. But the FTC says they didn’t and, as a result, misled consumers about their expertise and knowledge. While not admitting wrongdoing, both businesses have settled the FTC’s charges, promising not to make false or unsubstantiated claims for the next 20 years, states Forbes Magazine According to the FTC complaint, CarePatrol claimed on its site that it graded “each and every facility” from A to F, based…
The average monthly cost for assisted living has risen 5%, which might drive some seniors to consider other, more economical options when it comes to long-term care, according to the 2012 American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) Sourcebook. Assisted living costs an average of $3,350, reports the association, but despite the increase, more people have been turning to assisted living or home healthcare options rather than nursing home care. Less than a third (31%) of newly opened long-term care insurance claims are for nursing home care, according to AALTCI data. However, many seniors are realizing that long-term care insurance can…
Americans are living longer, so debilitating diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are rising, making long-term care vital. Long-term care insurance offered those facing retirement a new option to offset the cost of assistance that many require later in life. From daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning to the all-encompassing care provided in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, long-term care insurance covers many of the expenses that health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid generally don’t. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about 60 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term…
Assisted living communities offer many great benefits to the residents and provides peace of mind to their loved ones. Some of these benefits may include the following: Dining plans with many choices of food to ensure that each resident is eating a well-balanced healthy meal. Daily social and recreational activities to encourage an active social life. Laundry and linen services. Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing and medication management, ensuring greater health and personal hygiene. On-site trained staff for medical emergencies. Group transportation for shopping and community events, and personal transportation for doctor’s appointments. On-site medical offices, physical therapists and other…
When it comes to leaving your home and residing in a retirement home most people would rather stay at home. However, today's retirement homes, or Continuing Care and Assisted Living Facilities may not be what you think. In fact, many are like 5 star hotels. The assisted living facilities offer full service amenities such as laundry, housekeeping, transportation, onsite dining, and entertainment. The best part is that many of these services are all inclusive. Many seniors value their freedom, but for reasons beyond their control they can no longer care for themselves. Therefore, simple household chores like cooking, cleaning and…
The assisted living care model is between your home and the nursing homes and has come into prominence in the past 20 years, and will continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into the retirement years. However, even for families who have had those conversations, making the transition from home to an assisted living can be challenging. Assisted living provides an opportunity for older Americans to enjoy the comforts of a home-like setting, plenty of activities and socialization, along with the help they might need — from bathing and dressing to housecleaning and medication reminders. Yet, many are so…
Click for a few of the stories uncovered during The Miami Herald’s yearlong investigation into Florida’s assisted living facilities. Thousands of documents revealed a nearly hidden world of questionable deaths, abuse, and cases of neglect towards the elderly and mentally ill. Their project, “Neglected To Death,” chronicled years of caregiver malpractice, unsuitable living conditions, and exposed Florida’s state regulators’ failure to monitor and enforce the laws protecting some of society’s most vulnerable residents. The Miami Herald and WLRN uncovered 70 questionable deaths within the last decade alone. While Florida supposedly holds some of the strictest elder-abuse laws in the nation,…
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…
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