Family Caregivers - Get Reimbursed For Providing Your Homecare Services!

Many of us will gladly take Mom to her doctor's appointments, administer medications, and check in if the need arises without a second thought. But with millions of loyal children caring for aging parents out of their own pockets, a little financial relief is welcome. Few family caregivers are aware that you can get paid - however small the amount may be - to care for Mom and provide homecare services. Due to the long working hours, however, some adult children caregivers have been forced to leave their full-time jobs or even scale back their hours spent on the clock, leading to a significantly reduced cash flow. Fortunately, if being a caregiver is causing a noticeable financial strain, there are homecare reimbursement programs that can help alleviate some of the burden. Keep in mind, however, that you must practice patience when applying for these programs - make sure that your application is up-to-date and all the necessary attachments are included before you send it so that delays aren't any longer than necessary.

Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI)

Long-term care insurance, which functions as an indemnity program, only pays the insured the amount that was contracted at the outset, and regardless of homecare services that are received, will only pay that specified amount.

LTCI, which covers nursing home, home health care, adult day care services, assisted living facilities, and hospice care, offers payments to in-home family caregivers, though the insurance must include in-home care and/or homecare services coverage. In certain instances, LTCI requires that family caregivers complete a basic training program on homecare services and/or caregiving for elderly patients. Though almost all LTCI contracts include skilled, intermediate, and custodial long-term homecare services, don't rely on this type of insurance to be your only fall-back when it comes to paying for in-home health care. Though for clarification, you should contact your LTCI company directly for details on its family caregiver reimbursement policies as well as what is needed to qualify.

Medicaid Cash and Counseling Program

A state-administered program, Medicaid is only available to low-income individuals and families who meet certain federal and state law eligibility requirements. In other words, if you have limited income and resources, applying for Medicaid relief is advisable; however, you must be able to meet specific eligibility criteria. Persons over the age of 65 with limited income and resources immediately become eligible as well as those who are terminally ill or live in a nursing home.

Fortunately, if the person you're caring for is either eligible for or is currently using Medicaid, you may be able to receive direct payments from its Cash and Counseling program, though it is available only to family caregivers in select states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. In some cases, the person you're caring for may have too high an income, excluding him or her from the Medicaid program; some states, such as Georgia, Maine, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Oregon, have accounted for this oversight and offer similar programs to family caregivers (Source: National Governor's Association).

Medicaid, aware that family caregivers are often the best care providers for Mom or Dad, will send a check directly to the recipient to reimburse for homecare services rendered, though this amount depends upon various assessments of overall needs and the average cost of in-home health care for that particular state. This money can also be used by family caregivers to purchase supplies, medical equipment, or even to pay for ADLs (activities of daily living). To find out if your loved one is eligible or for more information on the Cash and Counseling program, please call the National Program Office at 617-552-2809.

Making the Arrangement with Mom Official

Since money is involved, it's recommended that family caregivers draw up some sort of short, typewritten contract that outlines the terms of the caregiving situation in depth, including the pay rate and frequency, job description and homecare services that will be provided, and how various expenses will be reimbursed (if applicable). Hiring an attorney or other legal professional will help all family caregivers involved create a legal document that prevents sticky situations from arising.

It's also important to remember that this payment is viewed as income by the government, so all family caregivers must report their earnings each year as taxable income. Though the money received for providing homecare services is negligible, it will help to offset many of the costs associated with providing Mom (or Dad) with a loving, stable, and comfortable home.

Assisted Living Costs

Assisted living residences promise seniors with good quality of life while aging gracefully. Thus, it is often misconceived that living in an assisted living facility costs a fortune which in turn scares people away before having complete and accurate information. In reality, compared to the nursing home costs, assisted living costs are less than half the daily costs of the former. The average assisted living rate has increased by approximately 2.1% from $2,969 monthly to $3,031 monthly.

Comparison of Nursing Home Costs vs. Assisted living costs

Nursing Home Costs (Approximation)
2007
Daily: $189.00
Monthly: $5670.00
Annually: $68,985.00

2008
Daily: $191.00
Monthly: $5,730.00
Annually: $69,715.00

Assisted Living Costs
2007
Daily: $98.00
Monthly: $2969.00
Annually: $35,628.00

2008
Daily: $101.00
Monthly: $3,031.00
Annually: $35,628.00

Monthly based rate costs of the assisted living vary on the services included. Below are the living expenses included in the assisted living monthly value:

- Monthly mortgage or rent (included in assisted living)
- 24 hour security service (included)
- Three meals a day plus snacks (included)
- Utilities (included)
- Housekeeping services (included)
- Daily health aid visitations (included)
- Transportation to off-site activities (included)
- Personal care (included)
- 24 hour emergency call system (included)
- Landscaping/snow removal (included)
- Home maintenance (included)
- Trash removal (included)
- Social and entertainment (included)
- Laundry service (included).
- Property taxes (not applicable)
- Property insurance (not applicable)
- Condominium maintenance fee (not applicable)

When you think these costs are too much for you, there are a lot of financial tools that can improve cash flow and make ends meet. Here are some of the suggested tools where you can find extra money for a good retirement plan.

You can try this checklist to assist you in finding funds for assisted living and begin developing plan for a new lifestyle care for the years to come.

Reverse Mortgage can provide you with a good cash flow, a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of equity in his or her home into cash according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) [Source]. This website among others specializes in reverse mortgages.

Long Term Care Insurance also covers a portion of assisted living care and as life expectancy continues to grow many people are now considering this another viable option. But this has marketplace limits. A new approach through public-private insurance for all should emerge where the dollars follow the person-not the provider-and long term care insurance products will have more choices for a wider range of consumers.

You can also let your heirs to collect the bills. It might reduce their inheritance but the value you allocate for you loved ones and for the comfortable lifestyle while growing old is a small price.

Whatever might be your choice in financing ones senior years, the benefits of living in a healthy environment with the support of the family and fostering new relationships is priceless.

Download this ebook for more information regarding assisted living. It includes list of websites that can assist you with your research.

The Two Most Important Points of Senior Care

Elderly people don't often decide on their own to enroll in senior care programs. Too often, family pushes them into programs that would work perfectly for everyone but the patient. These situations are set up to fail and lead to growing resentment, weaken family bonds and encourage the onset of senior depression. If you're concerned about a loved one and feel they need extra help, keep the following two points in mind while helping to set it up:

Senior Care Is for the Senior

Now that the older person in your life can no longer handle everyday tasks, you may be feeling the burden. People today are so busy the hour or two is takes to go grocery shopping, drop things off at the library and the like sometimes really are inconvenient. Senior care may seem like the perfect arrangement. Just remember that every program is different. Encouraging your loved one to get more help than they need could be detrimental.

Work with a program that offers individualized care. If your grandmother needs help with transportation and housecleaning, you should be able to find services that target those things. Adding in meal preparation or personal hygiene when it isn't needed can cause friction between you and your family member and between patient and caregiver.

In Home Care Helps Physically, Emotionally and Financially

Because in home support needs will change over time, some people start encouraging a residential setting right away. They want to deal with the problem and have it over with versus monitoring a situation over a length of time. Don't discount the benefits of a senior staying at home. Residential settings - even after insurance - are far more expensive than most in home services. The ability to stay in familiar surroundings with familiar people lessens the risks of abuse and accidents. Also, the comfort of staying at home means the difference between living out a happy life and depression for many elderly people.

No one wants to deal with the decline of a parents' health. It's hard to see the people who picked you up and dusted you off unable to care for themselves. It's important to see the difference, however, between someone struggling with certain tasks and being unable to care for him or herself. If you and a loved one are fighting over how much assistance is needed, don't be afraid to call in an expert and ask for advice. Work with a group that offers individual services. You may be surprised by the senior care options they can provide.

Inside Nursing Homes & Rehab Centers - Physical Therapists I Have Known

Surprise! I am writing this article to tell you some good things concerning nursing homes. Since my associates and I have had the opportunity to visit numerous nursing homes and rehab centers and also numerous hospitals and numerous other medical centers and sections, I can give you a bird's eye view of something that is very important.

I am writing about the physical and occupational therapists -- who are working inside of nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation and care centers. This is probably one of the good things that can happen to someone inside of a nursing home IF they are able to access these treatments/training and exercise sessions. Once residents were allowed to actually go to the physical therapy room, and once they actually got their scheduled time with the therapists, the therapists worked hard and long hours to help the residents get independent.

Even in the very worst rehab center, the attitude and professionalism of the physical therapists and occupational therapists was never in question. Most of the physical rehabilitation employees that we have seen have been right on target with their job. The ones that I saw working with patients were doing their jobs and earning their pay, each and every day. I observed therapists working hard to help residents be successful in therapy. Most of them were polite, professional and hard-working even in the most horrible rehab center. I have to say that and give them credit. These people were there to do a job and they did it. So the problems are not with that particular department inside of nursing homes. Many of the workers that I met, the actual rehab people were excellent, and professional. It is sad that some of them didn't even know that they were working in some of the worst nursing homes in the state. Eventually some of them might learn the true facts. Meanwhile, keep on constant communication with the rehab physical therapists to really find out the truth about what is happening with your patient/family member.

If you visit some of the "bad" nursing homes, you will see equipment that is totally outdated or you will see that there is a lack of equipment and most times that is not the fault of the physical rehab personnel.

So, once the residents actually arrived, they could get good therapy once it was there turn. Problem is the waiting. And the waiting is not the therapist's fault, but it is the fault of administration and owners who do not properly supply the therapy equipment needed. So patients would need to take turns on various equipment and it the equipment was not ready, then patients would use other equipment.

Difference between good and bad centers:

In the bad centers, they had less than adequate equipment. And the ones they did have, they did not have enough of. In the good centers, there was great equipment and there was adequate equipment, so patients are not waiting their lives away for therapy. In the bad centers, patients were told to line up at the elevators upstairs and wait until staff came to get them. The process was slow, and painful. These residents were waiting their lives away. In the good centers, patients had very short waits if any.

IN ALL the centers, both good and bad:

One of the saddest things you might see inside of some bad nursing homes is patients just patiently waiting for the day that they get to leave the nursing home. That is sad; yet that is reality.

Most of the physical therapists have not been damaged by the bad medical centers but if they stay there long enough (in the bad places), they will eventually have their reputations ruined. In some of the places, it seems that the physical therapists are the only really caring and concerned workers who are not goofing off. Most of the physical therapists that I spoke with or saw working with patients were giving excellent care. These workers are educated, informed individuals who seem to have a genuine concern for the patients that they work with. As they work, they see improvements day by day and that makes their work more rewarding.

Once I saw a person who began working in one of the better nursing homes progress from not being able to walk two inches to being able to walk for about twenty feet. So there is hope, progress and a good reason to attend physical therapy sessions at these places if you are stuck there as a patient. If you are thinking of going into the physical therapy occupation, you might want to investigate it more thoroughly, and get all the information you can get about schools in your location.

So, if you have a family member or friend who seems to be lingering on in a nursing home when they should already be at home, make an appointment directly with with the physical therapist to find out what is holding up progress.

Updated 2012

What Should I Know About Assisted Living?

Just about everyone looks forward to retirement as a time to relax and enjoy life. Often, though, we get too consumed by daily responsibilities to fully relish the leisure time we've worked so hard to gain. That's where a move to assisted living can make quite a difference.

Although Massachusetts assisted living communities tend to be very well-regulated and of unusually good quality, there are certainly major differences among them. People who are familiar with many communities tend to prefer those that that stand out by placing far more emphasis on helping to keep residents active, busy, and involved than most other facilities do. This philosophy can often be manifested by a very warm, personal feeling that comes across readily to prospective residents who stop to talk with current residents, and ask their feelings about living at New Horizons. Indeed, one of the most important considerations for anyone considering assisted living is to speakk directly to existing residents of any particular facility.

Most seniors considering such a move to assisted living are very concerned about maintaining their dignity and independence. Their ages typically range from about 65 to 100, with an average in the low to mid 80s. Moving to a fine residential environment with quality accommodations, good neighbors, and a strong program can often be a major benefit to seniors who have previously lived by themselves. Indeed, they very often "come alive again once they no longer have to concern themselves with the burdens of living alone.

One of the most common sources of confusion for those looking into retiremetn living is the challenge of correctly understanding the difference between independent retirement living and assisted living. The former is typically a living arrangement in residential apartments where elders share common space, but are able to maintain their independence with little or no assistance. Better facilities typically provide three meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby assistance, if needed, and a wide variety of social activities. In Massachusetts, communities often blend independent living and assisted living options into one facility.

Similar to independent living, assisted living is a housing option for older adults who need some assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, bathing, ambulating or toileting, but who do not require 24-hour nursing care. They are still able to live independently with some assistance, but that assistance is generally necessary on a daily basis. In many ways, assisted living might be seen as "independent living with an added bonus!"

MA senior assisted-living communities and retirement residences for aged citizens are among the very best. Many folks profoundly seek and appreciate the opportunity to enjoy their "golden years" in a very caring assisted living place convenient to Boston, Worcester, Southboro, Hudson, Northborough, Westboro, Framingham and Fitchburg, Marlborough, and Woburn, MA. Other nearby communities well-populated with quality assisted living options include Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Waltham, Weston and the other towns along MA Route 128. Often, the majority of seniors looking into these communities prefer the many benefits of a large community, with the intimacy of a small assisted-living home where everyone knows your name.

Assisted living facilities should not be confused with a nursing home, but rather a Massachusetts retirement community with many activities. Most such communities are non-sectarian Boston-area senior communities that might offer frequent religious services on-campus and easy access to others. Some include at least weekly Protestant and Jewish services on-site and daily Catholic Mass. Enjoying metro-west elderly care assisted-living with elegant gourmet dining, at low, affordable rates can truly make a difference in the lives of seniors.

A wealth of information regarding the wide selection of Massachusetts assisted living communities is available on the Internet.

The Importance of Independent Living Disabilities Programs

Independent living disabilities programs assist people with disabilities to take control of their lives by having the same choices as non-disabled individuals. Disabled people want to continue living with their family, attend the neighborhood school, use public transit, and work in jobs that are in line with their education and interests. They do not want to be pitied nor ashamed.

Private programs have a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of individuals of all ages with mental retardation, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, emotional problems, brain injury, behavioral health, physical handicaps, and other developmental disabilities.

Independent living disabilities programs offer an optimum environment for self-worth, social acceptance, and growth. To make independence a reality requires accessible housing, accessible transport, as well as employment, training, and leisure.

There are numerous services, which assist with dressing, housework, cooking, getting to work, and even visiting friends and family.

The key functions of independent living resource centers for the disabled include:

Advocacy

Advocates resolve discrimination and denial of services through mediation with the government, business, and service providers. They also recommend system changes to reflect the needs of people with disabilities. They assist with helping the disabled with interacting with appropriate social services.

Information and Referral

These resource centers act as a clearinghouse of information concerning disability. They also make appropriate referrals to assist the community in learning about disabilities and disability related issues.

Independent Living Skills

Classes are developed to help individuals learn basic and advanced skills to achieve self-reliance. Some classes include credit counseling, homemaking, education opportunities, communication skills, assertiveness training, adaptive cooking, mobility training, nutrition and more.

Peer Counseling

One-on-one counseling, group counseling, and peer support assists individuals with disabilities to help each other on a cross-disability basis. Peers provide assistance and support to increase skills and knowledge that will overcome interpersonal, family, social, financial, interagency and other disability-related challenges.

Technical Assistance

Accessibility surveys are completed for anyone interested in architectural modifications for homes, businesses, or public buildings.

Independent living disabilities programs assist in supporting individuals with disabilities in attaining independent living and the right to select their personal degree of independence.

CNA Profession at a Glance

CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant and is a health care professional who is trained to perform certain basic medical procedures and to help with basic life needs.

To become nursing assistant, one needs to be legal age and take suitable training course. Although the minimum federal requirements are 75 hours for class and labs, most states have much higher requirements for Nursing Assistants to get certified.

CNA classes are offered widely at different prices and durations. But there are also many, who offer free CNA classes, usually community colleges or different health care facilities. Some of the providers may require preliminary test ( basic education and English language ) to be passed before taking the actual class.

Before starting their labs all prospective nursing assistants should provide medical examination which states that they are free from communicable diseases, able to lift up to 75 lb and are in good health in general.
After successfully completing of all studies and labs, and taking the corresponding tests, a state exam is needed for final certification.

State exams consist of two parts: written test and practical exam. If one fails on the written test they are not allowed to take the practical one and need to re-take the written test. And if one fails the practical exam they are allowed for two more attempts, whenever and wherever scheduled state exams are conducted.

Once nursing assistants get certified, the most common places where they can find a job are:
- nursing homes
- assisted living facilities
- hospitals
- rehabilitation centers
- doctor's offices
- special care facilities
- home care

Each of the above mentioned job opportunities require more or less specific skills to be deployed, but as a rule all the skills can be mastered at one place: the nursing home. The more experience CNA-s have in the nursing homes, the easier for them to find better job later.

Nursing homes are long-term health care facilities for people who lost the ability to take care of themselves: elderly; handicapped; people with severe illnesses, bound in bed for the remainder of their lives; humans on artificial life support etc.

The main task for the nursing assistants, working in the nursing homes, is to help residents with ADL-s ( activities of daily living ) and provide all the routine care, such as:
- dressing and undressing the residents
- turning and repositioning bedridden residents
- feeding
- cleaning up residents' body excretions ( urine, feces etc. )
- bathing residents
- changing linen and making beds
- transferring residents from bed to wheelchairs or other chairs and vice versa
- answering residents' calls for help
- observing residents conditions and reporting if there are any changes
- charting in special books for all work and observations done

CNA profession is one of the most extreme profession on today's job market due to the work environment and specific duties. It is very demanding, physically and emotionally job, that requires all nursing assistants to be always in good physical shape and high state of mind to promptly respond to all challenges and successfully complete their duties.

Rewards for CNA work are beyond this material world as this work substantially speeds up spiritual development of all humans and opens their hearts for each other and for God.