Whether you’re trying to get immediate needs met or simply preparing for a possible future, navigating the world of long term care can feel overwhelming. In part, that’s because long term care is itself a complicated set of distinct services. Most people won’t need every service or treatment option available, but determining what you need and what you don’t can be challenging. This is especially true when the need for long term care comes on in a sudden and stressful way.
In many ways, Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare families and individuals for the realities of long term care (especially the financial realities). Additionally, there are other resources that can help you and your family navigate the complex realities of long term care.
Some of these resources are designed to simply provide information. Others, such as Geriatric Care Managers, will actually step in and help coordinate needed care every step of the way. Knowing which resources are available (and which ones may or may not be covered by your LTCI) can make the long term care experience smoother, more effective, and less stressful.
Geriatric Care Managers
Sometimes called Aging Life Care Specialists, Geriatric Care Managers can act as your individual guide to getting the care you or your loved one needs, including long term care. Geriatric Care Managers have the ability to perform assessments and coordinate care. This can include tasks such as identifying services, creating care plans, and even acting as a liaison with care providers.
Insurance generally doesn’t cover the cost of Geriatric Care Managers. Individuals and families should check with their health insurance plans and their LTCI policies to understand what’s covered and what you may be expected to pay for out of pocket. For many, Geriatric Care Managers are worth the expense, as they can help guide you through the long term care experience in a way that works for your needs and your financial realities. For Geriatric Care Managers we recommend in Illinois and nationally, go to our website here.
Elder Law Attorneys
When most people think about elder law, their minds first go to estate planning and will writing. But many seniors often have needs that extend beyond these areas, especially when it comes to long term care.
An Elder Law Attorney can help you navigate complex aspects of the legal system that apply to seniors, covering everything from securing Medicaid and other health benefit programs to power of attorney directives and planning for the future (especially in terms of planning for incapacity or vulnerability). Elder Law Attorneys can help you protect your future, your assets, and your health care wishes.
Some Illinois-based Elder Law Attorneys that we recommend include the following:
For a list of good Elder Law Attorneys outside of Illinois and nationally, we recommend:
Senior Placement Specialists
Finding the right senior living community can be a significant and high stakes challenge. There are numerous choices, and each has their own feel, population, services, and cost. Finding a good place within your budget that’s sustainable and affords the quality of life you want can be challenging.
That’s where Senior Placement Specialists come in. They assist families and individuals to find a community that’s the right fit for those who need care. They rely on their professional experience and knowledge to help get you admitted and settled into a community that works for your needs and your finances.
When searching for a Senior Placement Specialist, it’s useful to know about their fee. Some will charge you for their service, and some are paid instead by the senior living community where you ultimately decide to live. Some believe that Specialists paid by a community are biased to choose only the communities where they’ll get paid. We don’t have an opinion on that, but we do recommend that you ask a Specialist how many communities they’re contracted with. The Specialists we know are contracted with hundreds. That would give you plenty of choice, which also means that the perceived bias isn’t relevant. In our opinion, neither fee structure is better than the other, but please do your homework.
Home Care and Home Health Care
Many people who require long term care would prefer to receive that care in the comfort of their own home. For some patients, this can be accomplished thanks to home health care workers. Home care agencies, and home health care agencies, offer professionals who come to your home to administer care and needed services on a regular basis.
As with Geriatric Care Managers, it’s important to consult with your health insurance and LTCI policies to understand what is and isn’t covered when it comes to home care. Many of these plans differ significantly, and no one wants to be surprised by out of pocket expenses.
If you know you will want home health care in advance, that is something that can often be accounted for when creating your Long Term Care Insurance plan.
For resources we recommend in Illinois and nationally, please go here.
Find the Right Care for Your Needs
These resources are designed to help you find the care you need when you need it. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to figure this all out on your own. Getting help can make the process smoother and better, removing stress and improving outcomes.
And if you want to ensure your Long Term Care Insurance plan covers some of these resources, make sure to talk to the LTCI experts at Gordon Associates Long Term Care Insurance. Contact us today!
To help determine if long-term care (LTC) insurance is right for you, we are offering a FREE informational guide. This is a comprehensive booklet that will answer many of your questions about tax breaks and incentives for LTCI for federal and state taxes.
To help determine if long-term care (LTC) insurance is right for you, we are offering a FREE informational guide. This is a comprehensive booklet that will answer many of your questions about LTC and assist you with your health care planning.