Long term care may be necessary for a variety of reasons. As we age, we become more and more susceptible to a variety of conditions, such as Alzheimer's or a stroke, that necessitate long term care. It's important to know the guidelines that determine when a person needs long term home health care, especially if you have long term care insurance. This long term care review can help.
One way to determine if someone requires long term home health care or assisted living is the inability to perform the "activities of daily living." These activities, often abbreviated as ADLs, are defined by most insurance companies as dressing, bathing, toileting, continence, eating, and transferring, which means the ability to move from chair to bed. Other reasons a person may need long term care is if they develop Alzheimer's or senile dementia. Also, your physician may decide that home-care or out-of-home care may be necessary for another reason.
Sometimes when a doctor certifies the need for long term care, they specify where that care can be administered. Other times, it may be up to you to decide whether long term home health care or out-of-home care is better for you. A variety of factors come into play here, mainly cost and the availability of family members to oversee certain aspects of care. If you have long-term care insurance, finding out what is covered by your policy can help you make your decision.
While some policies only cover care in a licensed facility, many offer coverage for long term home health care as well. Policies vary widely however. Some only cover service from a licensed nurse, while others will pay for care from a friend or family member. Some will even pay for modifying you home. These modifications can range from making your home wheelchair-friendly to renovating a bathroom for easier use.
If you don't have private insurance, but have eligibility for government programs like Medicare or Medicaid, then you may be able to get long term care assistance. However, the guidelines are strict, and coverage of long term home health care is limited. If you meet the guidelines, you can receive certain in-home services as indicated by your doctor. Medicare will not pay for 24-hour care however.
For most seniors, long term home health care is preferable to entering nursing homes or assisted-living facilities. Many services are available for home care, ranging from round-the-clock nursing to assistance with chores or cooking. Depending on your needs however, this kind of care can be more costly than a nursing home. When considering long term home health care, find out about your insurance options and talk to your physician about what kind of services you, or your loved one, will likely need. This can help you make the right decision for you and your family. To get even more information, obtain a free online long term care insurance quote from an impartial expert.
