What are your care plan options?
Who can help you transition from your current crisis point to where you need to be to receive the appropriate level of care? You can use the do-it-yourself approach or hire the appropriate professional to help you navigate the process. Below is a sample of resources with an idea of how they bill and what services can be offered. With the growing aging population, more hybrid options are becoming available.
Medicare Myth
Many people assume that Medicare covers the following services. While there are limited coverages for short-term care, Medicare does not pay for long-term care services.
Social Workers
Most work at hospitals and assist in discharge planning to help the resident transition out of the hospital and into a safe environment based on their needs of care. These services are often offered by the hospital at no additional expense to the patient.
Some communities have social workers available through community outreach programs. They can assist you in a process to find resources available depending on the resident’s need of care. There are many national organizations that offer resources e.g. Alzheimer’s Association, American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association), Eldercare Locator, Parkinson’s Foundation. Check with your local community to see what else is available in your area.
Geriatric Care Manager
Geriatric care managers are generally fee-based, either flat fee or by the hour. They can vary dramatically in price.
They usually have more of an extensive background in dealing with aging issues and all of their challenges. Most are very familiar with local resources and care options.
These professionals assist you with in-home care and community-based care facilities such as adult day care, respite care, nursing home facilities, and assisted living facilities. They help you find care options and coordinate a team that will assist you in some or all aspects of aging depending on how comprehensive they are.
They will take the time to help determine the capabilities and limitations of the caregivers, both family members and professionals, to help create a plan that is appropriate for the family as well as the patient.
Placement companies
Fee-based: charge a fee to a resident.
Commission-based: no fee to residents – they are paid a commission by the community they recommend to you. A good question to ask them is how many communities they are contracted with to place residents.
Usually, these providers try to remain neutral about what community they recommend.
They generally don’t provide a total care plan – they are there to help you find a community that fits the resident’s needs or a home health care agency that can provide the proper level of care.
They can assist you with finding independent living, assisted living, home health care services, and sometimes skilled care.
Do-it-yourself option
You can research communities and resources available to find a place that fits your loved one’s needs. Here are some things to consider while you‘re researching:
- What is the monthly cost?
- Are there rate increases? How often? How much?
- Is there a move-in or community fee?
- Do they have different levels or tiers of care? Or is it all-inclusive for one fee?
- How many levels of care do they provide – from independent, assisted, memory, or skilled?
- Is there an additional fee for medication management, or is that included in a different level of care?
- Who do they contract with if home health care is needed? Or are you allowed to choose your own provider?
- Consider the location and proximity to family and/or friends to allow consistent visits.
- Do they provide transportation when needed for medical visits?
- What activities and amenities are available?
- What makes them different from other communities?
- When visiting the community, were you greeted immediately or allowed to walk around without being questioned?
- What is the staff’s availability on all shifts?
- What safety features do they have to ensure a safe living environment for each level of care?
- How many floor plan options do they have?
- Is there an option to have a spouse in the same residence, and what is that additional cost?
- Do they allow pets? What is the policy?
- Stay for a meal and evaluate the food.
- Check the health score in the kitchen (it should be posted on the wall).
- Check state regulators for complaints, including Better Business Bureau, Google reviews, Yelp, etc.
** See Caregiver Options for housing and levels of care options