Hal, a gentleman in his 80s, rushes through a doctor’s appointment so he can get to the nursing home to see his wife. He wishes she were still at home with him although she has suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for more than five years.
In the coming years as the ranks of the elderly increase twofold, more families will be faced with the decision of keeping their elderly loved ones at home or putting them in a Long Term Care Facility. AARP reports that 87 percent of Americans prefer remaining in their home. Unfortunately, family members tend to become unpaid caregivers, spending about 21 hours a week caring for loved ones. They spend $2400 to $3888 of their own money annually. When a parent actually moves into the home of an adult child, the total cost cannot be calculated. Families pay and pay and pay, emotionally and financially. Help is available in the form of in-home care which is actually about one-third of the cost of institutional care.
Available Programs
Following are several programs, each with its own benefits, that can help cushion the expenses for individuals who wish to stay at home.
Project Care: Project Care (Caregiver’s Alternative to Running on Empty) can arrange funding to help pay for temporary relief, a “respite,” for families caring for dementia patients. There is no specific income limitation, but priority is given to low-income, rural and minority families. Dementia patients cannot be on a Medicaid CAP/DA program and receive this funding.
Elizabeth & Tad Williams Center: The Elizabeth and Tad Williams Adult Day Care Center of Senior Services offers adult daycare services with structured activities, social programs, nutritious meals and medical supervision.
Medicaid PCS: Medicaid Personal Care Services can provide up to 80 hours of in-home care monthly. A person’s ability to perform daily living activities determines the number of hours one can receive. Primary care physicians must apply to the state for this service.
Medicaid CAP/DA: This Community Alternative Program for Disabled Adults is operated by Senior Services of Forsyth County. To participate, the individual must meet certain criteria and be a Medicaid recipient.
The Money Follows the Person: Senior Services offers this program to persons who have been a resident in a nursing home for at least three months. The person must be a Medicaid recipient before the transition to a private residence can be done. The amount of required family support determines the time allotted for these services.
Long Term Care Insurance: Long Term Care Insurance can be purchased up to age 84. The premiums are expensive. The younger you are when you purchase coverage, the less the cost.