Placing a loved one into a nursing especially a parent is a difficult decision. The most important thing is to ensure their safety and comfort. Included in this video is important tips for making this huge decision. Long term nursing home care often provides your loved one with better attention and care while helping them maintain a level of independence. You will find this video a valuable resource for making such a difficult decision.

Nursing Home Care Costs

Recent surveys say nursing home care costs now average about $168 a day which comes out to be exactly $61,320 a year.  This is up 10% from two years ago. Nursing home expenses all to often have devastating impacts on retirement savings.  Unfortunately a majority of individuals 65 and older have erroneously thought Medicare would pay most or even all of their nursing home bills. It’s important to get your facts straight.

We all know medical bills are expensive and with out the help of insurance and government assistance millions would be left without coverage and in dire financial crisis. If you or a loved one is looking into nursing home care you will find this site extremely valuable for you. Here are some common ways these bills are paid.

Personal Resources

Half of all nursing home residents cover the expense of their stay out of their own savings. As their savings is depleted and assets are sold a long term resident may become eligible for Medicaid assistance.

Medicare

Medicare in limited situations can offer subsidized nursing home costs requiring skilled nursing or rehabilitation services. To be eligible you must frequent a Medicare certified skilled nursing home after a qualified hospital stay which typically is a minimum of three days. Medicare pays for the first 20 days of approved stays in a skilled facility, but coverage is limited beyond 20 days.

Medicaid

Medicaid as you probably know is a Federal and State backed program that can pay most nursing home for individuals with little income. Since it is a State program qualifications for Medicaid will vary in each state. Unfortunately Medicaid can only pay for nursing home care in a certified facility approved by the government.

Managed Care Plans

A managed care plan only covers nursing homes that have a specific contract with the plan. If the home is approved by your plan, check if the plan can also monitor the home for quality of nursing care.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance

There are some amazing private insurance policies available to help offset the cost of long term care. These policies are referred to as Medigap because it pays for the gaps in Medicare coverage like deductibles and co-insurances. Most Medigap plans help cover the costs of skilled nursing care as long as the care is covered by Medicare

Long-Term Care Insurance

This is a private policy. The benefits and costs of these plans vary widely depending on the coverage you want. It is recommended to contact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to gain impartial information regarding coverage and available policies. There is a free publication called “A Shopper’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance.” that contains excellent information.

These are the most typical ways people are able to cover the cost of nursing home health care.

Nursing home care has been under increasing scrutiny over the last few years. News reports covering elderly neglect and abuse at the hurtful hands of their professional care givers are shamefully common. At times it becomes necessary for a loved one to enter in to the care of an Assisted Living Facility. Nothing is more important then their safety and comfort.

Before you move your parent or spouse into a nursing home make sure you have your facts straight. There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a nursing home; quality of care, cost, medical needs, location, and personal preference.There are isolated incidents of abuse and neglect in Assisted Living Centers. This is by no means the norm. Let’s get the real facts. Here are some of the basic data from the National Nursing Home Survey (1999):

· Number of nursing homes: 18,000

· Number of beds: 1.9 million

· Number of current residents: 1.6 million

· Average length of stay (current resident): 892 days

· Number of discharged residents: 2.5 million

· Average length of stay (discharged resident): 272 days

· Occupancy rate: 87 percent

Quality:

Not all nursing home care is the same. It is important to do your research before making a selection. Here are some ways to research. Check the ownership. A resident’s chances of receiving good care are better at an independent not-for-profit facility than at a for-profit chain. Check with the local ombudsman, the government official in charge of handling nursing home complaints. They should be able to recommend homes in your area. Actually visit the homes after checking several homes go back to your favorite and make unannounced visit. Finally read each nursing home’s 2567 Form. This is the facility’s state inspection survey and they are required to present it upon request.

Cost:

The cost of a nursing home care varies greatly depending on location and possible     surcharges for private paying patients. Medicare and Medicaid clients can typically qualify for great reimbursements and subsidies. Most of the pricing found one the internet is private pay prices meaning for those on Medicare and Medicaid will pay substantially less.

Finding the proper nursing home care is so important to ensure comfort and safety during stressful times. The information on this site will assist you in making the right decision.