Using Long Term Care Insurance To Get Care At Home

2006-09-28

Disabilities and old age can be factors that affect the way a person perform his or her normal day-to-day functions. Completion of activities of daily living (ADL’s) proves to be very challenging for a senior citizen or someone who has, in some way, become physically or mentally incapacitated. Simple tasks that healthy people take for granted transform into Herculean missions for others. Eating, walking, taking a bath, answering the phone or opening the door take so much effort out of the handicapped, to the point that they actually need another person to assist with the task.

This is where the benefits or services from long term health care insurance come into play. Not all family members are able to devote a full-24 hour monitoring for their loved ones. The task may get too exhausting as they, of course, have their own lives to lead. With that being the case, people may seek outside help and take advantage of getting care at home for their relatives or friends.

In the same light, the ill, disabled or elderly may also feel more at ease recovering or rehabilitating from their illness, injury or condition in the comforts of their own home. Some examples of those who receive care at home include those suffering from asthma, organ failure, dementia, recovering from surgical operations or delicate pregnancies.

Long-term care insurance offers the opportunity to be cared for at home.

Such care given at home can be categorized as into home care, adult day care, home health care, respite care, assisted living facilities or hospice care.

Home care pertains to help given to the chronically ill, elderly or disabled, in terms of accomplishing activities related to personal hygiene or nutrition. This includes feeding, cooking, bathing, dressing, and the like. Adult day care introduces caregivers who come in only during the day and, in the meantime, help out with the activities while family members, friends or companions are not at home. Those receiving adult day care are frequently encouraged to participate in recreational or group activities, perhaps like playing a game of cards with other elderly. Home health care offers physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions for the disabled. Respite care allows family members enough time to take a temporary break or vacation from caring for their loved ones. Hospice care provides home care for the terminally ill.

Again, it is crucial to review the types of coverage available in the market before making a purchase. People have different needs and should choose the plan with options that are most applicable to their or their relatives’ condition.

Under home care coverage, for instance, long term care insurance can usually supply a stay-in caregiver, housekeeper, therapist or a registered nurse daily and round the clock. The effective date of the insurance policy can begin on the very first day that a person purchases it.

Do check with your health insurance provider and talk to them about what exact requirements are necessary to have any of the additional help approved. Most insurance companies ask for a physician’s order before it sends someone over, and consequently pays for the services rendered.

In the event that a person is confined to the hospital, he may choose to discuss the option of home health care with his doctor or nurse. That will give ample time for any paperwork to be filled out and arrangements to be made. Planning ahead is always a good bet, rather than cramming everything at the last minute. Home care referral may be given on the same day but one should never get too confident about availability of help.

The person who shall be receiving the care should also be involved in the decision-making so as to avoid any conflict with his or her potential hired caregiver.

People who are under home care will be taught certain tasks by his caregiver. This is an opportunity that should be welcomed with open arms. Not only does it help the disabled, ill or elderly with reestablishing a sense of independence, but it also becomes a reliable plan, in case the insurance policy expires or the hired help is unable to report to work.

A tip recommended for relatives, friends, and companions of home health care recipients is to drop by unexpectedly so as to check if the appropriate care is being administered to the patient.

The state health insurance assistance program or SHIP and the Health Insurance Association of America are two organizations that can also assist a person evaluate the most suitable long term care insurance for himself or his loved ones.

Having long term care insurance policies potentially removes the burden that comes with being financially dependent on the savings of other family members. It somehow gives the individual a sense of security in knowing that he and his health will be in good hands, should the need for medical care arise. This particular process of planning for one’s future is one aspect that can certainly pay off dividends after being studied and given proper attention.

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