Most seniors desire to live independently and in their own homes for as long as possible. However, if this is going to be the case, these folks also understand they are going to need some assistance with several aspects of their lives.
Factors to consider include:
- Will they need help preparing food, cleaning their house, shopping and running errands?
- Will they need help with hygiene (bathing, shaving and using the toilet)?
- Do they have a medical condition or conditions that must be monitored?
- How mobile are they? Will they have access to transportation for doctor appointments?
- What is the seniors overall physical condition?
- Can an independent senior afford a full or part-time caregiver if necessary?
If They can Afford it ...
If the senior managed to do fairly well in their life financially, there will be more options available to them. Long-term private nursing care in the seniors home is very expensive; just how expensive is determined by how extensive the care needs to be. Factors coming into play include: Ailments the senior is suffering from, whether any family or friends live close enough to provide assistance and the mobility of the person needing care.
If a senior desires to stay in their home and can afford it, private-duty nursing care or round-the-clock assisted living is usually the preferred way to go.
Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare is very conditional and limited in regard to what it may provide for in-home care for seniors. Medicaid rarely pays for anything other than care within a Medicaid-approved facility. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an option under Medicare/Medicaid. But stringent standards must be met before qualifying for any kind of in-home care under PACE.
Another Alternative
One of the best scenarios for an elderly individual that doesnt want to leave the comforts of their home is to have family or friends nearby who are willing and able to help out. The conditions have to be right for things to work smoothly in this situation. Friends or loved ones will have to be available at certain times to provide the senior with transportation to and from medical appointments as well as other duties a private caregiver would typically perform. These duties include occasional cooking, grocery shopping, helping with medications and providing attention to any medical condition the senior might be suffering from.
If the above situation is going to be the route taken, it would be a good idea to equip the household with a home medical monitoring system. Senior medical alert systems are becoming very popular among the growing senior population and their families. A home medical alarm system provides peace of mind during those times when friends and loved ones are not around. For a relatively small monthly fee, they provide round-the-clock monitoring through a two-way intercom-type of system that plugs right into a phone jack. A medical alert necklace or bracelet is worn by the senior, and at the press of a button they can trigger an emergency response in the event of a fall, illness or other problem.
A home medical alert system provides a safety net for an elderly friend or family member living alone in their home. In many cases, these systems help eliminate the need for a round-the-clock caregiver.
Factors to consider include:
- Will they need help preparing food, cleaning their house, shopping and running errands?
- Will they need help with hygiene (bathing, shaving and using the toilet)?
- Do they have a medical condition or conditions that must be monitored?
- How mobile are they? Will they have access to transportation for doctor appointments?
- What is the seniors overall physical condition?
- Can an independent senior afford a full or part-time caregiver if necessary?
If They can Afford it ...
If the senior managed to do fairly well in their life financially, there will be more options available to them. Long-term private nursing care in the seniors home is very expensive; just how expensive is determined by how extensive the care needs to be. Factors coming into play include: Ailments the senior is suffering from, whether any family or friends live close enough to provide assistance and the mobility of the person needing care.
If a senior desires to stay in their home and can afford it, private-duty nursing care or round-the-clock assisted living is usually the preferred way to go.
Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare is very conditional and limited in regard to what it may provide for in-home care for seniors. Medicaid rarely pays for anything other than care within a Medicaid-approved facility. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an option under Medicare/Medicaid. But stringent standards must be met before qualifying for any kind of in-home care under PACE.
Another Alternative
One of the best scenarios for an elderly individual that doesnt want to leave the comforts of their home is to have family or friends nearby who are willing and able to help out. The conditions have to be right for things to work smoothly in this situation. Friends or loved ones will have to be available at certain times to provide the senior with transportation to and from medical appointments as well as other duties a private caregiver would typically perform. These duties include occasional cooking, grocery shopping, helping with medications and providing attention to any medical condition the senior might be suffering from.
If the above situation is going to be the route taken, it would be a good idea to equip the household with a home medical monitoring system. Senior medical alert systems are becoming very popular among the growing senior population and their families. A home medical alarm system provides peace of mind during those times when friends and loved ones are not around. For a relatively small monthly fee, they provide round-the-clock monitoring through a two-way intercom-type of system that plugs right into a phone jack. A medical alert necklace or bracelet is worn by the senior, and at the press of a button they can trigger an emergency response in the event of a fall, illness or other problem.
A home medical alert system provides a safety net for an elderly friend or family member living alone in their home. In many cases, these systems help eliminate the need for a round-the-clock caregiver.
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