Receiving proper care is essential for your aging loved one to live a long and happy life. While you know your loved one deserves a high-quality caregiver who can provide assistance at home, there are also serious financial concerns to consider. Now that you’ve reached this stage in planning for your loved one’s long-term care, you can explore these options for financial assistance that make finding a caregiver more affordable.
Assess Your Loved One’s Current Budget
You need to know where your loved one stands financially before you can get far with your planning, as some government and local community programs require older adults to fit within specific income guidelines. Start by asking about any plans your loved one already has in place along with his or her current financial standing. This way, you can quickly check off any services your loved one may not be eligible for, such as those offered by charity organizations that help with covering the cost of care.
Work with an Elderly Care Planner
Many caregiver agencies have staff members who are trained in how to help families plan financially for care. Often, they know about programs you might have overlooked, and they can recommend solutions such as having different sources pay for portions of your loved one’s care. Since professional elderly care planners are experts at helping families find affordable solutions, you can often streamline your planning efforts by making this one of your first points of contact.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide at-home care. Philadelphia families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
Find Out What Your Loved One’s Insurance Policy Covers
Your loved one might be able to receive Medicaid benefits that include some coverage for care, which may be the case if serious health needs prevent him or her from independently performing the majority of the daily activities of living. State-based plans tend to have a few more options for helping families pay for care, and your loved one may be able to receive care at home for minimal cost. Long-term health insurance policies also tend to provide coverage for caregivers, but your loved one will likely already need to have one in place before requiring major assistance.
Look into Community Benefits Programs
Communities tend to rally around the seniors in their neighborhoods. While you might be able to find a community group that pays for the cost of care, it may be better to use these organizations to round out your loved one’s services. For example, being able to save on groceries by accepting benefits that assist with food costs can help seniors afford having caregivers come in to help them prepare their meals.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Choose an Affordable Care Plan
You may also need to explore the different levels of care and choose one that fits exactly what your loved one needs. For instance, a home caregiver who stops by once or twice a week to check on things is more affordable than someone who stays overnight. If your loved one is still relatively healthy and independent, you can delay more extensive services for now. Often, just having a little help around the house is enough to keep seniors safe and healthy.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Philadelphia seniors can depend on. Whether your parent needs minor help with daily tasks or extensive 24-hour care, give us a call at (215) 645-4663 today.