If your loved one’s qualify the Idaho Medicaid program is an option for paying for senior home care services in Idaho. The Idaho Medicaid program can also fund other forms of long term care.

Idaho Medicaid Eligibility Requirements

• For a single person their income cannot be more than $689 a month, they can own one car and one house, and their assets cannot
  exceed $2000.
• For a married couple the income cap is $1378 a month, they can own one car and one house, and their assets cannot exceed more than $3000.
• Must be an Idaho resident.
• Must be a United States citizen or legal non-citizen.

If you would like more information about Idaho Medicaid eligibility or need help with a loved one or friend you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, visit our Senior Home Care Agency Directory, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!

Are you looking into the best options for funding long term care for yourself or a loved one? Chances are, if not now, there will come a time in the future when you’ll be seeking real options. Whether they are looking for elderly home care, an assisted living facility, or nursing home care, the majority of Americans will need help to maintain their day to day functions as they age. Ideally, socking away a small fortune to prepare for the inevitable is ideal. However, if this isn’t an option, there are valid alternatives to help fund long term care. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the Medicaid option. The purpose of this blog is to give a basic overview of Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and potential pitfalls.

Medicaid Eligibility

Medicaid is a jointly funded Federal and State program for individuals with low incomes and few resources. Since Medicaid is administered at the state level, eligibility criteria will vary depending on the state in which one lives. As a general rule, Medicaid recipients applying for long term care must meet the following criteria:

• Limited income. Income eligibility criteria will vary from state to state (long term care Medicaid for your State may have a higher income allowance than straight Medicaid).
• Limited assets. Most States limit assets to around $2,000, however an individual may own their home and a vehicle.
• Functional eligibility. In order to be eligible for long term care benefits, applicants must meet a certain criteria. Generally speaking, they must demonstrate that their is a true need for day to day assistance, that renders them unable to remain independent on their own.

To find out your state’s eligibility requirements, call your local Department of Human Services, or look them up online. Applications can almost always be printed from the websites and mailed in for your convenience.

Medicaid Benefits

So what benefits are available once an applicant has been qualified for Medicaid? For those who wish to remain in their homes, most states offer waiver programs which allow for an array of health care professionals to provide home care services to them in their private residences. These services include the provision of Personal Care Attendants, C.N.A.’s and Registered Nurses. Coupled with case management, these services allow for nearly every facet of senior home care to be provided, allowing maximum independence for the recipient. The trend in recent years has shifted towards long term care in a home and community based setting, allowing for both greater freedom of choice, and offsetting the mental anguish that can come from being uprooted from familiar settings. For those needing a higher level of care, Assisted Living Facilities, and Skilled Nursing Facilities are also available through Medicaid benefits.

Potential Medicaid Pitfalls

There are some important things to consider before applying for Medicaid for long term care. There is a look back period in which Medicaid will not only verify current assets, but all assets over the last 5 years. Simply put, it is not considered acceptable for considerable assets to disappear without coming under intense scrutiny. An experienced elder-law attorney can be utilized to assist families and individuals in setting up trusts and legitimately spending down their assets in order to meet eligibility requirements. Medicaid also has an estate recovery clause that mandates for individuals age 55 or older, states are required to seek recovery of payments from the individual’s estate for nursing facility services, and those enrolled in a Home and Community Based Services Waiver Program. A Medicaid recipient’s assets from his/her home will not be recovered while a spouse is living there. In addition setting up a survivorship deed for a spouse can exclude a home from being recovered even after the surviving spouse has passed.

Medicaid is a viable option for long term care. In many situations, the same level of quality care being provided to persons paying privately, or utilizing long-term care policies is available through Medicaid as well. Many in home senior care agencies, including many of your local Vida Certified Home Agencies accept Medicaid. In addition, thanks to more stringent regulation, the level of quality care at the Nursing Home level has increased across the board. If you are considering Medicaid as an option for long term care, please do your own due diligence, consider the benefits and drawbacks, speak to your local Department of Human Services, and consider all available options.

If you would like more information about Medicaid or need help with a loved one or friend you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, visit our Senior Home Care Agency Directory, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!

Pamela D. Wilson of TheCareNavigator.com shares her words of support once again to help provide client independence through education and information enabling web visitors to plan and make informed decisions on a wide range of available services by accessing quality Senior Care.

Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CG and CSA, Certified Senior Advisor, specializes in working with individuals and families to navigate healthcare and aging issues with a focus on maintaining independence and planning for long term care.

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks advocating for an older client, Jenny*, who was taken advantage of by a friend. The friend at first was very attentive, caring etc. but then crossed the boundary of personal involvement and actually accessed Jenny’s bank accounts and other personal information. As one might imagine the situation went quickly sour as Jenny did not have funds to pay her bills and other necessities like medications etc. however due to short term memory loss she really could not help herself determine what might be done to solve the issue. A neighbor of Jenny’s contacted me and I became involved. Eventually due to very complicated circumstances a restraining order and other measures had to be put in place against Jenny’s friend to ensure there would be no further access to bank accounts and other information. While Jenny is relieved, the situation is sad because she believed in her friend who was to have her best interests at heart. Many older adults today find themselves in similar situations and are at a loss about what can be done. Know that the situation is not hopeless and measures can be taken to correct many issues. The solution all begins with having an experienced advocate who can work on your behalf.

If you would like more information or need help with a loved one or friend you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, visit our Senior Home Care Agency Directory, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!

*The name and details of this story have been changed to protect the identity and confidentiality of the client.

The recent outbreak of the swine flu has the world health community on alert as many organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), mobilize for a potential pandemic. Senior home care providers and family members of the elderly community have a responsibility to keep a vigilant watch for the symptoms of the flu and take extra care to prevent the spread of the influenza virus to our elder loved ones.

*The following content is being provided for your information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Influenza Prevention

According the CDC there are some basic steps every person can take prevent the spread of the Flu.

• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow and avoid coughing directly into your hands.
• Avoid shaking hands if possible; If you must shake hands wash or sanitize afterwards.
• Wash or sanitize your hands often.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes.

The elderly are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases, so we must be especially careful when providing senior home care services. Caregivers who are sick should not provide services to the elderly for at least 7 days after the onset of flu symptoms.

According to the CDC the symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. If some one living in the home becomes sick with the flu or flu like symptoms the CDC has provided the following guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

• Keep the sick person in a separate room and keep the door to the room closed.
• The sick person should not leave the home except for medical care and stay home for at least 7 days after the onset of flu symptoms.
• When the sick person moves about the house they should wear a surgical mask.
• The sick person should be provided their own bathroom and it should be cleaned daily.
• The sick person should have no visitors and only one person in the household should provide care.
• Each person in the household needs to take extra care to wash their hands often. Alcohol based hand sanitizer should be used.
• Caregivers should avoid face to face contact and wash their hands after contact with the sick person.
• The caregiver should wear a mask while both caring for the sick person and when around other people.
• Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medications.
• Extra care should be taken when handling and washing the linen and clothes of the sick person. Ensure they are dried on the hot setting.
• Each member of the household needs to be monitored for flu symptoms.

The CDC recommends you seek immediate emergency medical treatment if you have any of the following warning signs.

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

If you would like assistance or information you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, visit our Senior Home Care Agency Directory, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!

Trent Rushton of Advanced Home Health Care in Boise, Idaho shares ten things you should know before choosing a long-term care insurance policy. One of the many benifits of long-term care insurance is that it covers both senior home care services and assisted living facility care.

Long-Term Care is Different From Traditional Medical Care

Someone with a prolonged physical illness, a disability or a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease often needs long-term care. Long-term care services may include help with activities of daily living, non-medical in-home care, home health care & skilled nursing, respite care, hospice care, adult day care, care in a nursing home or care in an assisted living facility.

Long-Term Care Can be Expensive

The cost depends on the amount, type and location of care you need. In 2001, the national average cost of nursing home care was $56,000 per year, assisted living facilities reported $22,476 per year and home care costs ranged from $12,000 to $16,000 per year.

You Have Options When Paying for Long-Term Care

People pay for long-term care in a variety of ways. These include using personal resources, long-term care insurance and Medicaid for those who qualify. Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance and the health insurance you may have from work usually will not pay for long-term care. Long-term care insurance will pay for some or all of your long-term care.

Decide Whether Long-Term Care Insurance is for You

Whether you should buy a long-term care insurance policy will depend on your age, health status, overall retirement goals, income and assets. For instance, if your only source of income is a Social Security benefit or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you probably should not buy long-term care insurance since you may not be able to afford the premium. On the other hand, if you have a large amount of assets but do not want to use them to pay for long-term care, you may want to buy a long-term care insurance policy. Many people buy a policy because they want to stay independent of government aid or the help of their family. They don’t want to burden anyone with having to care for them. However, you should not buy a policy if you can’t afford the premium or are not sure you can pay the premium for the rest of your life.

Pre-Existing Condition Limitations

A long-term care insurance policy usually defines a pre-existing condition as one for which you received medical advice or treatment or had symptoms within a certain period before you applied for the policy. Some companies look further back in time than others. Many companies will sell a policy to someone with a pre-existing condition. However, the company may not pay benefits for long-term care related to that condition for a period after the policy goes into effect, usually six months. Some companies have longer pre-existing condition periods or none at all.

Know Where to Look for Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance is available to you in several different forms. You can buy an individual policy from a private insurance company or agent, or you can buy coverage under a group policy through an employer or association membership. The federal government and several state governments offer long-term care insurance coverage to their employees, retirees and their families. You can also get long-term care benefits through a life insurance policy. Some states have long-term care insurance programs designed to help people with the financial impact of spending down to meet Medicaid eligibility standards. Check with your state insurance department or counseling program to see if these policies are available in your state.

Check With Several Companies and Agents

Contact several companies and agents before you buy a long-term care policy. Be sure to compare benefits, the types of facilities covered, limits on your coverage, what is not covered and the premium. Policies from different insurance companies often have the same coverage and benefits but may not cost the same. Be sure to ask companies about their rate increase history and whether they have increased the rates on the long-term care insurance policies.

Don’t be Misled by Advertising

Most celebrity endorsers are professional actors paid to advertise, not insurance experts. It is also important to note that Medicare does not endorse or sell long-term care insurance policies, so be wary of advertising that suggests Medicare is involved. Do not trust cards you get in the mail that look like official government documents until you check with the government agency identified on the card.

Make Sure the Insurance Company is Reputable

To help you find out if an insurance company is reliable, you can take the following actions: Stop before you sign anything, call your state insurance department and confirm that the insurance company is licensed to do business in your state. After you make sure they are licensed, check the financial stability of the company by checking their ratings. You can get ratings from some insurer rating services for free at most public libraries.

Review Your Contract Carefully

When you purchase long-term care insurance, your company should send you a policy. You should read the policy and make certain you understand its contents. If you have questions about your insurance policy, contact your insurance agent for clarification. If you still have questions, turn to your state insurance department or insurance counseling program.

If you would like more assistance or information you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!

Sean Davis, a Reverse Mortgage Advisor for Genworth Financial Home Equity Access, Inc., explains what a Reverse Mortgage for Seniors is. Sean provides Reverse Mortgage information and resources for the clients of All Valley Home Care Spokane and All Valley Home Care Coeur d’ Alene.

What is a Reverse Mortgage for Seniors?

A Reverse Mortgage for Seniors allows a senior homeowner to convert a portion of the equity in his or her home, eliminating mortgage payments and gaining tax-free income without losing the title to his or her home. The equity in your home that has built up over the years of mortgage payments and appreciation can be paid to you. Unlike a traditional home equity loan or a second mortgage, no payment is required until the borrower(s) no longer uses the home as their principal residence. Reverse Mortgages offered by Genworth Financial Home Equity Access, Inc. (Genworth) are FHA insured and guaranteed.

Can I Qualify for a HUD Reverse Mortgage?

HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines require that a borrower is a homeowner; is 62 years of age or older; has a low enough mortgage balance that it can be paid off at the closing with the proceeds from a reverse mortgage loan; and must live in the home, to be eligible for a HUD Reverse Mortgage. The borrower(s) must receive consumer information from HUD-Approved counseling sources prior to completing the loan. NO Credit or Income qualifications are required.

What types of homes are eligible?

The home must be a single-family dwelling or a two-to-four unit property that is owner occupied. Townhouses, detached homes, units in condominiums and some manufactured homes are eligible. Condominiums must be FHA approved. It is possible for condominiums to qualify under the Spot Loan Program. The home must be in a reasonable condition and must meet HUD minimum property standards. In some cases, home repairs can be made after the closing of a Reverse Mortgage.

What’s the difference between a Reverse Mortgage and a Bank Home Equity Loan?

With a traditional second mortgage or a home equity line of credit, there must be sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and monthly mortgage payments are required. The Reverse Mortgage is different in that it pays you and is available regardless of current income. The amount depends of age, current interest rate, other loan fees and the appraised home value or FHA’s mortgage limits for your area-whichever is less. As a home increases in value and the borrower ages, more money is available to borrowers. No payments must be made, because the loan is not due as long as the house remains the principal residence. As with all homeowners: Real Estate Taxes, Homeowners Insurance and other conventional payments like utilities must be paid.

Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan?

No! A borrower cannot outlive a Reverse Mortgage! Nor is the loan due. It does not have to be repaid as long as one of the borrower(s) continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. A borrower never has to repay more than the home’s value, which is referred to as a nonrecourse loan.

What’s the most you can owe?

Reverse Mortgages are nonrecourse loans, which means that in seeking repayment the lender does not have recourse to anything other than the Home. Not income, nor any other assets.

So even if a monthly loan amount advances until you are 115, the home declines in value between now and then, and the total of monthly payment advances become greater that the home’s value-you still can never owe more than the home’s value. If you or your heirs sell your home to pay off the loan, the debt is generally limited by the net proceeds from the sale. This is why mortgage insurance is so important. This insurance, which is part of your closing fees, ensures your heirs are not liable for a penny of your Reverse Mortgage after you are gone.

To learn more you can call us at 1.866.273.2995. You can also fill out the simple online form to have one of our Senior Care Specialists contact you. Get Help Now.

Michael Drake of All Valley Home Care in Spokane, Washington shares his thoughts on physician referrals for Non-Medical Home Care and Hospice Services. Michael also explains the differences between “for-profit” vs. “non-for-profit” hospice care.

We have all been there. You have an ailment or a sickness and need a referral from a physician for specialty services such as senior home care, hospice, senior rehabilitation services, or skilled nursing care.  The physician says, “Okay, I’ll set up an appointment for you.” What we don’t see, is what happens behind the scenes.

The referral you may receive from the medical professional may not always be the best choice. There is always the possibility that the medical professional may be referring you to a friend, someone who refers to them, or it may be the physician’s own company! For instance, you may need senior home care to help your mother with Alzheimer’s disease. You make an appointment and take your mother to a Physician who also is the medical director of a senior in-home care agency. The physician is not only being paid during visits to his office, but also any time that your mother receives senior home care services through agency he is associated with. This is called self referring, and even though there may be a senior home care agency out there that provides better care, you go with the agency your physician recommended.

Whether or not you choose to go with your physician’s recommendation is not an issue as long as you know that you have a choice. It is against the law for any healthcare provider to instruct you otherwise or to deny you a signature for going with a provider they did not refer.

Another common misconception is understanding the difference between for-profit and non-for-profit hospice agencies; The difference between them is only a tax status and will not affect the cost of your health care. Insurance companies and Medicare pay the same rate to for-profit and non-for-profit agencies. The cost to you is the same for either as well. For-profit hospice agencies are dependant on meeting the needs of patients and providing the quality of care to be successful. Non-for-profit agencies receive grants and donations in addition to the funds from insurance companies. This means that their quality of care can be minimal and they will still have the same financial resources available to them! You can ask for tax forms from any non-for-profit agency to see the amount of income they receive and what percentage is spent on patient care and what percentage goes to other places, such as bonuses for workers and money to doctors for referrals.

The following tips will ensure you are always given an option to make the best choice when choosing health care:

• Inform your Physician that you want at least 3 choices in YOUR healthcare (this is regulated by law)
• Research the companies on the internet and through friends and family
• Interview each agency to see who you feel most comfortable with
• If your Physician does not give you a choice or tells you “NO”, call and report them to your state Board of Medicine. You can also report them to Medicare (1-800-medicare), or even your private insurance company.
• Do not be afraid of your physician because of your health insurance company.
• If you are a Medicare recipient, you can also contact SHIBA (1-800-488-5725) for help if your Medicare rights have been violated.
• View our blog post on Choosing a Quality Senior Home Care Agency

For more information or assistance with Senior Home Care Services you can call us at 1-866-273-2995 or view our Senior In-Home Care Agency Directory.

Congress agreed to postpone the Digital Television Switch this last Wednesday.  When the switch takes place analog television sets will be rendered useless without  a digital converter box, satellite, or cable TV service.  The delay comes as good news to the Senior community as many American Seniors may not have the digital converter boxes needed when the switch takes place.

The converter boxes can be purchased at local electronic stores. There are also coupons available to help offset the cost of converter boxes.

If your parent or loved one needs assistance locating and installing a digital converter box for their TV, our network of Senior In-Home Care Agencies would be more then happy to assist them. Just call 1-866-273-2995 or visit our Senior In-Home Care Agency Directory.

As the Administrator of All Valley Home Care in Thornton CO, I have answered the calls of hundreds of individuals and family members in need of help.  The main objective of our service is to help people remain independent in their own homes.  The prospect of losing independence is  a thought that can frighten even the most steadfast individual.  That being said, I would like to focus on a subject that if properly heeded can help insure the independence of you and your loved ones.

As we age, many conditions can arise that increase our chances of suffering a fall. These risk factors can include poor eyesight, physical ailments, and side effects of medications to name just a few.  While we cannot always prevent conditions that sometimes come with aging, a little awareness can go a long way to prevent a potentially life threatening fall.  While researching this subject, I came across some statistics concerning falls that surprised even me.  According to an article published by the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, 50 percent of the elderly who sustain a fall-related injury will be discharged to a nursing home rather than return home.  Please take a moment to take that in, I myself was floored by this staggering statistic.  This means that half of all elderly persons hospitalized for a fall won’t be going home!

So what can we do then to help assure the health and independence of our elderly loved ones?  In my field, it is protocol to do a home safety evaluation before ever starting services for in-home-senior-care.  The main function of this assessment is to make sure our client’s living arrangements are safe for the provision of care and to identify potential hazards.  However, any family member or friend of an elderly person can conduct their own safety evaluation if there is a worry that an individual may be a fall risk.  Here are some things to look for inside the home when considering fall prevention: 1) Is there proper lighting throughout the house? 2) Are walkways and stairways free of clutter, ie; clothes, baskets, dog toys, etc;? 3) Is there a need to install grab bars in areas where a person needs them most ie; the bathroom, and bedroom? 4) Do throw rugs need to be removed? 5) Are readily used items within reach without having to use a stepstool? 6) Are electrical cords and telephone cords free from all walkways? 7) Do handrails need to be installed on stairs or in hallways?

Using caution and common sense, most falls can be prevented.  We all want to see our loved ones maintain their independence, so let’s take the simple steps of prevention today to prevent future disasters.