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The State of FL is Dumping Disabled Children

September 8, 2012 by Honey Leave a Comment

A story in today’s Houston Chronicle, titled “Florida hit for putting disabled kids in nursing homes”, ties in beautifully to the blog I wrote yesterday, “Medicaid in Deep Trouble No Matter Which Party Wins the Election”.

The Chronicle article illustrates the great lengths some money-strained governments are already going to to slash their Medicaid budgets. Medicaid is what pays for long-term care for the disabled children described and impoverished elderly.

I have good reason to fear that what this article describes is just “the tip of the iceberg” compared to what’s in store. People don’t properly prepare and the government just can’t afford to provide decent long-term care. This trend does not show signs of reversing.

If you want to ensure quality choices, dignity, and reduced family stress and strife, and you don’t want to risk wiping out your life savings doing so, you need to talk about reasonable and responsible long-term care planning, then take action and prepare, NOW!

Here are some quotes from the Houston Chronicle story:

“Florida health and disability administrators have been systematically dumping sick and disabled children – some of them babies – in nursing homes designed to care for elders, in violation of the youngsters’ civil rights, the U.S. Justice Department says.”

“In recent years, however, Florida health administrators have relied upon nursing homes to house hundreds of children who could safely live at home with their parents – often at less expense to the state, advocates claim. Assistant US Attorney General Thomas Perez said the state has cut millions from programs that support the parents of disabled youngsters, refused $40 million in federal aid that would have enabled some children to stay or return home, encouraged nursing homes to house children by increasing their per diem rate – and even repealed state rules that limited the number of kids who could be housed in adult nursing homes.”

Long-term Care Insurance (LTCi) Can Help Reduce Fall Rates in Nursing Homes

June 28, 2012 by Honey Leave a Comment

A new study cited in the June 28, 2012 issue of Health Day http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=665947 reported that 21% of patients admitted to nursing homes in the U.S. suffered a fall within the first 30 days. The authors noted unfamiliarity with the facility and staff contributed to these accidents. On an optimistic note, the study found “…that higher levels of staffing with certified nursing assistants reduces the risk of patient falls.”

Most nursing home care in the US is paid for by Medicaid. Medicaid accepting facilities are notoriously understaffed. Since long-term care insurance provides additional financial resources, it often enables people to avoid Medicaid-paid nursing homes with poor staffing ratios. LTCi owners are much more likely than non-LTCi owners to be able to access long-term care at home and in facilities with better staffing.

Are You on the Hook for Mom’s Nursing Home Bill?

June 26, 2012 by Honey Leave a Comment

In an article that EVERY Boomer should read, “Are You on the Hook for Mom’s Nursing Home Bill?” (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303506404577446410116857508.html), in the June 22, 2012 Wall Street Journal, Kelly Greene notes that “29 states have ‘filial support’ laws that could be used to go after patients’ adult children for unpaid long-term-care bills.” And although these laws have not been enforced in many states, “…Pennsylvania nursing homes have started routinely using the law to prod families into paying their elders’ bills or completing Medicaid paperwork on their behalf.” And it’s a good bet that other states will begin to use their laws as Medicaid funding dries up and nursing homes become increasingly desperate to cover their costs.

So just when you thought Mom and Dad would receive their long-term care (LTC) in a local nursing home at the federal government’s expense, you may be asked to ante up – conceivably for hundreds of thousands of those dollars that you were planning to support your comfortable retirement!

The answer, of course, is early planning. “The best defense against such laws, elder-law experts say, is planning,” Greene continues. ‘If your parents aren’t multimillionaires, then you need to get some advice way early, maybe when they’re 65,’ says Carolyn Rosenblatt, aSan Franciscomediator, elder-law attorney and registered nurse. ‘By the time they’re in their 80s, most people need some help. How would you pay for that?’

The best way to eliminate this potential problem entirely is to begin a discussion of LTC insurance with your parents when they reach their 50s or early 60s at the latest. And while you’re at it, you can begin planning to purchase your OWN LTC insurance so you don’t your children don’t have to suffer through the same emotional and financial stress in your later years.

Families’ Resources for Financing Long-term Care (LTC) Have Declined Precipitously

June 21, 2012 by Honey Leave a Comment

According to “Family Net Worth Drops to Level of Early ’90s, Fed Says” (New York Times, June 12, 2012), the median American family’s net worth in 2010 has dropped to its level in the early 1990s – a 40% reduction from $126,400 in 2007 to $77,300 in 2010! Three quarters of the drop was caused by the crash in housing prices so although we may regain a portion of our losses, it will likely be many years before we climb back up to the 2007 figure in real dollars.

Furthermore, median income also declined from $49,600 to $45,800 during the same period. So Americans are earning less and have far less in reserve, thanks to the catastrophic recession beginning in 2007.

What does this mean for the 75% of Americans who will need LTC after they reach age 65? Even though they may be struggling to make ends meet in these hard times, they had better budget for reasonably priced LTC insurance premiums NOW to ensure options, dignity & choices in accessing the care they need. Otherwise, they may find themselves bankrupt and marooned in a Medicaid nursing home.

To Move or Not to Move…

February 23, 2012 by Honey Leave a Comment

Many elders insist on staying at home, rather than transitioning to an independent or assisted living facility. I’ve been advising against doing this for years. Long-term care at home may cause isolation or possibly even caregiver abuse. Existing studies already prove the importance of social interaction for those needing LTC. Staying at home is not as safe from a medication management, home maintenance, proper nutritional and safety and security standpoint, either. Now, a new study, titled, “Myths & Realities of Continuing Care Retirement Facilities (CCRC’s)” backs me up on this.

The study was performed by nationally recognized gerontologist Ken Dyhtwald of Age Wave and sponsored by Vi (71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 900,Chicago,IL 60606), a leader in senior living that currently operates ten continuing care retirement communities (CRCCs).

With careful research, the study debunks these five “myths:”

1. “My current home will be the best possible place to live in my post-retirement years.”

2. “My current home is the best option to continue an active social life and stay connected with my friends.”

3. “It’s less expensive and more financially secure for me to stay in my current home.”

4. “It would be easy to get any care I need at home.”

5. “CCRCs are filled with old people who are sick and dying.”

The cost of Vi’s typical CCRC is approximately $2,800 per month, which covers rent, food, and all social/learning activities. Even if your mortgage is paid off, property taxes, home insurance, utilities, food, transportation, maintenance/repairs, etc can add up to a very big number!

When it’s time to progress to assisted living, compared to the average $55,000 per year cost for home health care, the average cost of $39,000 per year in an assisted living facility looks pretty attractive.

And, as always, the good news is that home health care care or assisted living at a CCRC will be covered by your long-term care insurance policy.

I urge all seniors to visit some CCRCs in their area to see what a supportive, friendly home they offer. I think you’ll find that these myths fade away very quickly.

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The State of FL is Dumping Disabled Children

Long-term Care Insurance (LTCi) Can Help Reduce Fall Rates in Nursing Homes

Are You on the Hook for Mom’s Nursing Home Bill?

Families’ Resources for Financing Long-term Care (LTC) Have Declined Precipitously

To Move or Not to Move…

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