Senior Q & A - November Edition
Senior Q & A:
Answers to common questions about senior living
Q. What is long-term care insurance?
A. Unlike traditional health insurance, long-term care insurance (LTC or LTCI) is designed to cover long-term services and supports, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings such as your home, assisted living or other facility. Long-term care insurance is for care generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Individuals who require long-term care are unable to perform the basic activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, continence, transferring (getting in and out of a bed or chair) and walking. Long-term care insurance policies reimburse policyholders a daily amount (up to a pre-selected limit) for services to assist them with their ADLs. About 70 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime.
Q. What are the risks of dehydration to Seniors?
A. Scientists warn that the ability to be aware of and respond to thirst is slowly blunted as we age. As a result, older people do not feel thirst as readily as younger people do. This increases the chances of them consuming less water and consequently suffering dehydration. Dehydration can also happen for many other reasons, including being a side effect of prescribed medication, diarrhea, excessive sweating, loss of blood and diseases such as diabetes. If dehydration is not identified and treated, the consequences to health are significant, including an increase in the chance of falling, reduced or even loss of consciousness, rapid but weak pulse, and lowered blood pressure. If rehydration is not started, the situation can become life-threatening.
Q. Is there anything specific to estate planning that families should keep in mind?
A. The most important concern for estate planning is figuring out if you want to protect your parent’s assets and qualify the parent for Medicaid to pay for care. A lot of the issues involved in estate planning require a five-year waiting period, which should give families incentive to plan ahead. To manage these affairs, you want to find someone who not only has experience with estate planning but also long-term care planning such as an elder law attorney. The documents that you’ll want to have in order, and which an elder law attorney can help you with are the: Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Directive, HIPAA Release Form, and the Will & Replicable Trust.
Q. Who can I call with questions about senior living and care options?
A. The friendly Senior Specialists at Alternatives for Seniors are a phone call away. Simply call (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) and a Senior Specialist will be happy to answer your questions and help you search for the perfect home or service for yourself or a senior loved one.
BLOG Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen