1. What is long-term care insurance exactly?

Major medical insurance and Medicare will only cover skilled care. However, long-term care differs from traditional medical care in that you are not necessarily sick. Rather, you require assistance with the basic activities of daily living. Long-term care insurance covers these kinds of expenses in a variety of settings such as nursing homes, assisted living and home care. Agencies like 5 Star Home Care accept long-term care insurance.

2. Won’t I be covered by Medicaid if I can’t pay for long-term care?

This is a common misconception. Medicaid will not pay for long-term care until an individual has used up their assets. Obviously this is not an ideal scenario. Among many potential financial hardships, it also means there will be no inheritance for future generations. It’s also important to note that federal law states that nursing homes only have to accept a certain number of Medicaid patients if they participate. Once they reach their quota, they can refuse Medicaid patients. This can greatly limit your options, and might mean you have to choose a facility far from home. It also puts home care out of the equation for many.

3. Do I really need long-term care insurance?

Since no one can predict their health, the best you can do is evaluate the factors most likely to affect your long-term needs.

• Your age and health – Policies increase as you grow older, and some insurers won’t cover certain diagnoses. You may also want to consider purchasing your policy before you turn 64 and qualify for Medicare. With the number of preventative screenings offered, your doctor could uncover a condition that would prevent you from being approved.
• Family history – If you have a family history of certain illnesses that require long-term care, you may want to invest in long-term care insurance before you have to pay more. You may also wish to extend the number of years you’re covered depending on your family’s history. Benefit periods are usually three to five years.
• Your current income and assets – If your income is low and you have few assets when you need care, you might qualify for Medicaid fairly quickly, making long-term care insurance an unnecessary expense. See question 4 for more on this.
• Your support system – Do you have family or friends who could provide care on a regular basis? Are you comfortable with this arrangement, and are they? It’s best to have the conversation early. 5 Star Home Caregivers might be the solution, if family or friends are not able to take on this responsibility.

4. Can I afford long-term care insurance?

Since long-term policies are expensive, they may not be right for everyone. Here are some guidelines excerpted from AARP:

• If premiums are less than 5% or less of your anticipated annual retirement income, it’s likely affordable, just bear in mind that the premiums will go up over time.
• If premiums are 5% or more of your anticipated annual retirement income, make sure your budget can handle the cost, and consider the increases over time.
• If you have over $1.5 million in assets, you may have enough to fund your own long-term care.

5. Can I use long-term care insurance to pay for home care?

Yes. But keep in mind that not all policies pay the same for similar services. Be sure to ask as many questions as necessary to understand your individual policy. For example:

• Is there a waiting period before your benefits begin?
• How long is the benefit period, and when does it begin?
• What is the maximum daily benefit?

If staying in your home as you age is your preference and priority, long-term care insurance may be the right option for you. While thinking about a future where you need help taking care of yourself is the last thing you probably want to do, it’s worth it. By planning ahead you can reduce the stress on your family and give yourself a greater control over your future.

5 Star Home Care serves many clients who utilize their long-term care policy to pay for our services. Contact us to learn more so you can be prepared and make sure home care is an option.

The post 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Long-Term Care Insurance appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

The post Keeping the Bathroom Safe for Seniors appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

We’d like to offer two of the best reasons to consider home care.

Reason #1 – There’s no place like home – You may have lived in your home for years and have many cherished memories. Or perhaps you simply want to retain a sense of control – and living at home represents your independence at a deep psychological level.

Regardless of your motivations, remaining in familiar surroundings is hugely positive for your physical and emotional health. Numerous studies have shown that patients recover faster in the comfort of their own home. Using home care services also allows you to:

• Continue living with your spouse or other loved ones
• Keep all your personal belongings in place (not have to downsize or move)
• Retain relationships with neighbors and friends, who can visit any time
• Keep your beloved pets, often viewed as a part of the family
• Maintain your privacy

Reason #2 – It’s all about you When your caregiver arrives, he/she is completely focused on you. You’ve selected them personally so you are always glad to see them. They know your likes and dislikes, your schedule and all your quirks. Hospitals and nursing homes are more regimented, controlled environments, whereas home care is completely designed by you. Having such a customized experience allows you to:

• Save money by choosing the services and hours of care you need
• Form a one-on-one relationship with your selected caregiver, which creates trust and comfort
• Retain your individual preferences, from how your food is prepared to when you like to have time alone
• Maintain the freedom and flexibility of your own schedule

Need help weighing the benefits and drawbacks of senior long-term care options? 5 Star Home Care can evaluate your situation and see if a home caregiver is right for you or your loved one.

The post 2 of the Best Reasons to Choose Home Care appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Stay physically active
You can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 50% through physical exercise, according to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation. Even if you’ve begun to see some memory decline, adding exercise at any age can slow further deterioration. Try to incorporate these elements:

Challenge your brain
“Brain games” have become popular lately as the rates of dementia increase in the news. Even AARP has a section of their website with games devoted to improving memory, language and attention. But these aren’t the only ways to keep your mind active. Try to mix and match these activities to incorporate skills like communication, organizing and interaction. Keep it fresh and novel.

Stay connected and engaged
This may not seem as important, but it’s just as much a priority as eating well, exercising and challenging your brain. The benefits of in-person, face-to-face communication cannot be matched for keeping your mind sharp. People who stay socially and intellectually engaged are less at risk for dementia. Here are a few ideas for combining these brain-healthy tips together:

What can you do today to keep your mind sharp?
Need help to plan healthy meals, get more exercise, or stay in touch with friends and family? 5 Star Home Caregivers can give you the support you need to keep you physically and cognitively strong well into the future.

The post How to Keep the Mind Sharp as You Age appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Here are 10 signs that your loved one may have depression:

7. Loss of Concentration
Losing concentration or focus is a classic sign of depression. In older adults, this may be dismissed as a natural part of aging, but that’s not always the case. If your loved one is exhibiting several symptoms of depression, treating the depression may also resolve memory and focus problems as well.

The post 10 Warning Signs of Depression in Older Adults appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

If you are a spousal caregiver, ask yourself these four questions to make sure your spouse’s needs are met — but yours are too.

3. Are you doing too much for your spouse, things he/she could do?
Many spousal caregivers fall into the trap of thinking that they need to handle everything and be a super-husband or wife. This is not only unnecessary, it can be dangerous – for your health and your spouse’s. After you’ve been your spouse’s caregiver for a while, it’s easy to take on more and more roles, when it might not even be necessary. Enabling hurts both of you. Your spouse feels less capable, which hurts self-esteem and physical capabilities over time. Plus, you’re likely to build up resentment by taking on too much – and possibly having it taken for granted. Communicate regularly about your spouse’s abilities and the most balanced distribution of responsibilities possible in light of their illness.

Make sure your spouse is doing everything he/she can do to take some of the weight off your shoulders.

Being the primary caregiver for your spouse is very demanding and stressful, there’s no way around it. If you need more support, 5 Star Home Care has caregivers who can come to your home once a week, every day or as needed. You could just take a little of the pressure off, or have a full-time caregiver so you can take better care of yourself.

The post 4 Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re a Spousal Caregiver appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Since it’s summertime, we wanted to highlight some of the ways that home caregivers offer more than just the necessities – they provide fun, friendship and quality of life!

Take in a show
Summer is the time the for blockbuster movies and popcorn! Or, perhaps a local play might be more up your alley. Whether it’s professional actors or your granddaughter’s recital, there’s no reason not to take advantage of the cultural opportunities in your community with a home caregiver by your side. They can help you find exciting shows to check out, take you there, enjoy it with you and come home to chat about it for days after.

Let’s Go Down the Shore
If your extended family is heading out on their annual week down the shore, on a cruise, or other vacation, you or your loved one can pack up your umbrella and sunglasses and join them – with your home caregiver. He/she can do everything they do at home, just in a different place. Don’t miss out on family memories. With some advance planning and your caregiver there to help, you can enjoy your travels.

This list is just the beginning – our caregivers’ goal is to improve quality of life – however that looks for you. Contact 5 Star Home Care for more information about how we can customize a plan for you or your loved one.

The post Summertime Fun with Your Home Caregiver appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

There are many choices:

• Assisted living facilities
• Nursing homes
• Care at home by family
• Caregivers provided by agencies
• A combination of family and caregivers at home

With so many choices, and so much at stake, many families struggle with the decision.

However, the task can be made easier by employing a specialist such as a social worker that specializes in geriatric care management to help you decide what is best. Hiring an Elder Specialist has several benefits.

• They Are Neutral – As a third party, you’ll know that their assessment won’t be skewed toward a particular solution. (i.e. No kickbacks from a nursing home for new admissions)
• They Know The Senior Community – From senior centers, nursing homes, assisted living communities, meal delivery programs – they are in touch with all resources available to seniors, so you’ll have a wider range of choices to create a plan that suits your loved one.
• They Can Evaluate Cost – They can create a cost analysis, comparing different options. Plus, they know the criteria for accessing various funding options. They can help you apply quickly and efficiently to get the plan underway.
• They Have Training in Aging Related Issues – Most importantly, an Elder Specialist can help you spot things that you may have overlooked related to memory loss or physical impairments. They make their recommendations based on best practices for senior safety.

The guidance of an Elder Specialist can give your family peace of mind that you’ve considered all the options and designed a plan that really works for your senior loved one. The best place to start is with your local Area Agency on Aging. They can advise on how to find an Elder Specialist.

The post How an Elder Specialist Can Help Seniors Evaluate Their Options appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Here are the top three ways having a pet can improve a senior’s quality of life.

1. Encourages physical activity – Especially for dog owners, taking your pup for a daily walk is an easy way to get regular cardiovascular exercise. Even if it’s just outside to the backyard or down the street, having a dog keeps you moving more often every day. Daily walking also has the benefit of improving strength and coordination, which can reduce the risk of falls.

2. Reduces depression and social isolation – It’s an unfortunate fact that many seniors are lonely. Either their family isn’t nearby, or they don’t have a dependable social support system. Pets provide welcome company and a loving, playful presence that makes a tremendous difference in lifting one’s mood. Being an animal’s caregiver gives seniors a sense of purpose and optimism. It can also help someone living alone feel more secure.

3. Stimulates the brain – Having a pet requires regular attention, which can help maintain a healthy mind and memory. A daily routine of feeding, cleaning and grooming helps seniors stay organized and focused on something outside themselves. And as every animal lover knows, having daily conversations with your pet is quite normal. This regular social interaction is also good exercise for the brain.

Despite these positive benefits, sometimes pet care can become a bit too much, especially if there are physical limitations. It’s important to make sure both you and your pet are safe.

Need help caring for your pet? Our caregivers can offer a helping hand, making sure you continue enjoying your furry companion. Contact 5 Star Home Care to learn more about how we can help.

The post Top 3 Ways Seniors Can Benefit from a Pet appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

In a seminal study out of the University of Michigan, researchers found that volunteers over 65 years of age who spent at least 40 hours a year volunteering were 40% more likely to live to the end of the research period (eight years) than those who did not. This was the first nationally representative sample that took many variables into consideration like income, health and type of volunteer activity.

How is this possible?

Volunteering encourages physical activity
As we grow older, we tend to adopt more sedentary habits, which can lead to a number of health risks. By staying active, seniors can improve their balance, flexibility and strength. This is critical to preventing falls. Volunteering on a regular basis ensures that you maintain a basic level of activity.

Volunteering stimulates the mind
Many seniors live alone and lack regular social stimulation. Even something as basic as conversation can help maintain brain function. Depending on the volunteer activity, seniors can use problem-solving skills, share their creativity and learn new skills – all of which can keep the mind sharp.

Volunteering gives us purpose and meaning
Most importantly, volunteering helps seniors maintain a sense of usefulness, which is the critical factor. It makes sense. Everyone wants to feel needed. Unfortunately, our society often devalues our elders – and loses valuable contributions by doing so. When organizations design volunteer opportunities to take advantage of the unique strengths of seniors, everyone benefits.

Knowing all this, why not volunteer? If you have physical or travel limitations that are holding you back, a home caregiver might be just what you need. Contact 5 Star Home Care to learn more. Our goal is to improve your quality of life – and volunteering is an integral part of that.

The post Why Volunteering is So Important for Seniors appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.