Housing & Long Term Care Issues for Seniors

We're all getting older. And for many of us, as we age, it becomes more and more difficult to take care of ourselves. Either because of advanced age or severe illness, many of us now, or will need, housing and long term care.

Many seniors are fortunate enough to have family members who are able to care for them in their homes, but even these dedicated people can become overwhelmed if a senior's condition requires special skills that they don't have. It's in these times that specialized housing such as a nursing home or assisted living facility is the best option.

Nursing Home vs. Assisted Living - What's the Difference?

When most people think of any type of long-term housing for seniors they either think of a nursing home or an assisted living facility and most assume they're talking about the same thing. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

An assisted living facility is designed for seniors who are relatively independent and don't require extensive care, but need that extra bit of help like getting to the store or cooking meals. With most assisted living facilities seniors are able to get as much help as the need, but not more than they want. These types of facilities aren't equipped to handle heavy medical and nursing needs.

An assisted living facility makes a good choice if:

• You need services that otherwise can't be easily scheduled
• You're generally able to care for yourself and desire a certain level of independence

For seniors requiring extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation services and personal care, a nursing home might be an option to consider.

Now, none of us wants to end up in a nursing home. It can be scary being sick, unable to take care of yourself and suddenly put in unfamiliar surroundings. However, certain circumstances dictate that this is the best place to get the right amount of attention you deserve.

Finding the right facility can be a challenge. Before you begin looking it's important to talk to openly communicate to your family or caretakers about what you need and how you feel.

It's vital for you to be involved in the search for the right place. After all, you'll be the one spending your time there. If it doesn't meet with your approval, voice your opinion.

Also, talk to your doctors about the decision and ask them their recommendations and opinions.

Before you decide on any particular facility visit the place personally and speak to the staff, especially the nursing assistants, as they're the ones responsible for the majority of the caregiving.

Most importantly, make an effort to speak with a long-term care ombudsman. This is a person who represents people living in nursing homes. They're probably the best people when it comes to information about the different nursing homes in your area. They're trained investigators who look into complaints, problems and other issues concerning nursing home facilities. In addition, they make routine visits to nursing homes in order to check up on the operation and well being of the residents. And while they're not permitted to recommend one place over another, they can provide you with valuable information like the latest state inspection reports and any complaints they might've received.

So What's All This Going to Cost?

The short answer is a lot. Medicare does cover some skilled care (like dressing changes) most of the cost for any type of extended care is left up to you. MetLife did a study in 2005 and found that the national average cost for a shared room in a nursing home was about $176 per day, which is more than $64,000 a year. Many people choose to pay these expenses out-of-pocket, but extended care facilities often exhaust personal savings in as little as six months.

People with limited incomes or extreme medical expenses may be able to receive some help through Medicaid. It's estimated that as many as two thirds of nursing home residents receive Medicaid assistance. While this is good news for people with limited financial resources, the bad news is that Medicaid will only pay for nursing home care that is provided at a facility certified by the government.

Another thing to consider about Medicaid is that eligibility differs from state to state. Even if you don't think you're going to need extended care in a nursing home, it's wise to see about your eligibility as soon as you can so that you'll have the assistance should the need arise.

There’s little doubt that there are many housing and long-term care issues facing seniors today. Making the decision to move into one of these facilities isn’t an easy one and finding a place you can be comfortable in cane be even more of a challenge.

The important thing is to do as much research as you can while you’re able and talk to your family before the need arises. For more resources on nursing homes and extended care facilities log onto aarp.org.