Start the Conversation
Welcome to a new column, “Start the Conversation,” about proactive
health care planning, offering helpful tips and guidance about how to
navigate care for short and long-term care needs, for all ages.
Patricia Huber, RN and owner of Better Home Health Care, started her
agency 30 years ago as she was growing dissatisfied with the substandard
care that her parents were receiving from a local home care agency.
When Pat voiced her concerns, the owner replied, “If you don’t like the
care your parents are receiving find another agency.” Pat, who was
teaching a home health aide program at the time, did just that and opened
the doors to Better Home Health Care. Years later she hired one of her
own aides to care for her husband in their home.
As our population grows and ages, it is going to need quality homecare.
Pat says, “It’s up to us to continue to bring in qualified personnel to
handle the needs of this increasing population and meet the growing
demands for patients wanting to stay in their homes. We have 3rd
generation health care aides working for us in the field, which makes us
extremely happy and proud!”
Born and raised in Rockville Centre, her business has turned into a
family affair, which helps them live their business motto... there’s no
place like home. “We certainly believe that is true”, says Huber.
“Start the Conversation,” by visiting our offices in Rockville Centre;
calling us at 516-318-6746, or emailing
cdeehan@betterhomecare.com. Be proactive, get informed!
NASSAU/SUFFOLK: 516.763.3260
BROOKLYN/QUEENS: 718.263-3999
MANHATTAN/BRONX: 212-682-5900
108-10 72nd Avenue, First Floor, Forest Hills, NY 11375
310 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
What is Long Term Care?
By Anita Kamiel, RN, MPS
While we usually
think of LTC with
respect to our elderly
population, (about
60% of individuals
over age 65 will
require services), LTC
is also provided to
younger individuals
(about 40% of those
receiving services are between age 18 and 64). As such, we
need to start thinking about LTC and its associated supports
and insurance sooner than once considered.
LTC has become a very broad term and evolved into
a term for the type of care required rather than the time
period. A patient might require long term care due to a
sudden illness or injury where rehabilitative therapy is
required in a long term facility such as a nursing home.
On the other hand, the patient might need long term, ongoing
care due to disease progression such as Alzheimer’s
or dementia.
In the case of an elderly person, the need for care can
be the result of a sudden event such as a fall or stroke or
it can develop more gradually. You might notice signs and
symptoms of your senior loved one faltering over the course
of months or even years. Once you start noticing your loved
one might need help, you will want to begin acquainting
yourself with various services you may need in the future.
Before it comes to the point where total personal care is
required for their activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing,
grooming and dressing, other ancillary services might be
necessary. For example, there are transportation services
such as Access-A-Ride or meal plans such as Meals on
Wheels once the senior is no longer driving or able to shop
and cook their own meals. Also, there is adult day care
and senior centers to help get them out to socialize and
keep active.
Remaining at home means you must make sure the
environment is safe and there is enough coverage. This
is when elderproofing and emergency response systems
in the form of a necklace, bracelet or watch can come in
handy should the senior fall or have a catastrophic event
while alone.
Even when care does not dictate admission to a facility,
the intense demands of caregiving may make paid LTC with
a home health aide a necessity. The 2015 AARP study on
Caregiving in the US reports that over 40 million Americans
provided unpaid care to adults last year with an average of
44.6 hours for spouses or partners. With 1 in 10 of those
caregivers being elderly themselves at 75 years or older,
it would seem caregiving by a family member alone may
be a short term solution.
All this sounds interesting, but how do people afford
all this?
Aside from personal savings, there is long term care
insurance available with a variety of options and various
levels of coverage which is less expensive the earlier you
sign on. LTC insurance covers care not covered by health
insurance, Medicare or Medicaid and protects your savings
accounts from becoming depleted by the increasing costs
of healthcare. Premiums may be tax deductible, in some
cases up to 100%. Having LTC insurance also eliminates the
burden to family members who would be providing this care.
Financial planners can help make investments taking into
account long time horizons and some recommend taking out
a reverse mortgage on your home to fund eldercare. Some
life insurance policies will allow for an accelerated death
benefit or a home healthcare rider to pay for eldercare with
the disbursed sum to be deducted from the eventual payout.
We have all heard of government programs such as
Medicare and Medicaid which should be explored in addition
to any veteran’s benefits and social security. With care being
so expensive and Medicaid eligibility requirements, there
are elder law attorneys, financial planners and geriatric
care managers that specialize in spending down assets to
take advantage of Medicaid funding.
If we are lucky enough to be blessed with long life, aging
is a certainty. The ancient Greek Agesilaus said, “By sowing
frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.” We need to plant
seeds for retirement and declining health long before the
day comes. If we put the proper supports in place early
enough, those years are sure to be golden.
Anita Kamiel, R.N, M.P.S. is the founder and owner
of David York Home Healthcare Agency and is fully
acquainted with all factors related to eldercare services
and the latest guidelines for seniors. Thirty years ago,
she realized the need for affordable, quality home
health aide services provided and supervised by caring
individuals. You can contact her at 718.376.7755 or at
www.davidyorkagency.com. David York Agency is also
on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
14 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ April 2019
/www.davidyorkagency.com
/www.davidyorkagency.com
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