Claudia Fine, LCSW, MPH – EVPThe good news is that we are living longer; the bad news is there are many health issues to tackle, and it all has to be paid for somehow. Understanding the alternatives to managing long term care can be confusing to understand. According to an AARP study, most Americans have no idea how much long-term care costs and believe that Medicare pays for all of it. People are shocked, disappointed, and frightened to realize that Medicare doesn’t cover chronic, custodial care at home, in assisted living faculties, or in nursing homes. Individuals and families are increasingly faced with the challenge of trying to provide long-term support for individuals with progressive cognitive and functional decline Creative, customized approaches and varied levels of clinical skills are necessary to maintain people at home as deficits increase. But care must also address important aspects of an individual’s and family’s values, preferences, and resources if it is to maintain the quality of life for the older person and the family. At a time when the media is filled with concerns about healthcare coverage – why are we not addressing how we can provide long-term, customer valued care for people with long-term health problems?
I so agree. It is not fun to watch people’s faces when they realize how much long term care will cost. I am proud of how SeniorBridge strives to educate people about the costs and help them evaluate their options. As a society we need to focus on this issue and come up with ways to provide care that will not deplete families’ resources. I know we can do it!