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Carol Bradley Bursack, Jan 14, 2012
Over the span of two decades author, columnist and speaker Carol Bradley Bursack cared for a neighbor and six elderly family members. Because of this experience, Bradley Bursack created a portable support group, the book "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories."
Assisted living facilities aren't all the same. Generally, they don't provide nursing care like nursing homes do. Some do have memory units for people with dementia, but others don't. Some are as elegant as a resort while others are very modest. The idea is that the people living there aren't alone and get help and services without going out. Most provide at least some meals. Others let people choose to cook their own. The best thing to do is call any that your are interested in and ask what they offer and what their charges are. The cost is rarely paid by insurance unless the person has long-term care insurance and can prove a need to move into assisted living.Take care,Carol
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rdunlavy57
Give a Hug
Jan 21, 2012
I live 4.5 hours away from my 85 and 86 year old parents. My father has spinal cord stenosis, and uses a rolling walker. My mother is in good health, with the exception of some increasing dementia and congestive heart failure. They want to live at home as long as they can. I know they have taken out longterm care insurance they said, at least 20 some years ago. How does the longterm insurance work, once they begin(or if they ever do) to use it? Do they or someone continue to make monthly payments as they do right now? Does it deplete as they use it, and does it carry over for a nursing home, if it happens that way? Thanks for your answers.
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girlhart
Jan 22, 2012
rdunlavy57...my parents also took out a LTC policy, but not until they were already in their '80's. Super expensive. You will have to find and read the policy. My parents thought that their policy would pay for everything forever. Not true. It would only pay for assisted living and the insurance co's MD had to determine if AL was required. They would have to be unable to perform 3 of 6 ADL's (activities of daily living) - which are things like feeding oneself, dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting and I forget the last one - in order to qualify for AL. Their policy would only pay for 24 mos. Period. If they lived longer than that, they were on their own for the costs. Some policies have inflation protection, which costs extra. So, you really have to read the policy.
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