Long-term care is a variety of services and supports to meet health or personal care needs over an extended period of time. Most long-term care is non-skilled personal care assistance, such as help performing everyday Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulation, control of bowels and eating. The goal of long-term care services is to help you maximize your independence and functioning at a time when you are unable to be fully independent.
Long-term care can be provided in an institutional setting or at home. The cost for that care varies across the state, but a recent survey by Genworth Financial gives an average cost for several different types of care in Tennessee. The average daily rate for a nursing home stay in a private room is $151. That comes out to $54,360 per year. The average monthly cost for an assisted living facility stay is $2,160 per month, or $25,920 a year. The average hourly rate for a home health aide is $30. A person requiring care 6 hours per day for 5 days would spend $10,800 a year.
The above information, and much more, can be found at the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information Web site. It was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care needs. The National Clearinghouse has a wealth of information that will help you find answers to many of your questions about long-term care.
There is no magic bullet to prevent the need for long-term care, but there are things you can do to live a healthier lifestyle. Tennessee is ranked 48th in the country in health status with 62 percent of Tennesseans considered overweight or obese. Exercise and nutrition are two health factors that everyone can address. GetFitTN provides links to local and national fitness and nutrition resources.
More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States. Injuries caused by these falls can make it hard to get around and limit independent living. Since about half of all falls happen at home, making your home safer is a good way to help reduce your risk of having a fall. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control suggests removing small throw rugs from your house, keeping the walkways clear of clutter, and installing grab bars next to the bathtub and shower. You can find more steps to reduce the risk of falls and related injures in downloadable brochures at their Web site.
Only you know how and where you want to be cared for in your later years. Talking with your family now can help reduce future misunderstanding and disagreements about your care. The conversation will help you decide who you can count on for help and let your family know how you feel about relying on them for help.
Additionally, AARP offers suggestions on how adult children can approach the subject with their aging parents.
There are legal documents that you can sign to make your desires known. These documents help your family and doctor know your wishes for health care if you become unable to decide for yourself. They allow you to appoint someone you know and trust as your health care decision maker to help ensure that your choices are honored. You can download these forms and view related information at the Tennessee Department of Health Web site for advance directives.
Publicly funded government programs and private payment options are the two main ways to pay for long-term care. The publicly funded programs are designed for individuals who cannot afford to pay for their long-term care. Due to the high cost of long-term care, many Tennesseans find themselves caught between being able to fully pay for their care and financially qualifying for the government programs. They often find themselves on waiting lists while they "spend-down" their savings in order to qualify for the publicly funded programs.
Planning now can help you avoid this situation. The sooner you plan, the more options you have available to you for private funding of your long-term care needs. One of those options is long-term care insurance. You can read more about long-term care insurance, and other private financing options, at the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information Web site.
While long-term care insurance may sound like an attractive option, it is not for everyone. Long-term care insurance is a complex product that requires extensive study to fully understand. An excellent resource is the the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance. A free copy can be requested through their Web site.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance regulates all insurance companies and agents in Tennessee, including those offering long-term care insurance. They cannot recommend a particular agent or company, but they can tell you if the agent or company you are working with is licensed in Tennessee.
You can contact the Department's Consumer Insurance Services Division to file a complaint or inquire if a company or agent is licensed by calling 1-615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
Your employer may offer long-term care insurance at group rates. Employees of the State of Tennessee have the opportunity to participate in such a program and can find out more at the Department of Finance and Administration's Web site.
Employees of the Federal Government, including Tennessee Valley Authority employees, are eligible to participate in the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program.
The Information and Referral program collection of aging and disability resources, including those associated with long-term care. Information and Referral specialists, on the community level, will help identify your needs and then find the best way to address them. They are trained to determine whether you may be eligible for certain programs, to help in crisis situations and provide extra help when needed. The statewide toll-free number for the Information and Referral program is 1-866-TENNOPT (1-866-836-6678).
Before contacting an Information and Referral service, or using an online Information and Referral database like the Eldercare Locator, be prepared to write down the information that is provided to you. You may be asked to answer a few questions about yourself, such as where you live, if you have a family, your income level, etc., in order to assist in finding the right program for your particular needs. Information and Referral services provide free and confidential information.
