There are more and more options available to seniors today than ever before when it comes to retirement and living conditions. In the past, the options were limited when seniors needed care that couldn’t be provided by their family members. They ended up in facilities that weren’t where they wanted to be and often times didn’t receive the care they wanted or needed.
But today with the increased options available, now seniors can “self-direct” their own care and determine what they want to receive as they move forward into retirement. This has changed the lives of thousands who can now self-direct their care and their options.
There are programs that cater to seniors who would prefer to stay at home, says Next Avenue in the article “Does Self-Directed Long-Term Home Care Make Sense for You? Many retired Americans with disabilities don’t know that they have options and their adult children don’t know either.
When one woman sought long-term care for her 83-year-old father she was aware of the options available since she was a long-term care researcher for AARP’s Public Policy Institute. She’s been examining how older Americans can “self-direct” their own care and choose from a variety of options. Now there are several options seniors can receive in their own homes.
Several states now provide innovative strategies to provide long-term care within the home of the senior. They involve “person-centered” choices to Medicaid patients. While each state has these programs, they vary in quality and scope.
For example, one Texas woman had relied on home health care agencies but found them inflexible and unreliable. She switched to her state’s self-directed program and found that by scheduling and paying her home-care providers as she wished, the services were provided to her liking. She was able to get the care she needed and the care she wanted with the new self-directed programs.
A study by Matematica Policy Research found that people who were able to take charge of their care were more satisfied and experienced equally good or better outcomes. The idea of choosing your own mode of long-term care is an evolving trend. There are now more than one million people in more than 200 self-directed Medicaid and Veteran directed programs nationwide. Enrollment in these services has increased by more than 40% since 2011.
However, self-directed programs are not for everyone. They require the ability to manage the care and evaluate caregivers. If someone is too ill or suffering from mental incapacity they may not be able to handle this activity and responsibility.
It’s critically important to fully understand the services which are available locally before making a choice. For example, questions such as, “when is adult day care an option?” Or, “How do you find a home care specialist who can do anything from basic homemaking to providing in-home nursing care?”
Another drawback you have to consider is that self-directed services are typically offered only through veterans and state Medicaid programs for low-income participants. These may not be available to many people based on their income or current level of assets. It is important to check with your estate planning attorney to have them help you determine your eligibility or that of your loved ones.
Most Americans who need long-term services must still pay for it themselves. You’ll need a family member with the tenacity and time or you can hire a geriatric care manager who will be able to determine needs and set up a care management plan. That person can help select the right professionals and coordinate services. It is important to have the right person in your corner to get you or your loved ones the care you or they want.
It may take some extra work, but the comfort of being at home is, for many, priceless. Get your estate planning attorney involved as soon as possible so you know what options are available to you or your loved ones. It can save you a tremendous amount of stress and give you much more peace of mind.