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Hospice care, not hospice place

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Hospice care combines pain control, symptom management and emotional and spiritual support.

Hospice programs are available to help terminally ill individuals live their remaining days with dignity. These programs can assist the family in making the patient as comfortable as possible.  Assistance is available around the clock, seven days a week.
Hospice is primarily a concept of care and not a specific place of care. Hospice care usually is provided in the person’s home. It also can be made available at a special hospice residence. Hospice is a combination of services designed to address not only the physical needs of patients, but also the psychosocial needs of patients and their loved ones.

Hospice combines pain control, symptom management and emotional and spiritual support. Seniors and their families participate fully in the health care provided. The hospice team develops a care plan to address each patient’s individual needs. The hospice care team usually includes:

  •  The terminally ill patient and family
  • Doctor
  • Nurses
  • Home health aides
  • Clergy or other spiritual counselors
  • Social workers
  • Volunteers (if needed, and trained to  perform specific tasks)
  • Occupational, physical, and/or speech therapists (if needed)

When is Hospice Care  Appropriate?

As with many end-of-life decisions, the choice to enroll in a hospice care program is a deeply personal thing. It depends almost as much on the patient’s philosophy of living and spiritual beliefs as it does on his or her physical condition and the concerns of family members.

How Can I Pay for Hospice Care?

Medicare, private health insurance, and Medicaid (in 43 states) covers hospice care for patients who meet eligibility criteria. Private insurance and veterans’ benefits may also cover hospice care under certain conditions. In addition, some hospice programs offer healthcare services on a sliding fee scale basis for patients with limited income and resources. To get help with your Medicare questions call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or  visit www.medicare.gov. Additional information about how to pay for hospice care can be found at the Public Policy Institute of the AARP.

Other Counseling & Support Services

Seniors and family caregivers facing end-of-life decisions often must deal with very difficult issues of grief and loss both before and after their loved one dies. In addition, they may have practical concerns about their legal rights and how to pay the bills now that an important member of the household is gone. Americans for Better Care of the Dying- http://www.abcd-caring.org/

Article Provided by:
Source: www.AoA.gov
Retirement Connection
www.RetirementConnection

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Funeral & cemetery arrangements: Why you should pre-plan

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gives you enhanced peace of mind knowing there will be adequate funds to cover funeral expenses and that your wishes, beliefs, and preferences will be met.

Thorough and careful pre-plan for your funeral, memorial service, cemetery and end-of life choices gives you enhanced peace of mind knowing there will be adequate funds to cover funeral expenses and that your wishes, beliefs, and preferences will be met. There are many benefits of the pre-plan and we have covered a few below.

Locking In Costs vs Inflated Costs:

Pre-planning and pre-funding generally ensures that your funeral and cemetery arrangements are completely paid for at today’s prices. The funeral and cemetery industry faces inflation, which drives costs up each year. National statistics show that cemetery and funeral costs are expected to double every 7-10 years. By pre-planning, you lock in today’s cost rather than forcing your family to pay inflated costs upon your passing.

Making Rational Decisions Together vs Emotional Decisions Alone:

Making these decisions ahead of time allows for more careful consideration of all the options in choosing the funeral and cemetery arrangements that are right for you and your family. Statistics show that more often than not, a widow is left to make these decisions in the worst time of his or her life, upon the loss of their best friend and life partner. These are not times that anyone should be making any kind of financial decision.

Telling Your Own Story vs Someone Telling  It For You:

Thoughtful pre-planning of your arrangements allows you to make choice based on your preferences. Making your wishes known in advance will reduce the number of decisions that your loved ones will have to make and may help make this time of loss less stressful.

Pay As Affordable vs  Cash Up Front:

Many people assume that savings or life insurance policies will cover the costs of one’s funeral and burial, but when a death occurs, these costs must be paid up front before services are rendered. Pre-planning allows you to pay as affordable with terms to meet your budget verses your family having to pay the entire amount at the time of your passing.

Peace of Mind:

Knowing that all of your affairs are in order will give your loved ones peace of mind. This peace of mind

Article Provided by:
Perl Funeral Home &
Siskiyou Memorial Park
541-772-5488
www.PerlFuneralHome.com

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Why work with an Eldercare Consultant?

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The right eldercare consultant can educate, guide, protect, and simplify your search providing you with the right options for you.

Would you go to court without an attorney? Into surgery without a good surgeon? Purchase a home without a realtor?  Exploring the vast world of long term care and senior housing options can be equally overwhelming. The right eldercare consultant can educate, guide, protect, and simplify your search providing you with the right options for you or your loved one’s unique needs.

In Washington State, eldercare consultants may be called by many names: Eldercare Consultant, Senior Advisor, Referral Agent, and Placement Agent are a few. Reputable agents understand their responsibilities and legal requirements under Washington State’s Elder and Vulnerable Adult Referral Agency Act RCW 18.330.

A qualified eldercare consultant can answer questions such as:

  • What’s the difference between an assisted living and an adult family home?
  • What types of rehabilitation services are available? What does “short-term rehab” mean?
  • What is “respite”?
  • What types of care and how much care can be provided at home?
  • What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
  • What options will your long term care insurance policy cover?
  • What happens at the end of a hospitalization or rehab stay when discharge is imminent?
  • What resources are available to pay for services? Who is going to pay for what?
  • When choosing an eldercare consultant the following should be taken into consideration:
  • Are they local or part of a larger company? Do they work alone or are they part of a team?
  • What is their background?  How many years have they been working with families in long term care? Do they have related certifications or degrees?
  • How are they paid? Do they charge an hourly rate or more typically, are they free to seniors and their families as they are paid a referral fee from care providers?
  • How many care providers/properties are they contracted with?
  • Have they personally toured the properties they refer to? Can they tell you if the properties have any enforcement actions?

A professional eldercare consultant will answer your questions regarding costs and explain how care is paid for as well as what type of financial resources may be available. They will guide you through the clinical process from hospitalization and a stay in a rehabilitation facility, and advocate for your loved one’s personal preferences and desires. They will narrow your search from potentially hundreds of care options to those that make the most sense for your personal situation.

Article Provided by:
Graham & Graham Eldercare Consultants LLC
888-217-1655
www.GrahamandGrahamEC.com

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Power of Attorney or Guardianship: The power of choice

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Guardianship can be imposed when choices have not been made prior to disability or incapacity.

Guardianship can be imposed when choices have not been made prior to disability or incapacity. The Superior Court and a Court appointed Guardian take your power away. Your power to make choices is gone. To start the process toward making your own decisions, the first document you should sign is a Power of Attorney.

A “Durable Power of Attorney” is a powerful document.  By executing this document, you are granting another person the power to make decisions for you when you are no longer able to handle your medical or financial matters due to disability or incapacity. Individuals of all ages need a Power of Attorney since you never know when an accident or disability will occur. The power can be broad and cover many different areas such as “all medical needs” or “all financial matters” or it can be narrow and cover only “the sale of a home or car” or “making decisions for my minor child”. The power is usually without limitation, but you can choose to limit the powers you grant to someone else. One way to limit the powers is to limit when the Power of Attorney takes effect, either immediately or upon your disability. The powers you grant under a Power of Attorney last even if you become incapacitated.  This is expressed by the word “durable” in the title and in special wording in the document. As the person who signs the Power of Attorney, you can choose how much or how little power you want to give away. It is your choice.

Due to the increased HIPAA rules on medical privacy and the financial regulations, banks and hospitals want some type of document nominating or appointing someone to act in your behalf.   These could be a Power of Attorney or a Guardian. If you have chosen not to execute a Power of Attorney and you become disabled or incapacitated, the State of Washington, through their Superior Courts, will appoint a Guardian over you to manage your financial and medical needs. You may or may not have
a choice in the appointment. The costs
of a Guardianship are high and the person needing the Guardianship usually pays the costs.

If a Guardianship is ordered for you, you can lose some or all of these powers:  the power to vote; marry or divorce; to make or revoke a will; to enter into a contract, to buy, sell, own, mortgage, or lease property; to possess a license to drive;
to consent to or refuse medical treatment; to decide who shall provide care and assistance; and to make decisions regarding social aspects of your life.
You lose the power to control your life under a Guardianship. You lose your power of choice.

The choice is yours. Power of Attorney or Guardianship? You take charge of your life and execute a Power of Attorney so you can choose your attorney-in-fact and grant them the powers you think they will need. If you delay, the State chooses for you. The power is yours to choose.

Article Provided by:
Rehmke & Flynn PLLC
Tacoma: 253-460-3190
Seattle: 206-330-0608
www.RehmkeandFlynn.com

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Home Health Services and Medicare

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Before you start getting your home health care, the home health agency should tell you how much Medicare will pay.

How often is it covered?
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers eligible home health services like intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, continued occupational services, and more. Usually, a home health care agency coordinates the services your doctor orders for you.

Medicare doesn’t pay for:

  • 24-hour-a-day care at home
  • Meals delivered to your home
  • Homemaker or Companion Services
  • Personal Care or In-Home licensed care

Who’s eligible?
All people with Medicare who meet all of these conditions are covered:

  • You must be under the care of a doctor, and you must be getting services under a plan of care established and reviewed regularly by a doctor.
  • You must need, and a doctor must certify that you need, one or more of these:
    • Intermittent skilled nursing care (other than just drawing blood)
    • Physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or continued occupational therapy services. These services are covered only when the services are specific, safe and an effective treatment for your condition. The amount, frequency and time period of the services needs to be reasonable, and they need to be complex or only qualified therapists can do them safely and effectively. To be eligible, either: 1) your condition must be expected to improve in a reasonable and generally-predictable period of time, 2) you need a skilled therapist to safely and effectively make a maintenance program for your condition, or 3) you need a skilled therapist to safely and effectively do maintenance therapy for your condition.
  • The home health agency caring for you must be Medicare-certified.
  • You must be homebound, and a doctor must certify that you’re homebound (you have trouble leaving your home, or leaving your home is not recommended).

You’re not eligible for the home health benefit if you need more than part-time or “intermittent” skilled nursing care.

You can still get home health care if you attend adult day care.

Note: Home health services may also include medical social services, part-time or intermittent home health aide services, medical supplies for use at home, durable medical equipment, or injectable osteoporosis drugs.

Your costs in Original Medicare

  • $0 for home health care services.
  • 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment.

Before you start getting your home health care, the home health agency should tell you how much Medicare will pay. The agency should also tell you if any items or services they give you aren’t covered by Medicare, and how much you’ll have to pay for them. This should be explained by both talking with you and in writing.

Article acquired from:
www.medicare.gov
Provided by Retirement Connection

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