by: Peter Lenkefi

As you grow older, housing may pose more and more of a concern,
especially if your health is failing. If you are worried that you
may not be able to take care of your basic needs as you age, such as
cleaning, cooking, bathing and maintenance, then looking at your
long term health care options is an important choice. Let’s start
right away with your options.

In-Home Care
In-home health care is the best option for people who have a higher
level of fitness, and want to remain as independent as possible
throughout their later years. In this situation, home health care
nurses may come and visit you daily, or every couple of days, to
take care of your everyday medical needs. Also, a housekeeper may be
utilized, as well as a personal health care attendant, who would be
responsible for more of the day-to-day living help – such as a
companion, driver, cook or the like. In-home health care is quite
easy to locate; just contact a nurses’ association or look in the
Yellow Pages.

Continuing Care
An intermediary between nursing homes and independent living,
continuing care, or retirement communities, offer a wide variety of
health benefits and services to their inhabitants. These communities
are usually all-inclusive, where dwellers receive lodging, meals,
social events, varying levels of health care, and sometimes other
perks as well.

Entrance fees for these establishments can be quite high (ranging
from $10,000 to over 300,000); added to their monthly fees (ranging
from $800-4000), and this option can prove to be expensive health
care. However, services are guaranteed for the remainder of your
life if you choose this option, and if your health falters, you can
always be moved to the nursing home portion of their health care
facility.

Because of the all-inclusive nature of this kind of health care,
you’ll want to read the fine print carefully in your contract. What
are all of the recurring and one-time fees? What exactly is covered
with those fees? What health care options are, and are not offered?
Do you need to purchase extra health insurance to cover your
specific care costs? Also don’t forget to check up with the Better
Business Bureau about the status of the facility you are interested
in; if you plan on living there the rest of your life, you may want
to double check it’s reputation, too.

Nursing Homes
In a very simple sense, nursing homes will take care of your health
care needs when you are no longer able to. This may be for a short
period of time while you are recovering, or for a longer period of
time as you age. Nursing homes are the whole meal deal of health
care for the elderly or otherwise incapacitated. If this is an
option that you think you may require, there are many things to
discuss and consider when looking at your options. Does the home
provide the type of care that you will require? Research the history
of the nursing home; are there any black spots on their record? Talk
to people who have lived there, have used their services, or who are
still living there now, if at all possible. Get their viewpoint.


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