Everyone Benefits When Long Term Care Is Included in The Services Provided by The North Hills Home Health Care Professionals

You’re able to take care of most of your daily needs. But what if things change and you need long-term care? Pegasus professionals understand the benefits of planning in advance for the care you may need.

Long-term care encompasses medical and support services. It’s necessary for individuals with conditions that rob them of their ability to care for themselves.

Conditions requiring long-term care include:

• A degenerative condition that leaves you disabled, such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (AMS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• A sudden event that leaves you temporarily or permanently impaired, such as a stroke or a fall
• A progressive condition, such as cancer or heart disease
• A cognitive impairment, such as dementia

Long-term care can be custodial care rather than medical care for some conditions.

Custodial care means offering help with daily activities, such as walking. It also includes caring for someone with cognitive disabilities. Custodial care is provided in your home by the North Hills home care aides.

You May Need More Than One Kind of Help

Home care often includes help with “Activities of Daily Living,” as well as medical care. Those activities include:

• Ambulation
• Dressing appropriately
• Meal preparation and eating
• Personal hygiene activities like bathing
• Transferring from or to beds or chairs
• Using the toilet or incontinence

Home care assists with any daily activities you can’t safely do alone.

You may believe that long-term care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or your supplemental insurance. Medicare covers most instances that require skilled services. It does not pay for assistance with daily living activities or other non-skilled services.

If you start your planning early, you can purchase long-term care insurance. October is Long-Term Care Planning Month and Organize Your Medical Information Month. It’s a good time to evaluate your needs, organize your records, and take steps to assure future care.

North Hills Home Health Care Experts Can Help With Long-Term Care Planning

A North Hills caregiver works with your physician. Together they can assess your potential future needs and risks. Your caregiver can also help you reduce some of your future risks.

For example, caregivers can suggest modifications to your home that will reduce the possibility of falls. Statistically, falls are one of the biggest reasons seniors need long-term care. Your caregiver also helps you exercise, eat right, and take your medications correctly.

Professionals at North Hills know the details of what Medicare does or does not cover. They’re also familiar with supplemental insurance coverage. They can advise you on any gaps for which you may be able to purchase additional coverage.

Other planning includes:

• Preparing/updating your will
• Completing an Advance Directive (a.k.a. living will)
• Taking steps to protect or preserve your assets
• Determining how to pay for long-term care should it become necessary

These require the services of specialists such as accountants and attorneys. You have a lot of choices and decisions to make. It’s extremely important to understand all your options.

You are also well advised to have frank discussions with family members about your decisions. As those conversations can be difficult, North Hills home caregivers can arrange counseling when desired. Additionally, they are a part of the local network of community resources that can assist family members.

It’s important to have your medical records organized. Having records in order helps:

• You receive all insurance reimbursements to which you’re entitled
• Prevent drugs being prescribed that have negative interactions
• Prevent duplicated tests and procedures
• You obtain any needed tests or procedures on a timely basis
• With long-term care and medical planning
• Your family find necessary information if you’re unexpectedly incapacitated

A home health caregiver provides invaluable assistance in the sorting process.

Planning Is Beneficial Even If It Is Unpleasant

It’s common for seniors to ignore planning for long-term care. You may think:

• You’ll never need someone in your home to assist you
• Medicare or other insurance will pay any costs associated with your care
• That your family will care for you as you age

Planning means facing the loss of independence if your health declines, and that’s difficult.

Avoiding making arrangements for your care can create a financial crisis for you. It can also result in sacrifices and financial hardship for your family. Like most planning, it’s best done before you need it.

Benefits of planning for long-term care include:

• Deciding the best place to spend your mature years so that you’ll have everything you need
• Remaining as independent as possible
• Providing guidance for your family and physicians in making decisions in the event you’re unable to do so

You may have the good fortune to never need long-term care. But if you do, planning ahead puts you in control.

North Hills home health care professionals are expert providers of long-term care. They know how important planning is for your care. They’re dedicated to keeping you safe and independent in your home.