Pricing

Understanding Needs

 

Looking for a care option for yourself or your beloved one can sometimes be difficult. You probably know someone needs assistance but do not know what type or how to begin the process of making the transition. If this is the case, you have come to the right place. In addition to our experienced team members who can provide you with guidance, LOVE&JOY has resources to help you find a solution.

 

If you or a loved one are not sure whether or not a homecare service or community-based care service is right for you, it might be helpful to think about following questions:

 

   If you are an older adult

1. Are you able to perform most activities of daily living during the day without or just need a little assistance?

2. Even if you already have a 24/7 home care aide with you, do you have the chance to maintain a social life or partake in recreational activities with others?

3. Are you currently living in an accessible environment?

4. Are you able to obtain immediate assistance in case of emergency?

5. How will your current living situation accommodate changing needs?

 

   If you are the main caregiver

1. Are you able to take care of your beloved one during the night and weekend?

2. Are you able to provide a barrier-free, safe living environment for your beloved one?

3. Are you able to have someone help you in case of emergency when you are unavailable?

4. Do you have sibling to help take care of your beloved one?

5. Do you need a break even just a couple of hours?

 

Simply put, if you or your beloved one prefer staying at home, can still maintain social life, live in a safe environment, and only need minor assistance, then homecare services can be a good fit. On the other hand, if you, as the main caregiver, are unable to take care of your beloved one during the night and weekend, and have no sibling or relatives to help you, and your beloved one needs a lot assistance and desires social life, then community-based care service should be the best choice.

 

So, think about these questions and take personal preferences into account, you or your beloved one will be able to discover a way of living life that offers more and longer freedom and wellness as they age.

 

Benefits of Adult Day Care Center

 

For many older adults, the idea of employing a home care aide, staying in adult day care center, or moving into a senior living facility may seem to represent a loss of independence and dignity. This concept is untrue, and they have much to offer. The benefits range from providing assistance with basic hygiene needs to helping older adults build new friendships. Here we will take a deeper dive into uncompetable benefits an adult day care center can offer:

 

1. Barrier-Free Environment. Adult Day Care Center provides a safe, accessible environment that accommodate complicate changing capabilities for people with all age. Consider aspects such as physical layout – a home with multiple levels accessible only by stairs could pose a falling risk any time.

2. Social Life. Adult Day Care Center provides life enrichment and physical activities. Maintaining social life for people, especially for older adult living alone, is paramount. Improved social opportunities could prevent the development of feelings like loneliness and seclusion.

3. Supervision. Adult Day Care Center normally has sufficient staff on hand to ensure that participants will receive the appropriate supervision and monitoring they need to provide for each participant’s individual needs.

4. Accessibility and Options. Residents can mostly retain their freedom and independence, while appreciating opportunities that are better adapted to their needs, both now and in the future. This could include access to nearby dining facilities and entertainment venues and amenities such as exercise equipment and salon.

5. Nutrition. One of the challenges many older adults face stems from the lack of proper nutrition. Adult Day Care Center has the ability to offer not only nutritionally balanced meals, but meals designed for those with specific medical conditions.

6. Daily Living Needs. When a senior loved one requires help with daily living activities, but still lives at home, the responsibility for their care is often assumed by a family member or by employing a certified nursing assistant. Adult Day Care Center is specifically designed to provide the support older adults need to continue to live as independent a lifestyle as possible so that the main caregiver can rest or take time off.

7. Transportation. Adult Day Care Center normally provides door-to-door private transportation for participants who request it. They assist those who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids, and give passenger a safe and comfortable ride to the center.

 

So, convey all these unique benefits to your beloved one and encourage them to start a new lease on life.

 

Pricing

 

After you decide what type of care service (home-based or community-based service) and what service package (a.k.a. care plan) you or your beloved one will use, you will need to estimate monthly cost and prepare accordingly. 

 

Financial Considerations and Guidance

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There are so many options in long term care today available, and the average cost varies on a wide array of factors. Types, cost, quality, reputation, geographic location, the type of provided amenities and services offered are often some of the most important factors to those in need. Among these factors, cost may be the single most important factor for most people because it will determine eventual service package and frequency. So, financial planning ahead of time is a must. Below LOVE&JOY will provide several examples of financial sources.

 

Family Financial Support

In some instances, financial planning for senior care includes a senior’s family members sharing the costs together. If family members are interested in paying for their loved one’s senior living expenses, LOVE&JOY recommends organizing a family meeting to develop a collaborative plan for how to cover the cost together. Everyone’s financial situation is unique, which is why it’s important to establish an open dialogue focused on meeting the needs of your aging loved one.

 

Personal Savings and Investments

Personal savings and investments can provide the means necessary to cover the long term care service costs. For many older adults, their home is a nest egg and can also be the financial source once sold. Personal loans are also available to help bridge the funding gap until the home sells or other assets are made available. In others, older adults will pay through a combination of retirement funds and savings.

 

Long Term Care Insurances

Long term care insurance can also help defray long term care service costs. Insurance premiums will vary based upon the age of the insured, the type of coverage desired, and other factors. Call your insurance agent to learn more or contact us for more details.

 

Charitable foundations and organizations

A number of organizations and government agencies provide financial resources for seniors in need. These resources are available for a reason - people care. Don’t hesitate to reach out and see what help is available for you or a loved one.

 

Financial Advisory Services

Schedule an appointment with BRIDGECARE financial expert to learn more about the many payment options available for financing long term care services:

• Connect with real estate specialists who can assist you with selling your home

• Home Equity & Reverse Mortgage Options

• Explore and learn about the various financial options that exist, such as an unsecured line of credit or secured lending options like a home loan

• Convert your life insurance policy into a long-term benefit

• Develop a personalized financial plan specific to your needs

 

For main caregivers: Start the conversation with family and beloved one

 

How to Talk to Elderly Parents About Long Term Care Services?

Starting a discussion about long term care services can be tough. In fact, some adult children say it’s the most difficult conversation they’ve ever had with a parent. But with thoughtful planning, it can go a little more smoothly than you imagine. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

 

1. Family Meeting

If the family plans to tackle this topic with an older loved one together, make time to meet beforehand. Make a list of the tasks and chores your loved one needs assistance with. And split up responsibilities for things you would like to do ahead of time, such as learning more about long term care or cost.

 

Emotions often run high during difficult conversations like these. Try to be kind and respectful of your siblings and your parents no matter how frustrated you might feel. Ask everyone to prepare a list of concerns ahead of time. If you are the primary caregiver, you likely have the best insight. Be prepared for siblings who don’t see your parents as often to deny the problem is very serious. Have specific examples you can share to help educate them on the changes.

 

2. Research

Before you initiate the conversation, you will need to do some homework! Make sure you and your siblings understand enough about long term care to be able to answer your aging parent’s questions and concerns.

 

Here are a few areas you will want to explore together:

• Identify the different types of long term care services, including homecare, community-based, and institution

• Clarify your parent’s needs and preferences and compare them with the types of services and amenities offered at different long term care service facilities

• Get a better understanding of service cost

• Determine the types of services offered such as:

  • Meals

  • Life enrichment programs

  • Daily living support

  • Transportation availability

  • Availability of nurses, doctors, emergency care

 

It is also a good idea to visit a few facilities beforehand. Being able to give examples of the types of communities available in your parent’s area and what each one offers will help give you confidence.

 

3. Test The Water

Before the conversation, try to gauge your loved one’s willingness to have this conversation. Asking general questions may help to identify whether your parent needs help, such as:

• Have you got your bill paid?

• How does the garden look? Are you able to keep up with all of the flower beds?

• Have you been to the golf club lately? Is everything okay?

• Are you still comfortable driving? When was the last time you had the oil changed in the car?

 

If you find your parent to be defensive or evasive when you initiate these types of questions, consider whether the conversation should be led by someone other than a family member. In some instances, a neutral third party is the better choice for holding this type of sensitive conversation, such as a doctor.

 

4. Ease into the Conversation

Instead of just launching into a discussion about long term care services, ease in to the conversation with your parents. It might be better to talk about a friend or colleague’s parent who has recently made this type of move. Share how happy they are being surrounded by peers and to have a variety of life enrichment activities to join every day. It might be easier to talk while you are taking a walk or working on a project together. Also, approach the discussion with an open mind and an open heart. Rather than pointing out the negatives about your parent living at home where they might not be safe, talk about the advantages of long term care services.

 

5. Listen

When talking with your parent, it’s important to be patient. Some older adults may actually be relieved that you brought the topic up, while others may become angry. But, unless this discussion is one they have been waiting to have, don’t expect an immediate answer. If your parent is resistant to getting this kind of services, share your concerns in an empathetic way. Is a fear that they will fall when no one is around to help keeping you up? Talk about it. It is better to let them come to their own conclusions.

 

Find a location near you and just try or apply for our services

 

The last step is to find a LOVE&JOY Adult Day Care Center location near your loved one, visit there, get to know what they offer and what to expect, look for reviews and comments, and even ask them to meet and talk to their current residents and families if possible. After this, you will be able to get the whole picture of how older adults’ life can be with the home away from home.

 

We know that the ability to adapt life in different place varies from person to person so please rest assured that you will not be required to sign a long term service agreement at the beginning. Instead, for a small fee, you can have trial services even just for a couple of days. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.