Senior Nursing Home Considerations

What Is A Nursing Home?
Senior Nursing homes are residential facilities for those individuals who can no longer live independently due to disease or the need for round-the-clock supervision or skilled nursing care. These facilities provide for all the physical needs of the residents. Cost and types of payment accepted, special programs, and availability of additional services such as physical therapy vary by facility. Some facilities offer specific dementia services such as guided activities and a secured (wander-free) environment.

When Is A Nursing Home Appropriate?
As with many healthcare decisions, the choice to enroll in a nursing home 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 A Nursing Home?
Medicare, private health insurance, and Medicaid (in 43 states) may cover nursing home care for patients who meet eligibility criteria. Private insurance and veterans' benefits may also cover nursing home care under certain conditions.

Payment Options:

• Out of pocket — About one-third of nursing home residents pay all of their nursing home costs themselves. But extended nursing home care can eat up a life's savings quickly. Many people exhaust their personal resources after only six months.
• Long-Term Care Insurance — About 5 percent have special insurance to cover the cost of nursing home or other long-term care. This type of insurance is known as Long-Term Care Insurance. (Employee health insurance doesn't cover nursing homes.)
• Medicare — This federal health insurance program for older persons and some younger persons with disabilities sometimes pays for short-term — but not extended — nursing home care.
• Medicaid — The majority of individuals get assistance with their health care costs from Medicaid. Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with low incomes or very high medical expenses. At any given time, two-thirds of nursing home residents are receiving Medicaid assistance.

You can get more information about senior nursing home considerations and other care options by completing our quick three step process — to begin, simply fill out the form above. You will not be contacted without your consent and there is no obligation and no pressure.