A Guide to Nursing Homes

A nursing home is a residence option for senior citizens who do not require full hospitalization but cannot be cared for at home. The majority of nursing homes offer skilled elder care services 24 hours a day. A nursing home is often a very good choice for senior citizens who require personal and medical care. There are two types of nursing homes:

Hospital-like: These are nursing homes that are set up like hospitals. Caregivers give medical care and therapy, including physical, speech, and occupational therapy. In general, there is a nurses' station on every floor. A room holds one or two residents, and many nursing homes allow couples to share a room. Personal touches like photos are usually welcome.

Household-like: These are designed to feel more like a home, and daily routines usually are not fixed. The staff and residents work as a team to create a neighborhood-like environment. These residences often include community kitchens open to residents and decorations to make it feel like home. Staff is encouraged to develop relationships with residents to create a sense of familiarity. It is like pay care at home.

Some nursing homes employ visiting doctors who see residents on site, whereas others arrange for residents to visit doctors' offices. Certain nursing homes have separate areas referred to as Special Care Units for senior citizens with dementia. Considering someone's special needs is very important when searching for the right nursing home.

How to pay for nursing home care

Private pay: It is possible for some people to pay for long-term care with their own savings. When personal funds begin to dwindle, people may turn to Medicaid. It may be helpful to find out whether your nursing home of choice accepts Medicaid before getting to that point.

Medicaid: This is a State program available to people with low incomes. Eligibility for coverage is determined by each state. Getting approved may take three months or longer.

Long-term care insurance: This is private insurance that can be used to pay for part of the cost of a nursing home or other long-term care. It is sold by many different companies, each type having its own benefits. Inspect each policy carefully before choosing.

To sum up you read about the possibility of your parent needing nursing home care, the costs of that care, and how long your parent may need that care. You also read that care is paid for by your parent and then by Medicaid. You also check about in home care salary. Finally you learned how to possibly keep Medicaid from taking the family home to pay for your parent's care.

This is a very complex area, and many different strategies are available to keep medicare pay for home care from taking family property. If you are facing the possibility of nursing home care for a parent and your parent owns a home or other substantial assets, it would be wise to seek the advice of an attorney who handles these matters to preserve family property.