What You Need to Know About Nursing Homes
Choosing a Nursing Home
1. Do your research. Before you start visiting nursing homes, take some time to do your research online. Read reviews, compare prices, and look for any recent news stories or complaints about the facilities you're considering.
2. Visit multiple nursing homes. Don't just choose the first nursing home you visit. Take the time to visit several different facilities so that you can compare them and find the one that best fits your needs and preferences.
3. Ask questions. When you're visiting nursing homes, be sure to ask questions about everything from the cost of care to the activities offered. Here are a few specific questions you should ask:
* What is the cost of care?
* What services are included in the cost of care?
* What are the visiting hours?
* What activities are offered?
* What is the food like?
* What is the medical care like?
* What are the safety and security measures?
4. Talk to residents and their families. If you can, talk to current residents of the nursing homes you're considering, as well as their families. They can give you valuable insights into what it's like to live in the facility.
5. Get everything in writing. Before you sign anything, be sure to get all of the terms of the agreement in writing. This will help to protect you from any misunderstandings or disputes down the road.
Paying for Nursing Home Care
Nursing home care can be expensive. The cost of care varies depending on the type of facility, the level of care required, and the location of the home. In 2020, the average cost of a private room in a nursing home was $108,450 per year, while the average cost of a semi-private room was $92,643 per year.
There are a number of different ways to pay for nursing home care, including:
* Private pay: This means paying for care out of your own pocket.
* Long-term care insurance: This type of insurance can help to cover the cost of nursing home care.
* Medicaid: Medicaid is a government health insurance program that can help to cover the cost of nursing home care for people who are low-income and have limited assets.
* Medicare: Medicare only covers short-term nursing home stays (up to 100 days) after a hospital stay.
Qualifying for Medicaid for Nursing Home Care
To qualify for Medicaid for nursing home care, you must meet the following requirements:
* You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
* You must be age 65 or older, or you must be blind or disabled.
* You must have limited income and assets.
* You must need nursing home care on a full-time basis.
Getting Help Paying for Nursing Home Care
If you need help paying for nursing home care, there are a number of resources available to you. You can contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or the Medicaid office in your state for information about programs that can help.