Many experts believe that the U.S. is at a critical point in terms of how it provides senior care. If things continue in the way that they have for the last several decades, there will be more seniors in need of care than what we currently have the capacity to treat. If the trend does continue, many seniors might find themselves unable to get the care that they need when they need it. Luckily, there are a lot of people working hard on resolving this issue. Already, many states have made changes to ensure that the most vulnerable members of their communities will be protected moving into the future.
Exacerbating the issue, those who were born later on in the Baby Boomer generation are expected to live longer than those who are already in need of care. As people age, even if they are in great health, they tend to have greater needs when it comes to senior care. The seeming increase in numbers when it comes to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is an example of this. Unfortunately, the longer we wait to address the issue, the more complicated and difficult it will be to resolve.
One of the leading ways that we are seeing change help seniors is the inclusion of home based services for seniors in more and more health insurance policies–primarily Medicare. Although it may require more one on one attention than other types of care, home based services tend to be a lot cheaper than institutionalized care. Take the cost of a nursing home compared to in-home care as an example. Nursing homes can easily cost twice as much as in-home care–and the service that a nursing home provides can be a lot more intensive than what some seniors residing there might need.
Finding care that meets your loved one’s needs should be your primary concern, but finding a type of care that is going to continue to meet those needs will make life easier as your loved one ages. Instead of finding another care service five years down the road, it will be a lot easier if the existing care can change with the person receiving it.
Senior care doesn’t need to be old or new to be effective. Rather, it just needs to meet the needs of the person receiving it. When we think about a very small scale, it is very easy to provide personalized attention to a handful of people. But when we take into account the fact that there are tens of millions of seniors that are in need of care–and this number is still growing–the scope of what is still needed can be overwhelming. However, by focusing on helpful change where we can, we really can make a difference. For you and many others reading this, that means focusing on the people close to you, and helping them to find the right care for their needs.
How can we help? Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation and get started finding the right care.
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