The average cost for someone’s senior care is about $175,000, looking at averages across the United States. That’s a lot of money regardless of who you are. And the reality is, as time goes by, this number is only going to increase. Thanks to growing demand, inflation, and ever mounting expenses, it is predicted that the cost of senior care is only going to keep going up for the foreseeable future.
This is tough. Not everyone has access to this kind of money. And because it is such a huge amount not of cash, inevitably there will be people that are barred from accessing the quality of care that they need to get through each day. Sadly, this is already a reality for way too many people.
Most people pay for senior care in one of three ways. They rely on government insurance, like Medicare or Medi-cal. They are self-insured because of saving money throughout their life or relying on the help of family and friends. Or, they use long term care insurance. Some use a mixture of two or all of these methods. No one way is better than others, although paying for care out of pocket does help you to have more freedom over the type of care that you receive.
Each situation will be a little bit different when it comes to paying for care. But ultimately, the care that you decide upon should match the needs present. A nursing home isn’t always the right answer. In-home care isn’t, either. Finding what works for your particular situation is the best starting point. Figuring out payment can be done after the right care is arrived at. Otherwise, you’ll end up paying for a subpar level of care. When someone that you love’s quality of life is concerned, this is never acceptable.
The need for senior care is about much more than the cost–although addressing concerns about how care will be paid for are certainly important. The need for senior care marks a change in lifestyle. It means that your loved one is acknowledging that they no longer can take care of themselves completely on their own. This is never easy to do and can lead to frustration, anger, and resentment.
This is why it’s so important that senior care be approached in a sensitive manner that gives your loved one as much control over the decision making process as possible. And this is why their wishes and goals should be taken into account. Senior care shouldn’t be a battle. Finding the right kind of care that helps your loved one live the life that they want to live is important.
As you know, we can help with this. Whether you’re confident you know what type of care you’re looking for already, or you are just beginning your search and have a million questions, we’re here. Give us a call and schedule a free consultation and we would be honored to help get you steered down the path that will help your older loved ones accomplish their goals for their senior years.
Leave a Reply