Whether we like it or not, money is one of those issues that has a major impact on senior care. It influences our access to care and it can even have an impact on the quality of care that is given. Leading up to senior years, those with a greater income tend to have fewer health issues than those who find themselves in the lower income brackets. Money has a large presence in the medical community as a whole, and on senior care specifically.
Money, or the lack of it, should not have as great of an influence as it does, but unfortunately that’s the reality of our world right now. Luckily, there are some things happening in our society that show us that human lives have value and that money isn’t more important than people. Changes in care laws, government led initiatives to help improve health, and other moves are helping senior care to move forward in the right direction.
The sad reality for many is that the older they get, the less money they have to spend on senior care. The current structure for which Medicare and Medi-Cal exist can actually encourage this, even. Medicare covers very little in terms of senior care, and Medi-Cal will not kick in unless resources are depleted to a certain point. This is something that is being fought against in several arenas, but it’s the current reality for many. The older they get, the less choice that they have over their care because it is paid for with governmental dollars.
California is currently looking at ways to help avoid this. A new plan was recently approved to start studying different types of care administration so that the cost for middle and low income individuals would not have such a negative impact on their lifestyles. It’s a much needed step forward.
We want to help fight against this trend. That’s one of the many reasons why we are such strong advocates of in-home care. In-home care is much cheaper than a nursing home, and it enables your loved one to maintain as much of their freedom and choice as possible. They are able to stay in their own home and continue to do the things that love doing. The caregiver is not an authority figure, but rather a resource to help them make each day a little easier so that they can continue to live their lives the way that they want.
It’s far from a perfect solution for everyone, but it’s one that helps thousands of people around the country live a higher quality of life. If you would like to learn more about in-home care and how it can help reduce care costs for your family, please let us know. We can schedule a free consultation with your family and let you know how in-home care can benefit you. It might not be the best choice for everyone, but odds are, it will help you to allow your mom or dad to live the life that they want for longer.
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