Healthcare is extremely expensive, there’s no way around that fact. Many people are very lucky and have strong insurance policies in place that offset the cost of their care, or even completely cover the costs, but even health insurance has a cost associated with it. And oftentimes, great insurance policies have huge costs that make them inaccessible to many people. As a result of this, not only do some people avoid getting the help that they need, they oftentimes will settle for inappropriate care, simply because it is cheap or free to them.
The high costs of healthcare can have a disastrous impact on some individuals. For example, a recent study showed that one out of four elderly folk with a chronic illness skip getting medical attention or other forms of care because the costs are so high. This is a sad revelation, and it paints a very clear example of how the cost of care can become prohibitive. You might even have noticed this as you help care for an elderly loved one. Paying for senior care can be expensive, and it can be very tempting to let Medi-Cal just cover the costs of a nursing home. However, the nursing home is definitely not the right place for all elderly individuals that need care. In many instances this can be helpful, but in many more, it is one of the worst moves that you can make. Studies show that care given in a familiar and loving setting–mainly the home–is far more beneficial to the elderly, especially those that might be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
In the United States, the impact is just as real, if not more so. Many people feel like they are forced into subpar care for their elderly family members. If you are facing this situation or something similar, it’s important to spend some time seriously thinking about the care of a loved one. Yes, a nursing home is oftentimes completely covered by Medi-Cal, but what you will find is that you have very little choice over the facility that your loved one is placed in, and the quality of care may not be what they need. In-home care is a much better solution in most cases, but not all services accept all types of insurance. Luckily, this is a trend that is changing. More in-home care services are accepting the major insurances, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, and more are likely to move in this direction in the future as the senior population increases.
So, rather than let the cost of care become a hindrance from getting your loved one the assistance that they need, look at what all of your options are. The nursing home might be the best choice, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you look to. Most seniors want to stay in their home, and in-home care can be given in a variety of different manners. If this is something that will benefit your mom or dad more than sending them to a nursing home, see if you can find a professional caregiver service near you that will accept your parent’s insurance. Not only will this be better care, but it will be more personalized and more compassionate than any other solution that you will land upon.
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