BYU Gerontology Blog

BYU Gerontology Blog
.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

With Life Insurance, You May Have Money for Long-Term Care

by ElderCarelink

Although long-term care insurance is often cited as the best option to pay for ongoing senior care, buying a policy isn't always practical. Premiums can be expensive and older individuals may find themselves considered uninsurable by many companies.
Fortunately, there are other ways to pay for long-term care.
If your parent or loved one has a life insurance policy, they may be able to convert their plan to cash payments which can then be used for a variety of long-term care arrangements.

  • Nursing homes
  • Assisted living
  • Memory care
  • In-home care

Life insurance conversations are offered by third-party companies who value a life insurance policy and then make monthly payments to the insured based upon that value. Typically, payments begin immediately so there is no waiting period.
Details may vary depending on the long-term care benefits plan provider, but you'll find a life insurance conversation often comes with many attractive benefits.

  • Money set aside for final expenses
  • A final payment to family members if any plan value remains upon a loved one's passing
  • Opportunity to maintain some death benefit while applying for Medicaid
  • Elimination of monthly premium payments

Many families find life insurance conversations help resolve two problems at once. A conversation provides ongoing money for long-term care while also relieving elderly individuals of potentially unaffordable life insurance premiums.
Policies don't have to have a cash value to be eligible for conversion. That means term life, universal life, whole life and even group life insurance policies could potentially be converted to a long-term care benefits plan.


For resources to help you care for your aging parents, visit ElderCarelink.com.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Seniors Blue Book
Upcoming Schedule of Events + So Much More

We hope you are enjoying the Jan - July Seniors Blue Book edition!  

March is a busy month for networking events around town.  See below or click around the site to see events that you may be interested in.  And as always, feel free to post your events on Seniors Blue Book any time.  

Questions?  Please Contact Toni or Contact Mark and they will take good care of you.  




3/5- Wine and Cheese Social

3/18 - Atria Sandy's Over the Hump Social
  
3/20 -  MARKETING WITH THE MASTERS 

  
3/6 - Overcoming Adversity & Retaining Your Independence
  
3/18 - Atria Sandy's First Annual Health Fair

3/20 - ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP


Live-in Caregiver / CNA

Volunteers needed 

Licensed Social Worker

Fiscal Officer 
Scheduled Events


Contact Information
Toni Polich

Mark DeAngelis

Client of the Month:
Salt Lake Behavioral Health  
Vitamin D May Prevent Fractures in Elderly

A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that high doses of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of hip fractures in elderly by 30%. Other types of fractures were reduced by 14%. Since half of all seniors with hip fractures never regain full mobility, reducing the likelihood of fractures is vital.

While researchers have been studying the benefits of Vitamin D for years, most have failed to consider the base level present in the subjects. This tended to skew their results - once the required level is achieved, adding more Vitamin D produces no benefit.

Scientists also discovered that calcium doses over 1,000 mg per day  can reduce the benefit of Vitamin D - so many common supplements may send people over the limit. The Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium per day and 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin D for adults.

If you have questions about how this research affects you or your loved ones, it's best to consult your physician. Once the appropriate treatment plan is available, it can easily be included in the care plan developed by a home care agency.

Read more about this here.
5 Places to Find Money for Long-Term Care


by ElderCarelink

If you have a loved one who requires long-term care, no one needs to tell you the cost can quickly drain your savings account. According to the Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey, a private room in a nursing home has a median cost of $230 per day. That adds up to a jaw-dropping $83,950 for a year's worth of care.

Fortunately, there are ways to cover the cost of long-term care without dipping into your own pocket.

Long-term care insurance: These specialty policies must be purchased when an individual is younger, but if your loved one has long-term care insurance, you can rest assured money should be available to pay for their care.

Life insurance: Even if your loved one doesn't have long-term care insurance, they may have a life insurance policy. Some life insurance plans have riders that will pay for long-term care. Others may allow you to tap into cash value or claim a living benefit for care expenses. Life settlements or conversion options may also be available to policyholders. You may also want to look into companies that specialize in converting a life insurance policy into long-term care funds.

Government programs: State Medicaid programs will pay for nursing home care for those who meet certain income and asset requirements. In addition, most states have options available for some individuals to receive money for in-home care.

Reverse mortgage: Although not for everyone, a reverse mortgage can provide monthly income that can be used for long-term care.

Health insurance: Private health insurance plans, as well as Medicare, typically do not pay for ongoing long-term care, but they can provide temporary nursing home coverage. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services says Medicare will pay for up to 100 days of skilled nursing home care following a hospitalization.

For more information on these and other long-term care payment options, stay tuned for our follow up newsletter series where we discuss these funding options in more detail.

Source(s):

What is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance?

Saturday, March 1, 2014


Are You Looking to
GET INVOLVED?
Mountainland Aging and Family Services Department is looking
for volunteers for the
TIMEOUT for Caregivers Program: CarePartners

Whose life can yours change by volunteering a few hours each week to visit with an older adult?
 


Many family caregivers are at risk for a wide range of emotional and physical health issues due to long days and nights without breaks.
By providing respite (a break) to caregivers, we can preserve the well-being and quality of life for both the caregiver and the individual they are caring for.

 
 Volunteer Today
               For more information, please
·         visit the Aging and Family Services website  at mountainland.org   or
·         contact Owen Snead at 801-229-2818, osnead@mountainland.org


Text Box: Volunteer with us!   Contact: Owen Snead at
 801-229-3818,  osnead@mountainland.org