Growing Old At Home, Community Care - Michigan Elder Law Center

Catherine Mack, 96, has lived in a four-bedroom house in New Jersey for 51 years, and has no intention of leaving. With retirement nest eggs shrunken due to the recession, and 90 percent of older adults indicating they want to grow old at home, continuing care retirement communities are offering a solution.

Only a dozen continuing care retirement communities exist across the country, mostly east of the Mississippi, but several more are under development. In traditional continuing care communities, members pay extremely expensive entree fees ($250,000 and up) and monthly fees ($2,000-$4,000 a month) for housing. In a continuing care program without walls, members also pay an entry fee ($20,000-@70,000) and monthly fees ($250 to $850), with the main focus on helping people stay healthy and independent in their home for as long as possible.

Larry Yachcik, president of Porter Hills Retirement Community and Services in Grand Rapids, Mich., believes continuing care communities will meet the growing preference of seniors to grow old at home. Their main focus is to bring you what you need, or find a way to make it easy for you to get it.

Armen Oumedian, 89, became a member of the Porter Hills program soon after its July opening, and see it as a tremendous way to unburden his family and maintain his community life. Programs vary, but all rely on care coordinators? familiarization with members, their living situations, physical health, and problems that arise.

Most programs cover the full cost of any-in-home care that?s needed (home health care nurses or companions who help older people bathe and dress), in addition to more intensive long-term services at no extra cost and without a waiting period.

Plans are tiered with varying levels of benefits. The most expensive cover 100 percent of services, while others can require a copayment of up to 30 percent for assisted living or nursing home care. Operators say the most expensive plans are the most popular, because people desire extra attention.

All programs require health insurance; long-term care insurance will discount rates; and programs will arrange in-home meals, physical therapy or transportation to medication appointments, as required.

To be eligible you must be healthy and functioning at a high level independently. Chronic health conditions will likely disqualify you because programs like this work by excluding people with immediate health needs, including any indicator of dementia, to help people remain healthy and at home as long as possible.

The Alexian Live at Home Program in Chattanooga, Tenn., is one exception, which will take people with mild dementia or cognitive problems who are otherwise in good health for its ?bronze? plan, which pays 70 percent of the cost of in-home services but excludes assisted living or nursing home care.

Read More: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/a-choice-of-community-care-but-in-your-own-home/

Attorney Christopher J. Berry is a Metro Detroit estate planning and elder law lawyer who helps families, seniors, veterans and business owners with their important legal needs. Oakland County estate planning lawyer, Christopher Berry is a partner in the Bloomfield Hills law firm of Witzke Berry PLLC. Mr. Berry practices in the areas of estate planning, business, probate, veterans benefits & Medicaid planning. Follow Christopher on Twitter @chrisberryesq

Source: http://michiganelderlawcenter.com/growing-old-at-home-community-care/

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