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The Economics of Aging: Your Future is in Your Hands A nursing home is more often than not confused with retirement homes, which are two different entities. A nursing home is one that provides its residents with nursing care by trained professionals, rendering their services to individuals with certain illnesses and disabilities. These facilities, however, are almost always perceived to cater to senior individuals only. There are certain facilities that cater to younger individuals, who have special needs because of their mental and developmental disabilities, and who need substance abuse and alcohol rehabilitation.
Nursing homes are usually detached and are separate facilities, but there are some that are located within a hospital or a community. However, most nursing homes are concentrated on rehabilitation in order to help their residents come back to their own homes in the shortest possible time. There are different kinds of care facilities depending on the individual's requirements, such as independent living, congregate care, assisted living, intermediate care, skilled nursing, continuing care retirement communities, sub-acute care, hospice care, respite care, adult day care, home health care, and the like. All of these facilities differ in the services that they offer, which are all dependent on the potential resident's needs. Before one can begin searching for a possible nursing home for their loved one, it is important to identify his or her specific needs and other pertinent information in order to come up with a sound decision.
There are certain assessment surveys available online, which one can look for using the different search engines. The questions in these surveys will help one identify which particular type of care-giving facility will suit one's needs. Questions such as, "Why do you need a nursing home?"What level of nursing care do you require?"What are your medical needs and medical condition?"What kind of therapy did your physician recommend or require?"What kind of other specialists will you need on a regular basis?"Which activities of daily living will you be requiring help with?"What kind of social activities do you prefer?"What are your cultural, social, and religious needs?"How far are you willing to travel to visit the nursing home?"How are you planning to pay for the long-term care?" There are different tips given by different individuals and professionals as to the selection of a care-giving facility. But first and foremost is the identification of the resident's needs. If one has not identified what the resident will be requiring, then it will be much more difficult to search for a care-giving facility that will cater to one's needs. Once identified, they should be ranked according to priority, as to which ones cannot be compromised and which ones are just optional.
It is essential to figure out how one will pay for the nursing home. This will entail a complete and detailed analysis of one's finances, including that of the spouse's. During this time, one must do his or her research with regard to all possible costs that a resident in a nursing home may incur. It is also important to assess the individual's physical and mental condition, as these will all come into play when deciding what kind of care he or she will need. There is a need to look for facilities that have a suitable location, as it will be important for all the individual's relatives to be able to visit whenever they want. It would help if one checks online for the official websites of the facilities that have been narrowed down.
Visit other online sources for feedback on these specific facilities, most especially for complaints against them is also a wise step. There is a need to schedule guided and unguided tours in order to get a first-hand feel of what it would be like to live in the facility itself. Most importantly, one must not wait until the last minute to do all of these. There are different programs that may help in financing one's long-term care, such as Medicare and Medicaid. However, both of these have different sets of rules with regard to eligibility and coverage. Usually, when the individual is capable financially, then he or she must pay for his or her own long-term care using his or her own personal assets.
Once the individual no longer has the capacity to pay, then his or her spouse, who is bound legally, will have to shoulder all of the costs until the other is deemed eligible to avail of his or her Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Besides the differing rules of the different medical benefit programs, even the different states have different eligibility requirements when it comes to determining which individuals do not have the capacity to support themselves financially. In order to be clear about all these things, it is best to contact the local department that is in charge of health and social services, as they will know more about these things. Just as one spends a substantial amount of time researching when buying a new car or purchasing a new home, it is just as important to spend a significant amount of time in researching about nursing homes in order to find a suitable one.
It is important not only that the home be close in proximity to the relatives of the individual that will be admitted, but also close enough for one to be able to take a tour of the facility and see for himself or herself. Talk with the residents and assess their conditions. Make sure that one can take both a guided and unguided tour of the place, and be wary of any unrestricted areas. Schedule the visits at varying times in order to observe the place at different situations.
Do some research with regard to rules and regulations, especially concerning staff and resident ratios, in order to ensure utmost care for the individual. Interview other residents and their families in order to get their feedback with regard to the nursing home. This will give one a wider perspective with regard to the facility and its services. Schedule a meeting with the administrator and the medical director, and have them answer any questions with regard to their facility. It is also possible to contact some centers and check some websites in order to obtain the results of previous inspections that were done on the facility being checked out. Keep in mind that even if an individual is under the care of a nursing home, that does not mean that he or she will be given the highest care and attention that he or she will be requiring.
This is not meant to scare but to make one aware that there have been some cases of abuse and neglect, and it is important for one to know of these potentially happening to the probable resident. There have been reports of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, and neglect by the staff. Because of these cases, it is important to know and understand the rules and regulations as stated by the law and check whether the facility is complying with them or not. The Congress has ratified legislation about two decades ago, which requires the nursing homes to meet the terms of certain requirements, which is also known as the Nursing Home Reform Act. This states that a nursing home "must provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychological well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care. " This piece of legislation, along with the Americans with Disabilities Act, is responsible for protecting the home residents from any sort of abuse.
The resident must also be made aware of his or her rights in the nursing home, such as access to certain information, participation in the care that is being administered, the ability to make independent choices, privacy when communicating and meeting with his or her relatives and friends, confidentiality with regard to certain matters, security for material and financial possessions, and other concerns and complaints. Care-giving homes nowadays have been more diverse in the types of services that they offer to different individuals of varying needs and age groups. Residents stay for both short and long periods of time. An increased knowledge in the different types of homes can give one a more informed decision with regard to which one will suit an individual's needs. With the different professionals that are available on-site, such as certified nursing aides, dentists, dietitians, nurses, speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, primary care physicians, recreational therapists, social workers, and other specialists, the resident will be ensured a much more comfortable stay in the nursing home and, at the same time, his or her relatives will not be as worried as to his or her condition. Information on nursing homes, more importantly on selecting one for a relative, can be obtained from a hospital discharge planner, elder care lawyers, the family doctor, the clergy, the local ombudsman, the Department of Social Services, the local library, the Internet, and the people in one's community.
The most important thing that one should keep in mind throughout this process is to keep asking questions. Do not assume that you understand something when a certain aspect of the idea is vague. It is better to let the person in charge keep on explaining things, rather than face a lot of problems and complications later on. Among the important tasks of a nursing home is the smooth implementation of Medicare benefits which ensures that quality assurance and quality improvement for health care providers are delivered to their beneficiaries. The sustainability of both Medicare and Medicaid is also important in the care of low-income and medically needy Americans, thus effective management of nursing homes is of equal importance as well. The administrators of nursing homes are faced with the challenge of how much effort is required of them to reach as many low-income and medically needy Americans as possible so that this margin of population can avail of the medical services they need and ought to avail of.
In order to address the pressing demand to reach out to as many medically needy Americans as possible, there are a number of challenges incorporated with it: (1) the need to lay down a foundation for further health care reforms for the benefit of the states and the beneficiaries as a whole; (2) that statesmen, like the governors and congressmen must be made aware that changes are needed to be done with the current system to improve the quality of services to people who need Medicaid; (3) that large gaps have emerged in Medicare benefits which must be addressed by the Federal government soonest; (4) that there is a need to transition dual-eligible beneficiaries to the comprehensive Medicare drug benefit (McClellan, 2005). The Medicaid dual-eligible transition is quite behind in covering the essential elements of modern medicine behind on covering preventive care, behind on coordinated care that enables seniors and the disabled with chronic illnesses to prevent their complications, and behind on covering prescription drugs, and because of these, nursing homes can somehow bridge the gap between the provider of such benefits and the hundreds and thousands of eligible beneficiaries who need Medicaid help and assistance (McClellan, 2005). Moreover, the nursing homes can provide assistance and can accommodate approved plans of enrollees covered by the Medicare prescription benefits in every region concerned. The nursing homes, through their respective administrators, make sure that they comply with the necessary responsibilities being asked of them in assisting this fragile population of the states -- the low-income and the medically needy beneficiaries or enrollees. Every nursing home is conditioned to service their enrollees for long-term care basis so that drug safety and availability are ensured of them and that they get access to the medicines they need. Suggested Courses of Action.
To equip nursing homes for the challenges ahead of them, the administrators are enjoined to observe, if not, incorporate into their plans of action, the following suggestions given by McClellan. Nursing homes are enjoined to work closely in the implementation of the transition effectively; low-income and medically-needy beneficiaries and their respective caregivers must always be well-informed ahead of time of any new developments on Medicare and Medicaid Programs; The implementation of electronic support systems will help run processes and procedures effectively and efficiently as electronic prescription processing system will help virtually access every pharmacy in the country; Nursing homes must reach out to as many low-income, medically-needy, eligible beneficiaries as possible so they can avail of the comprehensive coverage of their Medicare drug benefits; (4) Nursing homes are also enjoined to coordinate and work closely with the local collaborators and advocacy organizations in the community. This enables them to directly reach out to more eligible beneficiaries and provide them the necessary assistance. (5) Educating eligible and current beneficiaries about their benefits of having qualified under the Medicare law to the so-called qualified state prescription assistance programs (Space) is one helpful tool for nursing homes to take active part in reaching out to as many beneficiaries as possible. This effort will minimize, if not, eliminate the gaps in the Medicare coverage. The administrators of nursing homes are indeed burdened with so many responsibilities to take care and ensure that people who avail of their services are attended to and such services are sustained long-term.
These efforts are also coupled with corresponding financial burden to sustain the expenses that go with the various challenges that confront them. Retiree assistance, funds from the federal government and its subsidiaries may very well support the medical needs of the low-income and medically-needy people, yet the administrators realize that by meeting the demands of their tasks requires more than any management skills, analytical minds or well-rounded experience to go with such tasks. For what the challenges require most of them is that sincere heart to really care for and be concerned with so many people who are frail, chronically ill, and those who are less fortunate who may not have the resources to sustain their respective illnesses as they become old with no one to depend on during their last few years of their lives. Just like doing research when looking for a suitable nursing home, it is important to learn and understand everything there is to know about long-term care insurance policies. Unlike other insurance policies, this particular type is where individuals think that they will need one for they will benefit in the future. It is true that no one is spared from needing long-term health care.
It is true that the type of health care needed will vary from person to person. However, there are also cases where it is not necessary to need an insurance policy to cover his or her long-term health care. Thus, in purchasing this kind of policy, it is important that one does a complete financial analysis of his or her status, including that of his or her spouse. This will help one assess whether they have the capability to pay the premiums, which will most definitely increase year after year because of inflation, and other additional costs.
It is essential to find out if they will have more flexibility in terms of their finances. Just like any other contract, it is important to read and reread the policy and understand every single word, most especially the fine print. Afterwards, have a professional take a look at the policy itself in order to get sound advice with regard to purchasing the insurance policy or not. Do not believe ANYTHING that the sales agent is saying, as he or she is only out to make a sale and get a chunky commission. It is foolish to get into something that one does not fully understand, but it is surprising how a number of individuals have been fooled when it comes to long-term care insurance policies. Though it is important to secure the future by taking care of it at present, it is more important to take one's time, do a lot of research and information gathering, and then make an informed and wise decision; than to make haste, thinking that it is better to take care of things earlier, and then encounter a lot of complications down the line, when one is too old to fight.
REFERENCES Alexander, R (Editor). Avoiding Fraud When Buying Long-Term Care Insurance: A Guide For Consumers and Their Families. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web BDO Seidman, LLP Accountants and Consultants. A Report on Shortfalls in Medicaid Funding for Nursing Home Care. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web McClellan. (April 26, 2005) CMS Administrator Dr. McClellan Speaks Before the National Governors Association Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: State Partnership Conference, Chicago, IL.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed 22 March 2006 at: web Medicare. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. A Consumer Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web Nursing Home INFO.
Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web The Complete Nursing Home Guide. Accessed on 22 March 2006 at: web
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Research essay sample on Long Term Care Nursing Homes
