Below is a guest post from Hazel Bridges. I consider it an excellent primer for an important subject facing most everyone at sometime in their life, not just those of us living with Kennedy's Disease. Thanks, Hazel, for sharing this information.
Living with a Chronic Disease
Long-Term Care Options
When you wake up in pain every morning, can’t
handle daily living tasks, or have difficulty with cognitive functions, you
need help. Often, that help comes in the form of loving friends and family who
want to lend a hand. However, the reality is that you must also plan for
long-term care needs that can’t be handled by your loved ones.
Planning
for Long-Term Care
Barriers
to Self-Care
Chronic illnesses present specific barriers to
long-term self-care. The Lippincott Nursing Center categorizes these as psychological,
physical, cognitive, economic, and social and cultural. Regardless of the
reason care is required, the decision to choose at-home or residential/nursing
care is deeply personal and requires planning and preparation.
Care at
Home
Home is the most comfortable place for the
vast majority of people with chronic illnesses. And with a little help, it can
be a safe haven for recovery or just to enjoy life on your own terms.
HomeAdvisor explains there are numerous forms of at-home services. These include:
●
Home health aides. A home health aide is an
individual who helps with daily tasks such as hygiene and bathing. They may
also assist with cooking, laundry, and grocery shopping. Home health aides are
not licensed for offer medical services.
●
Adult day care. These facilities are designed
to cater to older adults or those with physical and cognitive disabilities.
They offer supervision and assist with dispensing medications and hygiene as
needed.
●
Skilled nursing. For individuals with health
needs beyond the capabilities of themselves, friends, and family, a licensed
nurse can provide more in-depth and involved medical services. This may include
administering injected medications and assisting with physical therapy
activities.
Residential/Nursing
Facilities
If home health care is no longer feasible, an
assisted living or skilled nursing care facility is an option. While typically
associated with seniors, these housing programs may also be available to
adults, teens, and children with severe disabilities.
●
Assisted living. An assisted living campus is
one where individuals and couples (typically seniors) live in their own
apartment, home, or condominium. They have access to a central campus area that
provides recreational activities. Assisted living often includes housekeeping,
meals, and help taking medication.
●
Skilled nursing. A skilled nursing care
facility is different from assisted living in that people who live here are not
able to care for themselves without direct medical intervention. Those
who reside in a skilled nursing care facility may have the option of living in
a private room or sharing accommodations with another patient in order to
receive a discounted fee and enjoying constant companionship.
Paying
for Long-Term Care
Covering
Costs
One of the main concerns of receiving paid
care is the question of financing it. Elmcroft Senior Living estimates that long-term nursing care averages
between $225 and $253 per day. À la carte home services may be less expensive
with an at-home caregiver charging an average of between $10 and $35 per hour.
Medicare does not cover the cost of assisted living or skilled nursing care for
the long-term. Paying for these accommodations and services often falls to
private health insurance, Medicaid, individual savings, or SSI disability.
Lifestyle
Factors That Affect the Need for Care
Those living with a chronic disease may have
no choice other than to receive care the vast majority of their lives. Others,
however, may find that small lifestyle changes reduce reliance on others.
People who smoke are more likely to need intense medical supervision later in
life than those that don’t. Exercise can also help preserve independence by
keeping muscles strong and improving balance, which will lower the possibility
of sustaining a falling injury. Excessive drinking, drug use, and engaging in risk-taking
behaviors can also increase the chances that you or a loved one will need
medical care. Minor home modifications, such as added lighting and a wheelchair
ramp, may also extend your ability to remain independent.
For more
information on making the decision to enter or put a loved one into nursing
care, visit the AARP online.
