How does one choose the best home health care caregiver? When you or a loved one needs long term care, keeping it simple is always the way to go. For most people who have limitations in their daily activities, the best type of care is the at-home type. Having a caregiver who comes by on a daily or semi-daily basis to help with the tasks you can no longer perform is an ideal solution. But how do you choose someone you can trust to come into your home?

How Do I Choose a Home Health Care Provider?

Check with the experts in the field of home health care. There are a multitude of companies on the market today which specialize in providing home health care workers to those who need it. Such companies have reputations which can be verified through a simple online search of state governing bodies and consumer protection organizations. Companies who furnish home health care workers are usually very stringent in their recruiting tactics and background checks and carry large liability policies to cover anything that might go wrong.

Ask for recommendations. Talk with your doctor about who he or she would recommend in home health care. This may be your best source of information. Also, talk to friends and neighbors about who they have used or if they know someone who used a home health care worker that they were particularly pleased with. Word of mouth is often the most reliable type of recommendation. Whether the average person praises or condemns another's work, usually they have nothing to gain or lose.

What Qualifications Should I Look for?

If you must choose a long term care giver without the help of a service, here are some things to keep in mind. Check to make sure that all licenses are up-to-date. Be sure that the care giver is qualified to perform the duties that he or she will have to do. In certain places, you must be a Registered Nurse to administer any type of medication. If you cannot do this yourself and need help, then you may have no choice but to go with an RN.

Meet with the caregiver at least twice to familiarize yourself with him or her. Be sure you feel comfortable with the person. Instincts mean a lot. Ask for references and be sure to check them. Ask questions such as why the person left their last job and whether the old employer would consider rehiring them or not. Run a background check. By simply getting some basic information and paying a small fee, usually less than $30, you can run a background check on a person in the state you are in. This may come back with information that will surprise you and aid you in weeding out inappropriate candidates for the job.

Where Do I locate Home Health Care Workers?

A good source of potential home health care workers is local hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Often nurses and other health care workers are open to working a little on days they are off or even picking up a few extra hours every day. Check with the human resources departments of such places to see if you can place an ad on a bulletin board or if they have some names they could refer to you.

Most people are misinformed on who exactly pays for long-term care. Medicare and other health insurance do not cover most of long-term care services. So now it's important to understand...how much will it cost me?

It is important to know what the costs of Long-Term Care are in your particular area. The costs vary by facility type: nursing home, assisted-living facility or your own home. It also varies according to geographical location.

Long-Term care costs are important to know when you are doing your estate and retirement planning. With Long-Term care insurance as part of your estate and retirement planning, it is necessary to understand what the costs will be.

Here are three reasons it is important to know the specific costs in advance:

1. You need to know if you've got enough net worth to self-insure. You may be surprised to learn that Long-Term Care in your area can be considerably more than sending a kid to college.

2. If Long-Term Care insurance is for you, you need to know what monthly benefits you will require. Where you want to receive the benefits will help determine what benefits you choose. You don't want to under-insure or waste money by over-insuring. Are you living in an expensive state where you will be receiving care or will you be retiring to a State where costs are lower?

3. Long-Term Care costs is an important factor in deciding where to retire. It is wise to have the costs available to you ahead of time when putting a Long-Term care plan in place.

I cannot tell you how often I get a call from a distraught husband, wife, life partner, children or nieces or nephews of people they love. The call usually goes something like this.

* "My wife has been having trouble managing the household chores, shopping, etc. and just staying organized."
* "My husband just came back from the Doctor's office and was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's. "
* "I think my mother is ready for a nursing home, she just can't stay alone anymore."
* "My uncle needs some assistance, I think an assisted living facility would be the right choice for him.

The next question is always "I would like to learn about and purchase Long-Term Care Insurance for __________."

I am always sad to advise the client that long-term care insurance is not available to their loved ones in the above situations. It's the equivalent of calling your local insurance agent as you are running out the door when your house is burning down. Where is the insurance when you need it?

I guess that's what insurance is. According to the English dictionary, insurance is summed up by these definitions.

1. Insurance: Legal contract that protects people from the financial costs that result from loss of life, loss of health, lawsuits, or property damage. Insurance provides a means for individuals and societies to cope with some of the risks faced in everyday life.
2. Financial Protection against loss or harm: an arrangement by which a company gives customers financial protection against loss or harm such as theft or illness in return for payment premium
3. Money paid by an insurance company: The sum of money that an insurance company pays or agrees to pay if a specific undesirable event occurs.
4. Means of Protection: An act, measure, or provision that gives protection against an undesirable event or risk

Why do we have insurance?

In life, losses are sometimes unavoidable. People may become ill and lose income or savings to pay off medical bills. Individuals or their relatives may die of illness or accidents. People's homes or other property may suffer damage or theft.

People also may accidentally cause injury to others or damage to the property of others.
No one knows in advance when a loss will occur or how serious that loss will be. The uncertainty surrounding potential losses is known as risk. Insurance offers a way for people to replace risk with known costs-the costs of buying and maintaining insurance policies.

Long-Term Care insurance is available with substantial health discounts so it is important to obtain this type of coverage when you are still in good health. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care (AALTCI) the following is the percentage of Long-Term Care Insurance applicants who qualify for good health discounts or are declined coverage.

Percentage of Long-Term Care Insurance Applicants Who Qualify For Good Health Discounts

Age 40 to 49 --- 63.2%
Age 50 to 59 --- 51.5%
Age 60 to 69 --- 42.2%

Percentage of Applicants Declined Coverage (Individual Policies)

Age 50 to 59 --- 13.9%
Age 60 to 69 --- 22.9%

A good place to start getting information is talking to a Long-Term Care Specialist who represents multiple long-term care insurers. The costs vary and acceptable health conditions vary among the top carriers.

In our changing economy the cost of long term care insurance has become a greater concern. Medicare is changing. Increased medical technology has lengthened your life expectancy. Provisions for these extra years and levels of care are issues many of us are facing. These shifts in lifestyle are causing many to consider the benefits of purchasing Long Term Care insurance (LTC insurance). The difficulty of the decision is increased by the multiple variables in cost based on coverage.

Factors of Age

The age at which you purchase your policy is a large factor in determining the cost of your Long Term Care insurance. Since a younger person is less inclined to make a claim his or her premium is much lower than that of an older person. Old er client's premiums are much higher as the risk involved is greater. As with any insurance policy the higher the risk the more costly the premium will be. Your LTC insurance policy may not come with a fixed rate; and premiums may continue to increase as you age.

Factors of Health

A healthy individual with a clean medical record can also expect lower rates. Insurance is a lucrative business and the insurers expect to profit from it. Those who are considered a potential risk because of a poor health record can expect to incur a higher premium. Depending on certain pre-existing conditions you may find it impossible to obtain coverage.

Impact of Coverage

Long Term Care insurance policy choices are as abundant as the colors of the rainbow. You may modify and adjust your policy to fit your personal needs and budget. You may begin your policy at a young age with few options. As you age and your potential need for care increases you may add options and services to increase your level of comfort and care.

Waiting Period

The waiting period is the number of days you choose to forego coverage and opt to pay for expenses out of your own pocket. This is a bit like your deductible on other forms of insurance. It is possible for waiting periods to range from 0 to 100 days with the shortest waiting period commanding the highest price. Your present and projected future income will be helpful in determining which time frame will work best for you.

Type of Care

The type of care you choose to have covered will have a big effect on the cost of your premium. This will also include your choice of coverage duration. In home long term care is the least expensive. You may determine the duration of in home care. You may also determine the type of care to be covered. A home health aid will cost considerably less than a skilled nurse or therapist.

Here are some questions to ask. Will you require someone to administer medication and therapy, or someone to assist you with light household duties? For how many hours a day and how many days out of the week do you want your LTC insurance policy to cover the costs of your assistant? If you no longer feel safe when left alone where do you wish to reside?

Of course, you do not necessarily know with certainty many of these answers. Even so, your educated guesses will help you make the decision. Purchasing a policy which contains adequate assisted living facility coverage can save you quite a bit of money in the long run. Many assisted living facilities cost half of what a nursing home would charge. They also offer a wider range of freedom while providing the monitoring and assistance your need.

Whether the plan is for yourself or someone you love considering the type of nursing home or extended care facility that will be used if this issue ever occurs is a really good idea. This will help you decide how much coverage you should purchase for this crucial time. You do not have to let circumstances decide for you.

The Cost May be Less than You Think

Most people who have not purchased LTC insurance estimate the cost of coverage to be 50% higher than it actually is. Prices can range from $297 a year for a 40 year old with an inexpensive plan and company to $1,200 a year for a 70 year old with the same plan and company. On the other hand a 40 year old can pay $3,500 or more per year while a 70 year old can pay over $9,000.

What is long term care insurance?

Long term care insurance is a type of health insurance designated to provide care for individuals living with a chronic illness or injury. Long term care insurance provides both medical and non-medical assistance to the insured, whether in a care facility such as a group home or a nursing home or living in their own home and in need of help with their daily care. It differs from other types of care that are covered by traditional insurance coverage because it pays for help with custodial care, or assistance with tasks of everyday living that most people can do for themselves.

It is often a difficult task to begin thinking and talking about long term care insurance. We don't like to think of ourselves as no longer independent and able to care for ourselves. However, just as with car insurance, life insurance and home owner's insurance, long term care insurance is an extremely important piece of security and protection for you and your family. You may never need long-term care, but when a disabling injury or illness affects your life it often results in long term effects that prevent you from carrying out your activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. This is when it is often necessary to have ongoing help. It can be burdensome or even impossible for family members to provide this level of care on a long term basis. When this is the case, other long term care options may be the most logical choice for your needs.

Is Long Term Care Insurance Expensive?

Depending on the level of care that is needed and the length of time the care is needed, long term care can become extremely expensive. The costs can include supplies and medications, nursing care or direct care help, adaptive equipment, physical therapy equipment, and other needs that are not covered by traditional health insurance. These long term care needs may be a temporary situation, but are generally health care needs that the insured well have for the rest of their lives.

Like all types of insurance, it is possible you may never have a claim against your long term care insurance policy, but if chronic illness or injury leaves you unable to independently care for your activities of daily living. It is expected that this year over 9 million adults in America will need long term health care. That number is expected to rise as high as 12 million by the year 2020. As many as 70 % of elderly adults who need long term care will receive it at home from family or friends. Long term care insurance will cover the costs associated with this type of at home care.

Of adults over the age of 65, there is a 40% chance they will need to consider nursing home care. About 10% of the people who enter a nursing home will wind up staying there for five years or longer. By having long term care insurance, you don't need to worry about whether your Medicare or primary health insurance will pay for care in the nursing home. Your long-term care insurance will cover these expenses.

What About Medicare?

Many seniors depend upon Medicare to help pay for their health care costs. However, Medicare does not pay for most long-term care. Medicare will pay for medically necessary skilled nursing care whether in facilities or home care, but you must meet eligibility requirements and most other options must be paid for by different means, such as long-term care insurance.

However, not all long term care insurance is the same. Some will pay only for nursing home care, while others will pay for a wide range of services and cares such as informal home care, adult day care centers, assisted living services or facilities, medical equipment and others.

When you are considering different long-term care plans, it can be very helpful to think about the different activities and functions you may need help with. You should consider what future needs you may have, especially any that are based on conditions or situations you are already dealing with. Consider activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and moving in or out of bed, a chair or a wheelchair. Next, think about additional services you might need help with like shopping, preparing meals, housework and laundry, getting to appointments, handling finances and bill paying, using the telephone and home maintenance and repair work. Further, consider whether you will need help with remembering to take your medications, monitoring your diabetes, using eye drops or ear drops, getting oxygen or caring for a colostomy bag or a bladder catheter. These are all areas that a long term health insurance plan can help you pay for.

Reverse mortgages have been battered in the media recently, but reverse mortgages are often the perfect solution for cash-strapped seniors. The dollars that come in from reverse mortgages can be the difference between paying basic bills such as food and utilities, and even certain medical expenses or not.

Reverse mortgages are designed for people 62 and over. They enable you to have a bank buy back your home while you're still living in it. You have to pay the money back (plus interest) when you vacate or sell the home, and there are fees involved. Still, these mortgages do have a place, and they're rapidly finding it.

Here's what you need to consider before you (or your parents) commit to a reverse mortgage:

Your age. These mortgages aren't for everyone, but the older you are, the more likely you are to benefit from one. For one, you probably have more equity in your home. But the other reason is this: Banks calculate the payout based on not only the value of your home, but your age and average expected length of life.

Your situation. A reverse mortgage probably isn't for you if you're not planning to stay in your home for a long time, so consider that upfront. Then think about other factors related to both your current and future lifestyle. People get these loans for a variety of reasons. Some do it to finance an active lifestyle in their retirement, others because the home needs to be repaired or updated with health care equipment or to help with the rising costs of health care.

Learn how the loans work. Most reverse mortgages require no repayment as long as you live in your home. The loan must be repaid in full, along with interest, when the last living borrower dies, sells the home or moves away.

Understand the lender's role. A lender - typically a bank - will provide you with a loan in an amount ranging from 20 percent to 60 percent of your home's equity. In exchange, the lender will receive a portion of your home's value when you die or sell the home.

Choose a payment preference. The loan can be paid to you in three ways: as a lump sum, in regular monthly or quarterly installments, or as a line of credit you can tap as needed.

Know your responsibilities. Borrowers are responsible for property taxes, insurance and home repairs. Your loan could become due and payable in full if you fail to meet those responsibilities.

Assess neighborhood real estate prices. Over time, a reverse mortgage whittles away at the home equity you built up over the years. But if you live in an area where home prices have a history of rising, your home's equity could continue to go up despite your reverse mortgage. It goes without saying, though, that you can never count on such increases to last forever. As evidence, just consider the housing slump and accompanying foreclosure fallout sweeping real estate markets across the United States.

The reverse mortgage can be an excellent financial planning tool for seniors from all walks of life. It can enhance their retirement years by providing some extra income to help provide seniors with a lifestyle of their choice. They can be used as part of their estate or legacy planning.

There are many thoughts that go through the heads of people as they are approaching retirement or even when they begin planning for retirement well before retirement age. Besides, what is the actual age of retirement today? As inflation increases and living expenses are increasing, more and more people are just plain forced to work longer.

The good news is that we are living longer. Hopefully, you will live a long and prosperous life and health or money issues won't affect your golden years. If long-term care is needed due to an injury, illness or even a cognitive disorder, long-term care insurance is one of the ways you can deal with the unpredictable long-term care costs which are very expensive. But to be prepared, you should consider how to make long-term care insurance work to your advantage.

Fortunately we now have some financial tools to help make the golden years more comfortable emotionally, physically and financially. A very viable solution may be long-term care insurance (LTCi). Long-term care insurance used to be thought of as "nursing home" insurance, but that is no longer true. Seek the counsel of a Long-Term Care Specialist who has special education and training (LTCP, CLTC) in long-term care financing and planning.

You will save hours and hours of research by just consulting with an independent agent who specializes in long-term care insurance.

Here are options you should look at and discuss with your Long-Term Care Specialist when considering long-term care insurance.

Activities of Daily Living: Most insurance policies respond to issues that require assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These include dressing, bathing, transferring, toileting, eating and continence as well as cognitive ability.

Companies Ratings: Financial strength as rated by A.M. Best Co., Moody's and Standard and Poor's

Daily/Monthly Benefit: The amount of money one will receive on a daily or monthly basis when a claim is made.

Benefit Period: The length of time the daily or monthly benefit will be pay usually in years.

Elimination Period: The number of days you are responsible for your own before the insurance company pays often referred to as a deductible.

Inflation Protection: This is a hedge against increased cost of care in the future.

Shared Care Rider: Allows a couple/partners to share each others benefits.

Spousal/Partner Discount: Discounts for married couples or partners

Health discount: Discount is awarded for above average health.

Home Health Care Rider: Offers a zero day elimination for care provided in the home

Guaranteed Renewable: When premiums are paid on time, one cannot be cancelled for changes in your health.

30-Day Free Look: When policy is issued, you have 30 days to change any of the benefits or options or to decline coverage.

Potential Income Tax Benefits: Business owner can deduct some or all of the premiums.

These are some of the options to consider when evaluating long-term care insurance plans, Long-term care insurance is a little more complicated than life insurance or health insurance, so it's best to consult with a Long-Term Care Specialist. A long-term care specialist will educate you in long-term care planning. He will determine if it makes sense financially and then together you will design a plan that fits your own particular situation.