Navigating Senior Housing Options

Posted on December 23, 2021 | by CareAvailability | Leave a Comment

Navigating Senior Housing: Advisors and Referral Agencies, Transitions, and Your Security

When you or a loved one is faced with needing to find the best options for senior housing it can often feel like a maze. We know how important it is to not only be aware of what options are available but also to know where you can go for additional help. That’s why we created this article to help you navigate the complex world of senior housing and how to work with a senior care advisor.

Where do I begin when navigating housing options?

The doctor just informed you that it would be unsafe for your senior loved one to return to their home without 24/7 supervision. You have limited time to find a new ‘home’. Where do you begin to find your way through the maze of housing options, care needs, budget and amenities?

Don’t go it alone, referral agencies and placement consultants are a valuable resource to save time and anxiety. These professionals are familiar with the numerous options and availability. Many also review the state survey and public disclosure file for any record of criminal activity or lack of compliance with laws/rules.

Step 1: Gain detailed knowledge of the assistance/needs of the resident.

This will narrow the type of community to those that are licensed and capable of providing the proper care. It may be awkward for families to ask the personal questions related to care needs and personal assistance; sometimes an objective third person is able to ask more detailed questions and uncover concerns or fears while helping the resident maintain a sense of privacy.

Step 2: Know your budget.

Community fees may vary, with application fees, deposits, levels of care and ancillary services. A placement consultant may be able to help you to better balance the big picture.

Step 3: Focus on the geographic area that fits best.

This is a new chapter in their life, and they will be creating a whole new social network. The goal is to accommodate frequent visitation of the resident’s support system. Proximity to an established network of friends and family is an important factor, should any healthcare or emotional changes occur.

Step 4: Visit the communities.

After narrowing the field to those that best fit your needs, you will be better able to look at the amenities, services and activities. Get to know the activities offered, meet the staff, and try the food. These are the things that make a community feel like home and help aid the adjustment process.

What is a Senior Care Advisor, or Referral Agency?

Every industry has experts that can be used to educate and guide you along the best path. A quality expert is going to help avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, as well as maximize your time and money.

The process of aging and finding Long Term Care is no exception. Those who choose to take that next step in education can obtain this title and show they have studied the wide range of issues that could arise as someone ages. An advisor should also research licensing, inspections reports, and any state violations of every facility to ensure they are only recommending the highest quality options for any given situation.

Why work with a referral agency?

A Senior Care Advisor is your expert in the challenges of aging. It is someone who can sit down and learn everything about your situation to best guide you. Some examples of information an advisor should ask are: Medical/Health Information, Geographic Needs, Financial Requirements, Veteran Status, Long-Term Care Insurance, Mobility Concerns, Cognitive Abilities, Personal Care Needs, Meal Preferences, Socialization/Hobbies, and/or Estate Planning.

An advisor really must have a clear understanding of everything that is going on before they can start looking at next steps. This process can be equated to assembling a puzzle. You give an advisor an idea of what the end result should look like, hand them all of the pieces needed for assembly, and let them go about piecing everything together. A quality advisor will know all of the options and help navigate this confusing industry to find the perfect solutions for your needs. Keep in mind an advisor is not making decisions on your behalf; this is why it’s crucial you find an advisor you connect with and trust.

The advisor is typically compensated by the long-term care facilities; because of this compensation model an advisor should not be a sales person pushing one particular solution. Their goal should be to provide the highest quality options and present them so you can make the best decisions possible. Given that they have already visited hundreds of these long-term care options, you do not have to start from the beginning. They can quickly recommend the best options and you only have to visit a handful of places. This gives you the ability to focus time and energy on your loved ones. So if you find yourself in need of guidance in these areas, find a quality Senior Care Advisor for help.

Benefits of a Referral Agency

People tend to fall into two broad categories when it comes to big decisions or difficult tasks… the first are those who are determined to take care of it themselves, just wade right in and see what happens; and the second are those who look for input from those who may have been there before or at least have seen how things turned out.

Neither one is right or wrong, just different. For example: there are two families needing to find suitable housing for an elderly parent who has specific needs and definite preferences to be addressed, referral agencies are well-equipped to be of help to both camps.

For the “do-it-myselfer”, the referral agency can help by giving information on what the senior housing industry looks like, what major things to look for, and avoid, and to provide some explanation of terminology. This family is then better prepared to go out and find options for their elder.

For the “I-could-use-some-help” types, the referral agency is a trove of information and experience regarding the whole issue of helping seniors move along on their journey. The agency gathers pertinent information regarding care needs, likes, dislikes, geographic preferences and financial parameters. With this information the agency provides the senior and/or family with options, tours the options with the family, answers their questions and provides a sounding board to allow them to make an informed decision.

The time saved by the family seeking help from a referral agency is better used to get the senior integrated into their new environment and to get the whole family back on track.

The best parts about actively taking a referral agency’s help are:
(1) they know the options, (2) they know the providers and (3) they take on the leg-work. Oh, and the best part, (4) the referral agency helps you for free.

How you benefit from having a neutral third party

Referral agents begin by asking questions to become clear on how they can best help you. Whether you choose to look at options on your own or whether you enlist the help of a referral agency, the rent and care fees you pay are the same.

The senior referral industry is regulated by your State’s Department of Human Services. In some states, senior referral agencies are required to register with the state as well. In Oregon, all agents must meet DHS guidelines to register and must follow the rules set forth by DHS to ensure families are receiving quality information by qualified individuals. Referral agents do not make decisions for you, but they help frame situations to allow you to understand what options you have and they support you in your decision-making process.

Be extremely cautious about providing your contact information to online referral agencies when searching for the options.

Placing your name into various websites can launch a barrage of phone calls of solicitations from businesses and agencies that aren’t even of interest to you. If you plan to work with a referral agency, select a local senior advisor that will tour and be with you each step of the way.

Why is the transition and moving to assisted living or memory care so hard?

We have hope for improvement

When we love someone, we never want to “give up” on them. We hold a deep-seated belief that if we keep looking for solutions, treatments or therapies, our loved one will get better. Unfortunately, the aging process of both the body and the mind is a downhill path. What makes things confusing is that in our world of information and options, we are compelled to continue seeking solutions. Further clouding the situation is that the downhill decline is not always noticeable. Older adults have good days and bad days. When a loved one has good days, we don’t want to disrupt the quality of life we see them experiencing.

We remember them as they were.

It’s easy for us to take notice when a friend is struggling with caring for an aging parent; when it’s our own parent, we frequently can’t see the obvious changes that are occurring. We remember the strong and capable adult of the past. We don’t want to acknowledge the changes because then there will have to be difficult and disruptive decisions that needs to be made. Don’t go it alone, referral agencies and placement consultants are a valuable resource to save time and anxiety. These professionals are familiar with the numerous options and availability. Many also review the state survey and public disclosure file for any record of criminal activity or lack of compliance with laws/rules.

Family dynamics can cloud the real issues.

Family members may disagree on what care is needed, and it is often the case that one or more people may purposefully attempt to convince the family to allow the older adult to remain in their own home. Sometimes in-home care is a good solution, and other times it is not a workable or feasible long-term solution. Allowing our own personal preferences to cloud our thinking is not helpful to a frail senior. Enlisting knowledgeable outside help who look at your situation and help introduce you to specific senior care communities will reduce the amount of family conflict.

Security and Online Senior Living Referral Services

While researching Senior Living options online for yourself or a loved one you may be unaware of what happens with your information, and the level of your own security.

If you google search Assisted Living, a list of Online Senior Referral companies will appear. They require you to enter your information that includes: phone number, email, address, health and finances. All before being directed to a list of options.The companies also put you on a “list.” That list is sent to numerous communities where your information will be entered into multiple databases and viewed by anyone that can access that data. You will then receive emails and phone calls from every community on the “list.”

Once the online service puts you on their list they “own” you as a “lead.” This remains true whether you move in soon, years later or even correspond with that company. This is how they receive compensation.

DO NOT give out your information to receive pricing or a list of communities.

A secure way to narrow down Senior Living options is to use a Local Senior Living Advisor. They will be willing to meet with you, in person, to assess your loved ones’ specific needs. The Advisor will then, recommend the best options, coordinate the tours and take you to see those recommended options. A Trusted Senior Living Advisor visits communities regularly and knows whom has stable staff, happy residents, good food and quality care. Online Referral companies are unable to provide this level of service.

A Local Senior Living Advisor will be your one point of contact. Only that advisor will have your information unless you wish to give it to the toured communities. This will eliminate needless contact from multiple communities and from the online referral service itself. A Local Advisor can assist you with negotiating costs, recommend resources for: downsizing, selling a home, moving and assist with the necessary paperwork to get moved into a community.

An Important Difference:

On CareAvailability, we do NOT require your contact details to search, and we provide the contact information for each provider. CareAvailability is NOT a referral agency, only a database of providers and we list all of them to create a comprehensive list. You can contact the community when you are ready and you can decide what information you wish to share.

You can search our affiliate site, Retirement Connection for “Referral Service and Housing Specialists” for local referral agencies and additional help.

Below are links to find an advisor in your area:

Several different agencies contributed to this article, Including: 1st Choice Senior Placement, Dedicated Care Solutions, Portland Senior Housing, Senior One Source.

Get the Scoop on Medicare Advantage

Posted on December 23, 2021 | by CareAvailability | Leave a Comment

Benefits, Services, and Costs of Medicare Advantage Plans

More than 23 million Americans currently receive their health benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan. There’s much to like about these plans, which provide extra services and make coverage more affordable than traditional Medicare by capping out-of-pocket costs. It’s no surprise that a 2018 poll found a whopping 90% of people with Medicare Advantage plans are satisfied with their coverage. But do you understand the ins and outs of Medicare Advantage?

What is a Medicare Advantage Plan?

Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are offered by private health insurance providers that have been approved by Medicare. These companies receive government funding to cover your Medicare benefits and keep you healthy.

With traditional Medicare, the federal government pays your providers directly.

What do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover?

If you join a Medicare Advantage plan, that plan will provide all of your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) coverage. But that’s not all.

Medicare Advantage plans cover many things that traditional Medicare doesn’t cover. These extras can include vision, hearing and dental benefits, as well as wellness programs. Many Medicare Advantage plans give seniors access to affordable prescription drug plans, often at no additional cost.

And all Medicare Advantage plans limit the amount you must spend out of pocket for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance each year for covered Medicare services.

Who is eligible to purchase a Medicare Advantage plan?

You must already be covered by Medicare Parts A and B to join a Medicare Advantage plan. You also must live in the Medicare Advantage plan’s service area.

The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) which lasts from mid-October until early December, is when you can initially sign up, switch, or leave your Medicare Advantage plan. You can also switch Medicare Advantage plans or from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare from January 1 until March 31 if you change your mind.

Are all Medicare Advantage plans the same?

There are different options to meet different health and financial needs. Just as with individual or employer-sponsored insurance, several types of Medicare Advantage policies are available. The most common types of Medicare Advantage plans are:

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)

You also may see Medicare Advantage plans called Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) and Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans.

If you are eligible for Medicaid, have a chronic condition, or live in a nursing home, you may also be able to sign up for another type of Medicare Advantage tailored to your specific needs called a Special Needs Plan (SNP).

While many Medicare Advantage plans are available at no additional cost, some charge premiums or have costs for optional services. Which providers are in the plan’s network also varies. That means it’s important to comparison-shop carefully, just as you do for other important expenditures.

You’ll want to understand specific costs and benefits before you join. The online tool Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov can help you can find and compare policies in your area.

Is a Medicare Advantage plan the same thing as a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy?

No. A Medigap policy is private insurance that helps supplement traditional Medicare. This means it helps pay some of the health care costs that traditional Medicare doesn’t cover (like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles).

While a Medigap policy does help to supplement the Medicare Hospital (Part A) and Medical (Part B) coverage, it does not include Prescription Drugs (Part D) and this would need to be purchased separately, if choosing Medigap.

Article credit: https://www.ahip.org/get-the-scoop-on-medicare-advantage/

A Full Guide To Nursing Homes In Oregon

Posted on October 24, 2021 | by CareAvailability | Leave a Comment

Nursing Homes in Oregon: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for and selecting a nursing home in Oregon that checks off all the right boxes can be very intimidating for even the most experienced family members. You’ve probably got loads of questions from the costs to the services provided and everything in between.

Every state has different requirements, costs, and coverages, that’s why CareAvailability.com created our full guide to finding and understanding skilled nursing facilities near you in Oregon.

What Is a Nursing Home?

A skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing home, is classified by Oregon as a residential care facility serving seniors, people with disabilities, and temporary residents who are getting care during a rehabilitation period.

It’s important to know which of those categories you or your loved one fall under since they are treated differently by health insurances including Medicare & Medicaid.

The term ‘nursing home’ is often misused for any type of facility that provides care outside of the person’s home, however, there are many care options in Oregon for people to be cared for in less restrictive settings and at more affordable prices.

Nursing homes often offer long-term care (LTC for stays over 100 days) for people unable to reside elsewhere due to high medical needs, however, it is often not paid by health insurance and requires private funds or a LTC policy.

What Services Do Nursing Homes Provide?

Skilled nursing facilities are one of Oregon’s highest levels of care outside of a hospital with capabilities to handle most injuries and illnesses that do not require emergency services but need to be cared for in a medical setting.

While most people utilize these facilities to recover from a serious injury or illness after a qualified medical stay at a hospital, some individuals find themselves needing the level of medical expertise for long-term care due to a chronic illness.

If you journeyed across Oregon to tour all of the state’s nursing homes, you’d find that no two facilities are the same. Some are set up to remind their residents of a home-like environment while others resemble more of a hospital’s layout. However, almost every option will be able to provide similar medical services.

24/7 supervision from trained staff. (LPNs, Certified Medical Assistants, Certified Nursing Assistants and Registered Nurses)
Medical services provided on-site. (Wound care, IV care, needle care, etc.)
Additional therapy offered from outside companies. (Speech therapy, physical or occupational therapy)
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living such as personal hygiene, dressing, bathing, transferring and mobility. *Special note: If your loved-one has cognitive needs like dementia or Alzheimer's, you’ll want to look at Memory Care.
Other activities of daily living include laundry, cooking, housekeeping, etc.
Access to a life enrichment program for residents.
Full nutritional program guided by your doctor or dietitian.

How Much Do Nursing Homes Cost In Oregon?

The cost of skilled nursing home care in Oregon can vary greatly depending on the type of care you receive as well as the location, however the average cost of nursing home care in Oregon averages $270 per night.

Health insurances, including Medicare, will often cover a significant part of the cost of nursing home care if the individual qualifies for rehabilitation after an incident or illness, however there are normally time limits associated with the benefit, such as Medicare’s 100-day rule.

It’s also important to note that if your loved-one or yourself need long-term care at a skilled nursing home, it will not be covered by health insurance but requires the individual to have a separate long-term care insurance policy to help cover the costs.

Does Oregon Medicaid pay for nursing homes?

If a person qualifies for Medicaid long-term care in Oregon, with Senior & Disability Services (APD) they are eligible to stay in a skilled nursing home covered by the State’s benefit.

Also, it’s important to understand that Oregon Medicaid for long-term care is different from Medicaid for the general population.

Why is nursing home care so expensive?

The costs associated with skilled nursing can induce panic with the sticker shock effect, but it’s often not discussed as to why it costs $6000+ dollars per month.

The truth is that care, no matter the setting, but especially in nursing homes, requires robust staffing 24/7. The costs of hiring and keeping exceptional caregivers and medically trained staff such as nurses, is very costly. Add in the price of running a medical facility all day and night, pricey medical supplies and needed administrative staff, and you’ve got quite the overhead.

Although the cost can seem overwhelming, it’s smart to look into financial planning for end stage retirement and expected care needs.

How do I find a good nursing home?

Finding a good nursing home facility requires due diligence from the person responsible for finding the best fit facility for their loved one.

1 Start your search online to get all your options and view live availability using our convenient care availability search.

2 Print off or share the results of your search to map out what places are optimal for your loved-one. Is the facility close enough to encourage family members to visit frequently?

3 Do some smart online research by looking at what others have said about the community. However, don’t just take every review as representative of the facility since the nature of caring for someone can be stressful and people often lash out online for things no one can control.

4 Then, do some good old fashioned in-person tours with all your options. We advise you to resist the temptation to select the first one you visit or give into sales pressure from the facility.

What should I look for when choosing a nursing home?

To find a good nursing home, or any care for that matter, you’ll need to put in a little extra effort during your visit. Here are some tips on things to look out for:

Look to assure that the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot of the operations by what is clean and maintained. Are there a lot of lights burnt out? Are knobs loose or damaged?
Does the facility have the right atmosphere for your needs?
Ask about the nutritional program, visit while others are eating to get an idea of what is being served.
Also, ask about the activities program. Activities are critical for our quality of life and play an important role in care.
Spend a lot of time asking about pricing and add-ons, don’t skimp here.
Lastly, and this is very important, get to know the leadership in the building. It’s a fact that caregiving positions see higher than average churn, so if you want to get a good feel for how a place runs, talk to the executive director, the head nurse, lead activities director and even the chef. If you feel good around these people, it’s a good sign you can trust them with care.

What questions should I ask when choosing a nursing home?

If you’re touring a nursing facility there are several people that you may be talking to, but no matter who it is, make sure that you have the opportunity to visit with multiple people in the building with different job titles.

Here is a short list of common questions to ask when choosing a nursing home:

What is your average & minimum staffing ratios? - Everybody wants to believe that the facility they choose will have ample staffing ratios, way above minimum standards, but that’s just not reality.
How often will your loved-one be attended to by a skilled nurse or medical aid? What medical services do you offer and what services can be brought in from outside agencies?
What are the community's policies regarding fall prevention and bed sore prevention? If your loved-one has early signs of dementia, be sure to ask about how the nursing home handles individuals with dementia behaviors.
Are there any extra charges we could expect to see outside of the pricing information already given?
What happens when we run out of the person’s money? (Adult children do not need to cover the cost of care, Oregon has benefits for this.)
Can you tell me about what life enrichment programs you offer to your residents? How are medications administered?
How is laundry handled? (Tip: laundry is done communally, so be prepared to mark your laundry clearly and boldly.)
Bonus tip: Ask for the Uniform Disclosure Statement required by care facilities in Oregon.

Should my loved one go into a nursing home?

This is a great question to ask and deserves an informed approach to answer it. The simple answer to this question is to make sure you are talking with the right person to help you make this decision.

If you’re in a situation where a loved-one or yourself are in the hospital, be sure to seek the advice of your doctor and the discharge planners involved. Be sure to ask if there are any other options available and what the expected time frame for the nursing home stay you might expect.

If skilled nursing is recommended as a permanent long-term care solution, we would encourage you to further talk with hospital professions, local advisors, and your local Aging and Disability Resource Connection specialist. Just because someone recommends a nursing home, doesn’t mean that you might not find a better solution in an alternative setting with modifications.

What other types of care are there?

There are many types of care that are available in Oregon that aren’t skilled nursing homes. Nursing homes happen to be the highest level of care outside of a hospital’s acute care setting, so, if possible, care should be done in the least restrictive setting that can provide all your care needs.

Types of Care For Seniors In Oregon: (besides Nursing Homes)

In-Home Care – Care provided in the individual’s home dwelling from another. There are many options for hiring, including hiring someone you know or trust, hiring a professional, or hiring an in-home care agency.

Adult Foster Care – Care provided in a home style environment with a maximum capacity of 5 people. This is a great option for people looking for a more intimate style of care but also comes with less services than facilities.

Assisted Living Facility – Perhaps the most well-known, assisted living facilities provide care to individuals in a community setting, providing mostly every care need an individual has but can be limited in what can be done medically.

Memory Care Facility – A specialized residential care facility that provides care for individuals diagnosed with a form of dementia.

Adult Day Services – Growing in popularity in Oregon, adult day services offer respite care daily for set hours. This is a great option for people looking to stay in their home but still require daytime coverage for care needs. They are great for social interaction as well.

Who regulates nursing homes in Oregon?

The nursing homes in Oregon are regulated by two different state agencies with different roles. The Department of Human Services, under their Senior & Disability Services (APD), which oversees benefits pertaining to nursing homes and the Oregon Health Licensing Agency / Nursing Home Administrators Board (OHLA/NHAB), which regulates licensing and nursing requirements.

Who can you contact for nursing facility complaints or concerns in Oregon?

If you have questions, complaints, or concerns of your nursing home, contact the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s office. Visit their website here: https://www.oltco.org/oltco/index.html

Looking to find a nursing home in Oregon?

Finding a nursing home in Oregon can be a difficult process, especially for those unfamiliar with Oregon’s long-term care system. However, we make it easier for families and providers to use our real-time care availability search. Search now to get current information on all your available options, easily reach out for facility tours and more so that you can find the best nursing home fit for your needs.