Choosing Care, Carefully: When Your Loved One Has to Be Placed in A Nursing Home

In the insurance industry, a common subject that comes up is long-term care for those who are aging and no longer able to care for themselves.  Whether it be for oneself, or for a loved one, nursing homes and care-centers are as varied as insurance plans to cover them, and there is no singular right choice for families.  Yes, some choose in-home health options, but for others, a nursing facility is the only choice.  So, how do you ensure that you are making the most educated decision when choosing long-term care for yourself or your loved one?

The biggest tip to keep in mind is “know before you go”.  Just like a college student visits multiple campuses when deciding where to attend, those who are looking at nursing homes or similar facilities need to visit several options before making a decision.  An obvious beginning step is to check ratings and reviews of the facilities in your area.  Factors such as distance from family, level of provided medical care and/or independence, and cost are all variables to be considered when making a choice as well.  During your visits, pay attention to details such as the food service (including desirability and quality of food), how the residents seem to be passing their time and which activities are available to them, what the actual living quarters look like, and the overall impression of the staff.  Listen to the staff when they are discussing residents and pay attention to their tone and comments.  These are all indicators of the atmosphere of that particular location.

Another key factor when looking at these facilities is cost.  Oftentimes, different levels of medical care have varying costs.  In other words, for those who live in the more “independence” portions of a home (assisted living) the cost is substantially less than those who require full-time medical monitoring.  You will also need to look at how each individual location matches up with your current insurance plan and which options are available to you.

Perhaps the best piece of advice when considering long-term care is to make sure you prepare far in advance of the care being needed.  Don’t wait for an emergency to push you into a rush decision. Have your information handy and your choices made ahead of time, so you will making educated decisions about the care for yourself or for someone you love. Of course, the best way to prepare is by making sure your insurance policies are adequate for all phases of life. If you are concerned about how your policy will change when you move into the age of requiring daily assistance, or if you are looking for coverage for a loved one needed long-term care, give us a call.  Carroll Marshall Insurance can help you navigate the various options available to you, and determine which plan is most suited to your individual needs.  We serve the greater Polk County area, so feel free to stop in our Winter Haven office and see one of our advisors!