Healthcare bill includes Class Act: National LTCI

Great news for the senior community: The healthcare reform bill that is under debate in the Senate includes a new way for paying long term care. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports  (CLASS) Act would create a national long-term care insurance program. This bill made famous by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, now being headed by Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr.  will give seniors benefit payments in cash, which will allow seniors and the disabled to spend the benefit money on hiring a caregiving service or to purchase medical equipment so that they can remain in their own home.

What would seniors benefit? 

• They would benefit two activities of daily living
• Receive $75 per day to pay for caregiving service

 Highlights of the CLASS Act:

•  funded by voluntary participation and payroll deductions @$50 per month
• must contribute for 5yrs. before collecting benefit
• benefit maximum of $75 per day (paid in cash)
• may hire caregiver of choice as benefit paid in cash
• must need assistance with at least 2 activities of daily living (ADLs) to qualify
• provide lifetime benefits
• premiums are age-rated
• financially viable and self-sustaining (modeled after private insurance)  

Reason the CLASS Act is needed:

• only 5% of Americans have long term care insurance
• part-time caregiving services in the home delay the need for nursing home care
• caregiver stress is a large reason for nursing home admissions
• research shows eliminating caregiver stress would reduce nursing home admissions by 1/4^th   
• nursing home care costs an average of $70k per year
• paying for part-time care in the home will eliminate or delay spending down all assets on care services.  

To quote Senator Kirk “Sadly, millions of seniors and persons living with disabilities struggle to obtain the services and supports they need to live fulfilling lives and to remain in their communities among their friends and families – in what they hoped would be their productive “golden years”.

This new way of paying for senior care will greatly assist seniors and their families to help them cope with memory loss and mobility issues.

Source provided by Caregiver List

The holiday season has arrived and for most it is a time of joy, sharing and being with  the ones you love… It is a time for catching up with old friends, being with family and looking forward to what the New Year will bring. It is a great picture but for seniors it is hardly the reality. Feelings of sadness, loneliness are what most seniors feel this time of year.

There are many ways we can help to prevent or lessen those feelings of loneliness and help restore their joy this holiday season.

• Don’t let them be alone. Invite your loved one over, if they can’t be with family, encourage them to be with friends.  
• Volunteer at churches or nursing homes. You are not only helping them with their sadness but keeping you away from your own troubles. 
• Encourage communication with your loved one. If you see them sad, ask them about it, let them talk it out. Sometimes all they want is for someone to listen to them.  
• Relive some of the good times with your loved one. Look at old photos of past holiday gatherings.  
• Remind your loved ones that having them there is what’s most important, not the gifts. Seniors tend to worry about their finances and want to be able to share in the gifts of giving.  

Following some of these tips should help lessen the holiday blues, and remember that a simple gesture is all it takes so that they know someone cares.

Happy Holidays!!