Long term services and support in Connecticut
Long term care services include the assistance a person uses because they need substantial assistance to perform day to day activities such as with eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, or transferring independently because they are chronically ill. This assistance is called help with activities of daily living (ADLs) by professionals in the industry. A couple points on whether the help a person is receiving would be considered long term services:
- The assistance is expected, by a health care professional, to be used for 90 days or more.
- Assistance such as physical therapy after being in a hospital for surgery is not included. Why? It is acute care and the person's condition is expected to improve as a result of the therapy!
Where does a person receive this special kind of help?
- The most common place to receive non medical assistance would be in the home and its provided by a Homemaker sometimes called a Companion. This assistance includes things such as preparing meals and helping around the house. Regulations sometimes indicate a Homemaker is not to touch the person.
- More substantial assistance in helping a person with personal activities would be provided by a Home Health Aide.
- When more complex and medical related assistance is needed an LPN or in some cases an RN would become involved.
Note: About 80% of long term services and support is received in the individuals home and is responding to their desire to — age in place. BTW - A person's need could be periodic or even around the clock.
Assisted living: Individuals in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF) have a private room, receive meals in a common area, and have access to a range of services. One big value of ALFs is socializing, which improves an individuals quality of life. Thus, they are quite popular and are an excellent choice when a person can no longer live independently. Safety is an important part of the decision to move into a ALF since family members know help will be there in case of a fall or sudden illness.
Note: Services provided by ALF's are not all the same. Some include in their monthly rate a "basic" level with up to 5 services. Those with 6 to 9 services are considered to have a "standard" monthly rate. ALF's with 10 or more services are "inclusive". Most ALFs can add services as needed. Some offer a secure area with special services for people with cognitive conditions.
Nursing facility: They serve individuals who need more complex help or when around the clock services are required.
Note: A recent analysis by the American Association of Long Term Care Insurance of new long term care claims found 31% were for Home services - 30.5% for Assisted Living - 38.5% in a Nursing home.
These findings about long term services are insightful:
- Over 80% of us have a relative, or know someone, who is or has received help because some of their "parts wore out" or they were having trouble with mental ability.
- By age 75 70% or more of us will need help! Why? By then many people have, on average, 2 or 3 chronic conditions and for some it's as high as 10 or 12 conditions.
People often think their health will not deteriorate and then one day they will just die! However, no one can predict whether what might be called a "Life Happens" medical related situation will occur. Some things to think about:
- The impact an accident can have. For example, the accident Christopher Reeves (Superman) had several years before he died.
- The consequences physical limitations can have in a later life stage. 88% of people report they are worried about this.
- Its great that medical technologies and prescriptions have advanced so now people are able to offset some of the natural changes of aging. The result people are living longer — but this means the chance of developing frailties and needing assistance becomes much greater.
Four informative video stories and the value these people recived plus some myths and facts about Long Term Care insurance can be found on this link.
What do long term services and support cost in Connecticut?
- In the Hartford area a Homemaker coming to your home can be up to $26 an hour.
- If you were to need help from a certified home health aide say for six hours 4 times a week - the cost can be over $600 a week. This amount of assistance could grow to over $5,500 a month in just 15 years. This means many people could quickly become poor!
- Adult Day services cost up to $85 a day in the Hartford area. On a 5 day a week basis, this would be about $1,900 a month.
- The rate for Assisted Living facilities can be up to $6,600 a month in the Hartford area; to $6,900 in the New Haven area; to $6,600 in the New London/Norwich area; and to $8,000 in the Bridgeport/Stamford area.
Nursing home costs in Connecticut are next to the highest in the U.S! The Connecticut Partnership for Long Term Care reports the annual cost for a semi private Nursing Home has been increasing at an average rate of 5.2 % since 1988 and is now over $134,000 a year! !
What's the most effective way to pay for needed professional long term services and support?
Make an investment in a Long Term Care insurance plan. It's a much better approach in these dynamic times than "just paying" the high rates for professional help. Paying for needed assistance would result in quickly using up most people's savings nest egg. Some points:
- It is useful to think about sharing these expenses. In other words what amount would you be able to pay from sources such as retirement and investment funds and social security and what amount would you want the plan to pay.
- It's important to include inflation protection in a plan since the cost of these special services is forecast to double in 12 to 15 years!
- In thinking about paying for a plan (annual payments are most economical) one idea is to use some dollars from income and some for example from the interest you earn on financial investments.
Want to Chat about how having this special protection means you will not lose control nor become a burden on children? I'll get back to you if not available. You can also call John C Parker today at 860.739.0005.
More information on what you and your family will gain is on the Value page.
John C Parker, has achieved professional designations as a Long Term Care Insurance professional and a Registered Health Underwriter. John is licensed to conduct business in CT (644135) and RI (1058420) and does not solicit or sell in other states.
This site shares insights from extensive involvement in professional associations, industry conferences, working with leading Long Term Care Insurance organizations, and individual research. These pages do not advocate a specific company or plan.
