Advance Care Directive
As your loved ones grow older, you may start thinking about what to do in a medical emergency. Most children want to ensure their parents’ wishes are respected when it comes to choosing medical treatment, but you may not know what those wishes are. You may also be worried about whether their doctors will let you make decisions if they’re incapacitated. This is where advance health care directives (AHCD) come in.
Power of Attorney
At its most basic, a power of attorney is a document that allows someone to act on another person’s behalf. The person allowing someone to manage their affairs is known as the principal, while the person acting on their behalf is the agent. It’s important to note that POAs are generally governed by state law and there may be some differences between states. Generally, these differences are minor, but when arranging a POA, it’s important to talk to an attorney who understands the law in your state.
Medicare Benefits
Medicare is split into three basic parts: Parts A, B, and D. Part A is hospital insurance while Part B is medical insurance and Part D is prescription drug coverage. There are two other options as well: Medicare Advantage, originally called Part C and designed as an alternative to Parts A and B, and Medigap, a supplement to Parts A and B that fills in gaps in insurance and is sold by private insurance companies.
Social Security
Whether you’re nearing retirement age, have a significant disability or are struggling to meet your basic needs, you may be entitled to Social Security. This federal program includes several different components that can provide valuable financial assistance regardless of your age.
Medical Assistance Programs
Medical assistance programs may help you pay for the medical care and supplies you need to stay healthy. In certain areas medical assistance programs such as Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program will pay for assisted living community.
Veterans Benefits
If you have served in the military, you may be entitled to receive benefits because of your status as a Veteran. In the United States, veterans’ benefits honor those brave men and women who served our country by providing them with health care, housing, and even long-term care options. There are many resources available to vets, including some specific to elderly veterans and those in need of long-term care.
Home Health Care
Home health care is a type of in-home care that involves higher-level medical care and therapy. Unlike personal care assistants, who are not able to perform any medical care, home health aides must undergo specialized training and/or have a nursing degree or certification to perform skilled nursing tasks such as administering injections, maintaining oxygen tubes and catheters, and conducting physical or occupational therapy.
Hospice
Hospice Care helps provide comfort to your loved one in their last days. Care teams specialize in keeping pain and suffering to a minimum. This care is often provided at home, but care teams can also go to a hospital or other care facility to provide relief.