The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing provides an overview of long-term care options and how to apply for services.

Our support group meets six times per month and has had weekly topics, guest speakers, and healthy cooking classes. We have a dedicated regsitered nurse, program coordinator who can answer questions, or refer you to the doctors. She is an expert because she has had RNY herself! The physicians will personally work with you on your nutrtition, and our personal trainer also meets with you to discuss your nutritional regimen. In January, our new, 6000 sq. ft. office is expected to open.

Long-term care is the kind of help you need if you are unable to care for yourself because of a prolonged illness or disability. It can range from help with daily activities at home, such as bathing and dressing, to skilled nursing care in a nursing home. Not everyone should buy a long-term care insurance policy. For some, a long-term care policy is an affordable and attractive form of insurance. For others, the cost is too great and the benefits they can afford are insufficient.

Traditionally, family members provide care for the individual in need. As their illness progresses, the individual may need more care than the family member(s) are willing or able to provide. The individual may require homemaker services at home, or need to be placed outside the home; such as in an assisted living facility, adult day care center, hospice, or a nursing home Back to Top

Medicare may cover some services for long periods of time. People with MS and other chronic conditions may be eligible for physical, occupational, and speech therapy as long as the services are skilled and medically necessary. This is so even if the services are needed to maintain the individual's condition rather than to restore prior function.

Yes, premiums for all long-term care insurance policies may be increased. However, if premiums are based on issue age, they may only increase if premiums are increased for all individuals insured under the same type of policy. If premiums are based on attained age, premiums will increase as you age.

Companies selling long-term care insurance underwrite their coverage. That means they look at your current health status and health history and issue a policy only if you meet the guidelines established by the company. Some companies ask only a few questions about your health. Others may ask for more detail, examine your current medical records or ask for a health statement from your doctor. Answer all questions as truthfully and thoroughly as possible.

Clinical trials often contain technical medical language, not used in everyday conversation. Many trials therefore require that the patient be fluent in English. Some trials will also be conducted in a second language. If you do not speak English fluently, it still may be possible to participate in the study if you have a friend or a family member who is readily available to act as a translator between you and your health care providers. You should discuss this possibility with your doctor.

When an individual enters a nursing home or adult care home, he or she is guaranteed certain fundamental rights. Under North Carolina State Law these rights are found in the Nursing Home Residents' Bill of Rights and the Adult Care Home Residents' Bill of Rights. A copy of these rights should be posted within the facility. Any representative of the Ombudsman Program can help you understand these rights.

Due to high nursing home cost and a desire to remain at home, many people are now exploring the value of long-term care insurance. These policies vary from company to company and many policies can be written to meet the prospective clients' specific desires regarding where and how they would like to receive care in their senior years. lf it is your desire to stay at home, be sure to specifically ask your long-term care insurance agent about personal care and home health.

No, your policy is guaranteed renewable for life. The policy may terminate only when you cease paying your insurance premiums or if you use the maximum amount of benefits available under the policy.

Preexisting conditions must be covered by long-term care insurance policies. However, insurance companies may have a preexisting condition waiting period of up to six months. After your policy is in effect for six months, it will pay for covered benefits.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are required to be covered by long-term care policies. However, if you have Alzheimer's or other dementia at the time you apply for coverage, the insurance company is not required to accept your application or to issue coverage.

Long Term Acute Care is defined as hospital care that is provided to patients that meet acute care criteria. Their hospitalization generally requires greater than 25 days.

Long term care is not one service, but a variety of services available to individuals who are unable to care for themselves due to an illness, accident or disability. The services are provided in a setting other than the acute care section of a hospital. Some common reasons why long term care services may be needed include: car accidents, sporting accidents, stroke, the aging process, Alzheimer’s or Multiple Sclerosis.

Yes, all plan sponsors must contract with any willing long-term care provider to provide prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries residing in long-term care facilities. Plan sponsors will be required to network with LTC pharmacies separately from regular network contracting.

Long-term care services can be provided in your own home, an assisted living facility, an adult day care center or in a nursing home.

Long-term care refers to a broad range of medical, personal, and social services needed by people who are unable to meet their basic living needs for an extended period of time. Such conditions include the inability to move about, dress, bathe, eat, use a toilet and/or safely take medications. Help may also be needed with household cleaning, preparing meals, shopping, paying bills, visiting the doctor, or answering the phone.

Application for long term care services, be it residential care services or community care services, is free of charge. Social workers and relevant staff who process and deal with the application will not charge the applicant or his family any fee. Through re-engineering community support services for elders since April 2003, 36 DECCs and 110 NECs have been upgraded.

Depending on the insurance policy, personal care and nursing care provided by Wesley Homes may be covered by one’s long- term care insurance. Home health care that is provided by Wesley Homes Community Health Services may also be covered. Wesley Homes staff is available to assist you in evaluating your policy.

According to the American Society on Aging, 70% of Americans 65 and older will need some form of long-term care.1 And today, Americans are living to an average age of 77.2

CareSource has worked with various insurance companies to meet their provider criteria. Most long-term policies have a qualifying period, or a deductible and might pay a percentage of the cost for private duty services. We can assist you in determining your coverage parameters and work with your insurer to complete applicable paperwork.

Covered Medicaid long-term care services include the following services provided to a recipient age 55 years or older: MERP does not apply to recipients whose only Medicaid coverage is QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary). This notice is provided when you file a Medicaid application only for future reference should you choose at a later date to receive Medicaid covered long-term care services. The acknowledgement (Form 8001) is an informational notice only.

You may obtain additional information on Long-Term Care Insurance by calling 1-866-950-PLAN. Someone will be able to help answer your questions and will mail informational materials directly to you on Long-Term Care Insurance. You may also contact your Long-Term Care Insurance Resource Center in the county you live in.

The City of San Jose offers a Long Term Care (LTC) plan through Prudential. For inside California, call (800) 732-0416, or outside California, call (800) 732-0416. The Retirement Services office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 1737 N. First Street, Suite 580, San Jose. We are about two miles north of City Hall at the corner of North First and Metro. If you are taking the light rail, exit at the Metro station.

Long-Term Care Insurance Resource Centers are located in each county to educate consumers about their choices. They frequently offer education events as well as individual counseling.

The Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) provided accreditation information. LTC homes voluntarily apply to be accredited through the CCHSA. Accreditation determines the extent to which the home is meeting CCHSA's national standards for care delivery and operations and is used by a home and other organizations to better the quality of their services.