The Importance of Planning
No one wants to think about a time when they might need long-term care. So planning ahead for this possibility often gets put off. Most people first learn about long-term care when they or a loved one need care. Then their options are often limited by lack of information, the immediate need for services, and insufficient resources to pay for preferred services. Planning ahead allows you to have more control over your future.
Why Plan Ahead for Long-Term Care?
Planning ahead for long-term care is important because there is a good chance you will need some long-term care services if you live beyond the age of 65. About 70 percent of people over age 65 require some services, and the likelihood of needing care increases as you age.
Planning ahead helps you understand what service options are available in your community, what special conditions may apply for receiving services, for example, age or other eligibility criteria, what services cost, and what payment options – public and private – apply. Having this information helps ensure you will have a range of options when you need long-term care, and makes it more likely that you will have more choice and control over where and how you receive services.
Planning ahead is important because the cost of long-term care services often exceeds what the average person can pay from income and other resources. By planning ahead, you may be able to save your assets and income for uses other than long-term care, including preserving the quality of life for your spouse or other loved ones. With planning, there is a greater likelihood of being able to leave an estate to your heirs, because you are less likely to use up your financial resources paying for care.
Planning ahead also means less emotional and financial stress on you and your family. It can provide a way to involve your family in decisions without depending on them to bear the entire burden alone.
Finally, for many people, one of the most important advantages of planning ahead is to ensure greater independence should you need care. Your choices for receiving care outside of a facility and being able to stay at home or receive services in the community for as long as possible are greater if you have planned ahead.
Why People Don't Plan Ahead
There are many reasons why people don't plan ahead for long-term care. These include the natural tendency to avoid thinking about becoming dependent on others for your care, misinformation about the risks of needing care, and lack of knowledge about the cost of care and payment options.
Most people don't like to think about getting older, developing a disability, becoming less independent, or needing help with personal care. Many people don't realize that their chance of needing long-term care by the time they turn 65 is as high as 70 percent.
People commonly misunderstand how expensive long-term care is, and how it is paid for. Consumer surveys have shown that many individuals don't realize that health insurance, Medicare, and/or disability coverage do not pay for most long-term care services. Medicaid pays for some long-term care services, but only if you qualify for the program because you have limited income and financial resources.
Some people find it too difficult to raise these subjects with their loved ones, making it difficult to explore and define their plans. Adult children often feel like they are patronizing their parents if they raise the subject or they are afraid of giving the impression that they might not want to provide care if it is needed. Parents often don't want to make adult children uncomfortable or to discuss details of their finances with them.
Finally, some people realize it is important to plan, but don't know how to go about it. The best way to begin is with small and easy steps. Even just talking with your loved ones is a great first-step!
Examples of People Who Planned
What exactly do we mean when we say “planning?” Below are some examples of how people might plan for long-term care before they need care. While these are fictional illustrations, they represent a variety of real-life situations.
You can also Listen to Some Real-Life Stories of people who planned ahead for their long-term care needs. Each person talks about a different planning option and the reasons for making that choice. Listening to their considerations and decisions can help you think through what might be best for you. If you are unable to listen to these stories it may be because your computer does not have the necessary components that allow the audio to work. You can get these stories when you order the Own Your Future Long-Term Care Planning Kit that includes a CD with the real-life planning stories.
The people described here are composites drawn from a variety of real-life scenarios; they illustrate the range of personal circumstances people might find themselves in and the different forms that “long-term care planning” might take. There is no “one-size-fits-all” plan. As you read these examples, think about your own circumstances and the types of options you might want to consider.
Mrs. F is 81. She has osteoporosis, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Otherwise she is basically healthy, but frail. She lives on a limited, fixed income and does not have significant assets to draw upon to help her meet her long-term care needs. She has been living in a modest one-bedroom rental unit, but is finding it difficult to maintain her apartment on her own.
Plan:
Pay for modifications to daughter's home (outfit spare bedroom and second bathroom for Mrs. Friedlander).
Move in with daughter.
Establish "Advance Directive" and create "Durable Power of Attorney."
"My daughter and I, we have a good time together. I know that until my time comes she'll be with me, helping me. It was hard to talk about some of this, but I feel good that she understands. I worked all my life and I want to be at home. I don't want to be in any hospital or nursing home."
Mrs. W is 78. Since having a stroke several years ago, she depends on a wheelchair to get around. She and her husband still live in the three-bedroom house they bought when they were first married. The home's value has increased dramatically since they bought it and they are lucky to have paid off the mortgage a few years ago. The upkeep of such a large home is taking a toll on both her and her husband.
Plan:
Sell home and use the resulting proceeds to move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community when she and her husband turned 75.
With no children, the Wielands decided to establish a Charitable Remainder Trust to pay for their care and willed the remainder of the trust after they both passed away to the California Horticultural Society.
“George and I were fortunate all our lives. We both worked and managed to save. We don't really have any family. Both of us were only children and we never had any of our own. We wanted to be able to stay together as long as we could, but be sure that the other would be cared for, no matter who was first to go.”
Mr. C is an 82 year old widower. He lives in the modest home in which he raised his children. He has prostate cancer and has had a pacemaker for the past two years. At this point he is still able to take care of all his physical needs and he is very keen on remaining at home to receive the care he needs, because of all the wonderful family memories it holds for him. But his income and assets may not be enough to pay for the care he needs at home.
Plan:
Stay at home and receive care there if necessary.
Pay for care with a combination of savings and a reverse mortgage.
Son and daughter to coordinate care and repay the reverse mortgage loan amount when it is due (upon Mr. Curley's death or when and if he needs to permanently move out of the home). His children can keep the house in the family if they wish, after paying off the loan amount from other financial resources they or Mr. Curley have, or they can sell the home and use the proceeds to pay off the loan amount. They are allowed to keep any additional funds from the sale of the home that exceed the loan amount to be repaid.
“I know I'm not gonna be around forever. But I told my kids I was going nowhere! I want to be in my own place. Me and the dog. My son lives here in town and my daughter is only a few miles west. We worked it out so the house can help pay for care if and when I need it and then it's theirs when I'm gone. I don't want to be a burden to no one, but they're good kids and this way I get to see the grandkids too. They mow the lawn. This house has important memories for me, but once I'm gone, the kids already have their own places; they don't need or want this house, so I like the idea of putting the home's value to work for me!”
At 46, Ms S had the opportunity to purchase long-term care insurance as a Federal employee. She has chosen coverage that will allow her to be cared for at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home if necessary. She bought the policy now since the cost is based on her age when she buys it. Waiting would only mean higher premiums and the possibility that she might develop a health condition that would cause her to be declined for the insurance. She does not want to have to rely on her family to pay for or provide care for her if and when she needs it. She likes being independent and having peace of mind that comes from planning ahead.
Plan:
Purchase long-term care insurance, which she pays for through an automatic deduction from her bi-weekly paycheck.
Prepare a living will so that her family will know her preferences and wishes for care and life support if she becomes unable to communicate or carry out her preferences on her own.
Speak with daughter and niece and specify her preferences for care.
“Long-term care insurance is a great deal for someone like me. I have a daughter and a niece I'm close to, but I don't want to become a problem for them; they have their own busy lives. This way, we're there for each other, but when the time comes that I get sick or very old, they will know what I want and I've set up a plan ahead of time. I don't want to worry and I don't want them to worry.”
# # #
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Cost of Long-Term Care
Long-term care is expensive. One year of care in a nursing home, based on the 2008 national average, costs over $68,000 for a semi-private room. One year of care at home, assuming you need periodic personal care help from a home health aide (the average is about three times a week), would cost almost $18,000 a year.
Costs for long-term care services vary greatly depending on the type and amount of care you need, the provider you use, and where you live. For example, many care facilities charge extra for services provided beyond the basic room-and-board charge, although some may have “all inclusive” fees. Home health and home care services are usually provided in two-to-four-hour blocks of time referred to as “visits.” An evening, weekend or holiday visit may cost more than a weekday visit. Some community programs, such as adult day service programs, are provided at a per-day rate, and rates may differ based on the type and variety of programs and services offered.
Who Pays for Long-Term Care?
Consumer surveys have revealed some common misunderstandings people have about which public programs pay for long-term care services. Many people believe they can rely on Medicare to pay for any long-term care services they will need. However, Medicare only pays for long-term care if you require skilled services or recuperative care for a short period of time. Medicare does not pay for what comprises the majority of long-term care services – non-skilled assistance with Activities of Daily Living.
Medicaid is the joint Federal and state program that pays for the largest share of long-term care services, but only if you meet financial and functional criteria. Other Federal programs such as the Older Americans Act and Veterans Affairs pay for some long-term care services, but only for specific populations and in specific circumstances.
Most forms of employer-sponsored or private health insurance, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) or managed care, follow the same general rules as Medicare. If they do cover long-term care, it is typically only for skilled, short-term, medically necessary care. Therefore most people who need long-term care end up paying for some or all of their care on their own out of their income or assets.
There are, however, an increasing number of private payment options that help to cover the costs of long-term care services. These include long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, and other options.
It is important to understand the differences among the public programs and private financing options for long-term care services. Each public program and each private financing source has its own rules for what services it covers, eligibility requirements, co-pays, and premiums.
Long-term care is expensive. One year of care in a nursing home, based on the 2008 national average, costs over $68,000 for a semi-private room. One year of care at home, assuming you need periodic personal care help from a home health aide (the average is about three times a week), would cost almost $18,000 a year.
Costs for long-term care services vary greatly depending on the type and amount of care you need, the provider you use, and where you live. For example, many care facilities charge extra for services provided beyond the basic room-and-board charge, although some may have “all inclusive” fees. Home health and home care services are usually provided in two-to-four-hour blocks of time referred to as “visits.” An evening, weekend or holiday visit may cost more than a weekday visit. Some community programs, such as adult day service programs, are provided at a per-day rate, and rates may differ based on the type and variety of programs and services offered.
Who Pays for Long-Term Care?
Consumer surveys have revealed some common misunderstandings people have about which public programs pay for long-term care services. Many people believe they can rely on Medicare to pay for any long-term care services they will need. However, Medicare only pays for long-term care if you require skilled services or recuperative care for a short period of time. Medicare does not pay for what comprises the majority of long-term care services – non-skilled assistance with Activities of Daily Living.
Medicaid is the joint Federal and state program that pays for the largest share of long-term care services, but only if you meet financial and functional criteria. Other Federal programs such as the Older Americans Act and Veterans Affairs pay for some long-term care services, but only for specific populations and in specific circumstances.
Most forms of employer-sponsored or private health insurance, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) or managed care, follow the same general rules as Medicare. If they do cover long-term care, it is typically only for skilled, short-term, medically necessary care. Therefore most people who need long-term care end up paying for some or all of their care on their own out of their income or assets.
There are, however, an increasing number of private payment options that help to cover the costs of long-term care services. These include long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, and other options.
It is important to understand the differences among the public programs and private financing options for long-term care services. Each public program and each private financing source has its own rules for what services it covers, eligibility requirements, co-pays, and premiums.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Where is Long-Term Care Provided?
Long-term care, often associated with institutional care, is provided in many different settings. But, most long-term care is actually provided at home – either in the home of the person receiving care or at a family member's home. It’s estimated that individuals currently turning 65 may need 3 years of long-term care in their lifetime, with almost 2 years of that care provided at home. The majority of care that is provided at home – about 80% - is provided by unpaid caregivers.There is also an increasing amount of long-term care available in the community through programs such as adult day service centers, transportation services, and home care agencies that often supplement care at home or provide respite for family caregivers.
For people who cannot stay at home, but who do not need the level of care provided in a nursing home, there are a variety of residential care settings, such as assisted living, board and care homes, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Nursing homes provide long-term care to people who need more extensive care, particularly those whose needs include nursing care or 24-hour supervision in addition to their personal care needs.
Caregivers
A caregiver is a family member, partner, friend, or neighbor who helps care for an elderly individual or person with a disability who lives at home. In 2004, there were more than 44 million caregivers age 18 or older in the United States - about 21% of the adult population – providing care for an adult family member or friend. Approximately 60% of caregivers are women. Thirteen percent (13%) of caregivers caring for older adults are themselves aged 65 or over. The typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman who is married and employed, and is caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her.Caregivers provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking, and other services on a daily or intermittent basis. A 2006 study of caregivers found that on average caregivers spend 21 hours a week giving care. Half of them have intensive caregiving responsibilities, performing at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing and feeding, for their care recipients. Twenty-six percent (26%) perform three or more of these activities. Eighty percent (80%) of caregivers perform activities like fixing meals, doing housework, and providing transportation to medical appointments.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Home and community-based services (HCBS) describe a range of personal, support, and health services provided to individuals in their homes or communities to help them stay at home and live as independently as possible. Most people who receive long-term care at home generally require additional help either from family or friends to supplement services from paid providers. This is because so much of the care needed is personal care: help with activities such as bathing and dressing, help managing medications, or supervision for someone with a condition such as Alzheimer's disease.
Some of the most common home and community services are:
Adult Day Service (ADS) Programs, designed to meet the needs of adults with cognitive or functional impairments, as well as adults needing social interaction and a place to go when their family caregivers are at work. They provide a variety of health, social, and other support services in a protective setting during part of the day. Adult day centers typically operate programs during normal business hours five days a week; some have evening and weekend hours. These programs do not provide 24-hour care.
Case managers/geriatric care managers, health care professionals (typically nurses or social workers) who specialize in assisting you and your family with your long-term care needs. This includes, but is not limited to assisting, coordinating, and managing long-term care services; developing a plan of care; and monitoring your long-term care needs over extended periods of time.
Emergency response systems, which provide an automatic response to a medical or other emergency via electronic monitors. If you live alone, you wear a signaling device that you activate when you need assistance.
Friendly visitor/companion services, which are typically staffed by volunteers who regularly pay short visits (under two hours) to someone who is frail or living alone.
Home health care/home care are two different services, which may be provided by a single agency or separate agencies. Home health care typically includes skilled, short-term services such as nursing, physical or other therapies ordered by a physician for a specific condition. Home care services are most often limited to personal care services such as bathing and dressing, and often also include homemaker services such as help with meal preparation or household chores.
Homemaker/chore services, can help you with general household activities such as meal preparation, routine household care, and heavy household chores such as washing floors, windows or shoveling snow.
Meals programs, which include both home-delivered meals (so called “Meals-on-Wheels”) or congregate meals, which are provided in a variety of community settings.
Respite Care, which gives families temporary relief from the responsibility of caring for family members who are unable to care for themselves. Respite care is provided in a variety of settings including in the home, at an adult day center, or in a nursing home.
Senior Centers, which provide a variety of services including nutrition, recreation, social and educational services, and comprehensive information and referral to help people find the care and services they might need; and
Transportation services that can help you get to and from medical appointments, shopping centers and access a variety of community services and resources.
Facility-Based Long-Term Care Services
There are numerous types of facility-based programs that provide a range of long-term care services. Some facilities provide only housing and related housekeeping, but many also include help managing medications, assistance with personal care, supervision and special programs for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, or 24-hour nursing care. The services available in each facility are often regulated by the state in which the facility operates (for example, some states do not allow some types of facilities to include residents who are wheelchair bound or who cannot exit the facility on their own in an emergency). Facility-based care is known by a wide variety of names, including board and care, assisted living, adult foster care, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), and nursing homes.
Facility-based service providers include the following:
Adult Foster Care
Adult foster care can be provided for individuals or for small groups of adults who need help functioning or who cannot live safely on their own. The foster family provides room and board, 24-hour availability, help managing medications, and assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Licensure requirements and the terminology used for this type of facility vary greatly from state to state.
Board and Care Homes
Board and care homes, also called residential care facilities or group homes, are smaller private facilities, usually with 20 or fewer residents. Most board and care homes accept six or fewer residents. Rooms may be private or residents may share rooms. Residents receive meals, personal care and have staff available 24 hours a day. Nursing and medical attention are usually not provided on the premises. State licensure and the terminology used for this type of facility vary greatly.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is designed for people who want to live in a community setting and who need or expect to need help functioning, but who do not need as much care as they would receive at a nursing home. Some assisted living facilities are quite small – with as few as 25 residents – while some can accommodate 120 or more units. Residents often live in their own apartments or rooms, but enjoy the support services that a community setting makes possible, such as:
up to three meals a day;
assistance with personal care;
help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry;
24-hour security and onsite staff for emergencies; and
social programs.
The cost of assisted living varies widely, depending in part upon the services needed by the resident and the amenities provided by the facility. Assisted living is regulated in all states, however, the requirements vary.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are also called life care communities. They offer several levels of care in one location. For example, many offer independent housing for people who need little or no care, but also have assisted living housing and a nursing facility, all on one campus, for those who need greater levels of care or supervision. In a Continuing Care Retirement Community, if you become unable to live independently, you can move to the assisted living area, or sometimes you can receive home care in your independent living unit. If necessary, you can enter the onsite or affiliated nursing home. The fee arrangements for CCRCs vary by the type of community. In addition to a monthly fee, many CCRCs also charge a one-time “entrance fee” that may be partially or completely refundable (often on the sale of the unit).
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, also called Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) or convalescent care facilities, provide a wide range of services, including nursing care, 24-hour supervision, assistance with Activities of Daily Living, and rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Some people need nursing home services for a short period of time for recovery or rehabilitation after a serious illness or operation, while others need longer stays because of chronic physical, health or cognitive conditions that require constant care or supervision.
Long-term care, often associated with institutional care, is provided in many different settings. But, most long-term care is actually provided at home – either in the home of the person receiving care or at a family member's home. It’s estimated that individuals currently turning 65 may need 3 years of long-term care in their lifetime, with almost 2 years of that care provided at home. The majority of care that is provided at home – about 80% - is provided by unpaid caregivers.There is also an increasing amount of long-term care available in the community through programs such as adult day service centers, transportation services, and home care agencies that often supplement care at home or provide respite for family caregivers.
For people who cannot stay at home, but who do not need the level of care provided in a nursing home, there are a variety of residential care settings, such as assisted living, board and care homes, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Nursing homes provide long-term care to people who need more extensive care, particularly those whose needs include nursing care or 24-hour supervision in addition to their personal care needs.
Caregivers
A caregiver is a family member, partner, friend, or neighbor who helps care for an elderly individual or person with a disability who lives at home. In 2004, there were more than 44 million caregivers age 18 or older in the United States - about 21% of the adult population – providing care for an adult family member or friend. Approximately 60% of caregivers are women. Thirteen percent (13%) of caregivers caring for older adults are themselves aged 65 or over. The typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman who is married and employed, and is caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her.Caregivers provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking, and other services on a daily or intermittent basis. A 2006 study of caregivers found that on average caregivers spend 21 hours a week giving care. Half of them have intensive caregiving responsibilities, performing at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing and feeding, for their care recipients. Twenty-six percent (26%) perform three or more of these activities. Eighty percent (80%) of caregivers perform activities like fixing meals, doing housework, and providing transportation to medical appointments.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Home and community-based services (HCBS) describe a range of personal, support, and health services provided to individuals in their homes or communities to help them stay at home and live as independently as possible. Most people who receive long-term care at home generally require additional help either from family or friends to supplement services from paid providers. This is because so much of the care needed is personal care: help with activities such as bathing and dressing, help managing medications, or supervision for someone with a condition such as Alzheimer's disease.
Some of the most common home and community services are:
Adult Day Service (ADS) Programs, designed to meet the needs of adults with cognitive or functional impairments, as well as adults needing social interaction and a place to go when their family caregivers are at work. They provide a variety of health, social, and other support services in a protective setting during part of the day. Adult day centers typically operate programs during normal business hours five days a week; some have evening and weekend hours. These programs do not provide 24-hour care.
Case managers/geriatric care managers, health care professionals (typically nurses or social workers) who specialize in assisting you and your family with your long-term care needs. This includes, but is not limited to assisting, coordinating, and managing long-term care services; developing a plan of care; and monitoring your long-term care needs over extended periods of time.
Emergency response systems, which provide an automatic response to a medical or other emergency via electronic monitors. If you live alone, you wear a signaling device that you activate when you need assistance.
Friendly visitor/companion services, which are typically staffed by volunteers who regularly pay short visits (under two hours) to someone who is frail or living alone.
Home health care/home care are two different services, which may be provided by a single agency or separate agencies. Home health care typically includes skilled, short-term services such as nursing, physical or other therapies ordered by a physician for a specific condition. Home care services are most often limited to personal care services such as bathing and dressing, and often also include homemaker services such as help with meal preparation or household chores.
Homemaker/chore services, can help you with general household activities such as meal preparation, routine household care, and heavy household chores such as washing floors, windows or shoveling snow.
Meals programs, which include both home-delivered meals (so called “Meals-on-Wheels”) or congregate meals, which are provided in a variety of community settings.
Respite Care, which gives families temporary relief from the responsibility of caring for family members who are unable to care for themselves. Respite care is provided in a variety of settings including in the home, at an adult day center, or in a nursing home.
Senior Centers, which provide a variety of services including nutrition, recreation, social and educational services, and comprehensive information and referral to help people find the care and services they might need; and
Transportation services that can help you get to and from medical appointments, shopping centers and access a variety of community services and resources.
Facility-Based Long-Term Care Services
There are numerous types of facility-based programs that provide a range of long-term care services. Some facilities provide only housing and related housekeeping, but many also include help managing medications, assistance with personal care, supervision and special programs for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, or 24-hour nursing care. The services available in each facility are often regulated by the state in which the facility operates (for example, some states do not allow some types of facilities to include residents who are wheelchair bound or who cannot exit the facility on their own in an emergency). Facility-based care is known by a wide variety of names, including board and care, assisted living, adult foster care, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), and nursing homes.
Facility-based service providers include the following:
Adult Foster Care
Adult foster care can be provided for individuals or for small groups of adults who need help functioning or who cannot live safely on their own. The foster family provides room and board, 24-hour availability, help managing medications, and assistance with Activities of Daily Living. Licensure requirements and the terminology used for this type of facility vary greatly from state to state.
Board and Care Homes
Board and care homes, also called residential care facilities or group homes, are smaller private facilities, usually with 20 or fewer residents. Most board and care homes accept six or fewer residents. Rooms may be private or residents may share rooms. Residents receive meals, personal care and have staff available 24 hours a day. Nursing and medical attention are usually not provided on the premises. State licensure and the terminology used for this type of facility vary greatly.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is designed for people who want to live in a community setting and who need or expect to need help functioning, but who do not need as much care as they would receive at a nursing home. Some assisted living facilities are quite small – with as few as 25 residents – while some can accommodate 120 or more units. Residents often live in their own apartments or rooms, but enjoy the support services that a community setting makes possible, such as:
up to three meals a day;
assistance with personal care;
help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry;
24-hour security and onsite staff for emergencies; and
social programs.
The cost of assisted living varies widely, depending in part upon the services needed by the resident and the amenities provided by the facility. Assisted living is regulated in all states, however, the requirements vary.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are also called life care communities. They offer several levels of care in one location. For example, many offer independent housing for people who need little or no care, but also have assisted living housing and a nursing facility, all on one campus, for those who need greater levels of care or supervision. In a Continuing Care Retirement Community, if you become unable to live independently, you can move to the assisted living area, or sometimes you can receive home care in your independent living unit. If necessary, you can enter the onsite or affiliated nursing home. The fee arrangements for CCRCs vary by the type of community. In addition to a monthly fee, many CCRCs also charge a one-time “entrance fee” that may be partially or completely refundable (often on the sale of the unit).
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, also called Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) or convalescent care facilities, provide a wide range of services, including nursing care, 24-hour supervision, assistance with Activities of Daily Living, and rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Some people need nursing home services for a short period of time for recovery or rehabilitation after a serious illness or operation, while others need longer stays because of chronic physical, health or cognitive conditions that require constant care or supervision.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
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Dear Friends,
President Obama signed the federal stimulus plan to help states and their residents rebound from the current recession. Funding for health care is a significant part of the package. Washington State's share is expected to be $2.06 billion over the next two years. However, there is danger that lawmakers in Olympia will take the money with one hand, but then turn around and still make deep cuts to the health care safety-net with the other. That's just wrong. E-mail your legislators to demand that they use this new federal health care funding to stop cuts to the health care safety-net. We agree with President Obama when he said, "These funds are intended to go directly toward helping struggling Americans keep their health coverage." Now more than ever, we can not afford to weaken our health care safety-net programs such as the Basic Health Plan. This past Sunday, the Tacoma News Tribune ran a guest editorial outlining the need to ensure federal dollars from the economic stimulus go to strengthen our state health care programs. Take a minute to read it now, http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CADe3mKwrad6EiWUPy%2BGlSyKEMTT2jSo then e-mail your lawmakers. Wanna have an even bigger impact? Please join us next Wednesday, March 11, in Olympia to speak directly to your legislators about the need to strengthen our health care programs. This is your last opportunity to register, so sign-up today!
El Presidente Obama firmó el plan de recuperación económica para ayudar a los estados y la gente que vive en ellos para que puedan salir de la recesión en la que se encuentran. El dinero para la cobertura de salud es una parte significativa del paquete. La parte que el estado de Washington recibirá es $2.06 miles de millones en los próximos dos años. Sin embargo, existe el peligro de que los políticos en Olympia tomen el dinero con una mano y luego hacer recortes en los servicios de salud que son críticos para nuestras comunidades. Eso no lo podemos permitir. Mande un correo electrónico a sus legisladores para exigir que usen este dinero federal para cobertura de salud para detener los recortes a los servicios de salud. Estamos de acuerdo con el Presidente Obama cuando dijo que, "este dinero es para que vaya directamente a ayudar a los Americanos que están sufriendo para que mantengan su cobertura de salud." Hoy más que nunca no podemos permitir que los que los servicios y programas críticos de salud como Basic Health Plan sean debilitados. El domingo pasado el periódico Tacoma News Tribune publicó un editorial que habla de asegurar que el dinero federal que viene del paquete de estimulo económico vaya directamente a reforzar los programas de salud en nuestro estado. Haga un espacio en su tiempo para leerlo y mande un correo electrónico a sus representantes. ¿Gusta crear un mayor impacto? Venga con nosotros el próximo miércoles 11 de marzo en Olympia para que hable en persona con sus representantes sobre la importancia de reforzar nuestros programas de salud. Esta es su última oportunidad para inscribirse, ¡así que anótese hoy mismo!
With over 35,000 members across the state, Washington CAN! is the state's largest grassroots community organization. Washington CAN! fights for progressive social change at the local, state, and national levels, with a focus on issues that most directly affect the lives of Washington residents. Our mission is to achieve economic fairness in order to establish a democratic society characterized by racial and social justice, with respect for diversity, and a decent quality of life for those who reside in Washington State.
Dear Friends,
President Obama signed the federal stimulus plan to help states and their residents rebound from the current recession. Funding for health care is a significant part of the package. Washington State's share is expected to be $2.06 billion over the next two years. However, there is danger that lawmakers in Olympia will take the money with one hand, but then turn around and still make deep cuts to the health care safety-net with the other. That's just wrong. E-mail your legislators to demand that they use this new federal health care funding to stop cuts to the health care safety-net. We agree with President Obama when he said, "These funds are intended to go directly toward helping struggling Americans keep their health coverage." Now more than ever, we can not afford to weaken our health care safety-net programs such as the Basic Health Plan. This past Sunday, the Tacoma News Tribune ran a guest editorial outlining the need to ensure federal dollars from the economic stimulus go to strengthen our state health care programs. Take a minute to read it now, http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CADe3mKwrad6EiWUPy%2BGlSyKEMTT2jSo then e-mail your lawmakers. Wanna have an even bigger impact? Please join us next Wednesday, March 11, in Olympia to speak directly to your legislators about the need to strengthen our health care programs. This is your last opportunity to register, so sign-up today!
El Presidente Obama firmó el plan de recuperación económica para ayudar a los estados y la gente que vive en ellos para que puedan salir de la recesión en la que se encuentran. El dinero para la cobertura de salud es una parte significativa del paquete. La parte que el estado de Washington recibirá es $2.06 miles de millones en los próximos dos años. Sin embargo, existe el peligro de que los políticos en Olympia tomen el dinero con una mano y luego hacer recortes en los servicios de salud que son críticos para nuestras comunidades. Eso no lo podemos permitir. Mande un correo electrónico a sus legisladores para exigir que usen este dinero federal para cobertura de salud para detener los recortes a los servicios de salud. Estamos de acuerdo con el Presidente Obama cuando dijo que, "este dinero es para que vaya directamente a ayudar a los Americanos que están sufriendo para que mantengan su cobertura de salud." Hoy más que nunca no podemos permitir que los que los servicios y programas críticos de salud como Basic Health Plan sean debilitados. El domingo pasado el periódico Tacoma News Tribune publicó un editorial que habla de asegurar que el dinero federal que viene del paquete de estimulo económico vaya directamente a reforzar los programas de salud en nuestro estado. Haga un espacio en su tiempo para leerlo y mande un correo electrónico a sus representantes. ¿Gusta crear un mayor impacto? Venga con nosotros el próximo miércoles 11 de marzo en Olympia para que hable en persona con sus representantes sobre la importancia de reforzar nuestros programas de salud. Esta es su última oportunidad para inscribirse, ¡así que anótese hoy mismo!
With over 35,000 members across the state, Washington CAN! is the state's largest grassroots community organization. Washington CAN! fights for progressive social change at the local, state, and national levels, with a focus on issues that most directly affect the lives of Washington residents. Our mission is to achieve economic fairness in order to establish a democratic society characterized by racial and social justice, with respect for diversity, and a decent quality of life for those who reside in Washington State.
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