National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Honoring the Anniversary of the Attack, the Lives Lost, and Dorie Miller

President Roosevelt proclaimed December 7th to honor the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the lives lost that day. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor ushered in the United States’ active involvement in World War II. The attack itself lasted just a bit over an hour but killed a total of 2,403 US citizens, 68 of whom were civilians. This day is relevant, not only because of its historical significance. 

Dorie Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross – the highest award given in the Navy.

During the attack, Dorie attended to his wounded captain, moving him to safer cover, and broke racially motivated protocol at the time to man a machine gun, taking down two Japanese aircraft. After the attack, Dorie was one of the last men to leave his ship as it went down. He spent this time pulling injured sailors out of the water and to safety. In 2019, the Navy began building a supercarrier, christened the “USS Dorie Miller.”

Dorie’s actions exemplify what it truly means to honor your country, despite the odds against you. 

A Place At Home honors all veterans, whether they served during wartime or not. All across the country, our caregivers are helping veterans stay in their homes safely and independently. It’s the least we can do to thank them for their time and service. 

Veterans spend their careers serving so we can stay safely in our homes; we are honored to do the same for them when the time comes.

For veterans specifically, there are financial resources available to help pay for in-home care, should the need arise. These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the vet. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit has eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.

We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Honoring the Anniversary of the Attack, the Lives Lost, and Dorie Miller

President Roosevelt proclaimed December 7th to honor the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the lives lost that day. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor ushered in the United States’ active involvement in World War II. The attack itself lasted just a bit over an hour but killed a total of 2,403 US citizens, 68 of whom were civilians. This day is relevant, not only because of its historical significance. 

Dorie Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross – the highest award given in the Navy.

During the attack, Dorie attended to his wounded captain, moving him to safer cover, and broke racially motivated protocol at the time to man a machine gun, taking down two Japanese aircraft. After the attack, Dorie was one of the last men to leave his ship as it went down. He spent this time pulling injured sailors out of the water and to safety. In 2019, the Navy began building a supercarrier, christened the “USS Dorie Miller.”

Dorie’s actions exemplify what it truly means to honor your country, despite the odds against you. 

A Place At Home honors all veterans, whether they served during wartime or not. All across the country, our caregivers are helping veterans stay in their homes safely and independently. It’s the least we can do to thank them for their time and service. 

Veterans spend their careers serving so we can stay safely in our homes; we are honored to do the same for them when the time comes.

For veterans specifically, there are financial resources available to help pay for in-home care, should the need arise. These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the vet. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit has eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.

We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available.

A Place At Home is Proud to Honor Veterans on Veterans Day and Every Day

Each year on November 11th, as a nation, we celebrate Veterans Day. This day can be confused with Memorial Day, but there is an essential distinction between the two. Memorial Day honors veterans that gave their lives defending our country. Veterans Day celebrates the lives of all American veterans who served during wartime.

Veterans Day was conceptualized in 1918 to celebrate the end of World War I. The day was dubbed “Armistice Day” due to the Allies and Germans calling a truce. The truce went into effect on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. While World War I was thought to be the “war to end all wars,” World War II and the Korean War soon followed. As such, veterans and other military entities solicited to Congress to have the day changed to Veterans Day. 

Most Americans are aware that veterans are eligible for benefits throughout their lifetimes due to their service to our country. But few people, including some veterans themselves, know that these benefits can include in-home care. 

These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the vet. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit does have eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.

Despite the current pandemic, there are still ways we can honor veterans this Veterans Day. You can donate to any of the veteran-approved foundations found here or ask a veteran you know to share about their time in service. As well, you can send letters or a postcard to a local military installation. National Parks offer free admission to everyone on Veterans Day – invite a veteran you know to explore with you (keeping safety in mind with social distancing, of course). 

At A Place At Home, we honor aging veterans by caring for them in their homes.

Every day across the country, our caregivers provide personalized care and companionship to retired members of our country’s military. We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available. 

 

Long-Term Care Worries? We Have You Covered

$85,000 to $100,000. That is the current estimated cost per year to pay for long-term care.

Don’t think you’ll need it? Think again. There is a 70% chance that someone turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care. Those numbers will go up, as people live longer each year. Those care needs may be in the home or a senior living community.

While these numbers can be intimidating, there are options available right now to prepare you for your long-term care needs.

A Place At Home recently sat down with Matthew Hooker, a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He shared there’s not a specific age to start planning for long-term care. “I’ve seen people do it as early as 40-45. Because they have seen it, and they are willing to pay to avoid it.” He advises if you start early, then you can address it before it’s an issue. And that’s the best assurance you can get. In the past, long-term care policies were a use it or lose it proposition. It was incredibly expensive to carry a plan, and the rates would go up. Often when people transitioned to a fixed income.

Fortunately, that’s not the case these days. According to Matthew, now there are great options for long-term care policies.

Some of these are hybrid policies, encompassing coverage for both assisted living situations as well as life insurance. He explained some of the options available to help you prepare for your long-term care needs:

 

  • Integrate long-term care into your budget (self-insuring): This allows you the most flexibility in choosing your care providers, but paying out of pocket for long-term care can be costly and can be a gamble for your financial goals.
  • Long-term care insurance – If you choose to go through an insurance company, you have a couple of options:
    • Traditional long-term care insurance:
    • Policies and costs vary quite a bit, based on different things, such as your health, age, location of care, and more. It can ensure you won’t deplete your assets and income if you need long-term care. It also offers flexibility and possible shared benefits between two people. However, premiums are not fixed or guaranteed. You do still have to pay them, even if you don’t need care later.
    • Life insurance with long-term care benefits: these policies are newer and can allow you to use the death benefit to pay for long-term care if you need to. Premiums here are generally fixed, and if no care is required, it provides a life insurance death benefit. There are additional costs with these hybrid policies, and the long-term care coverage is often less than with a traditional long-term care policy.

 

Saving for your potential long-term care needs can be like a roulette wheel. How you decide to plan for your future depends on your individual needs.

Matthew advises that whatever you decide to do to prepare for long-term care as you age, make sure you have a game plan that makes sense. “I take people’s priorities, their picture of retirement, and give them different vehicles to get to where they want to go.” He also shares that a large part of his role is interpreting what people’s needs really are. “Long term care, assisted living, nursing home care, people use all these words interchangeably, and none of them mean the same thing.” Matthew knows the difference between all of these, as well as the ever-changing rules and regulations, changes in legislation, and especially long-term care and assisted living. Everyone’s situation and goals are different. “I work with people and interpret whoever they are as a person.”

“Their experience? That experience is what you have to get down to, and really understand.”

Matthew will help you plan for how you envision your future. He does comprehensive planning, including full-blown insurance and investments, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 401k’s, cash accounts, money markets, refinancing your home (which he does not recommend), estate planning, and trusts. Helping people is something Matthew has a passion for. He shares, “I truly love this profession, this job. I get paid for it, thank God because I would do this anyway. I love helping folks.”

Whatever your current situation or future goals are, A Place At Home recommends speaking with Matthew to ensure your needs are met. And to ensure you are set up for any potential long-term care needs you may have in the years to come. You can reach him by visiting his website, sending him an email, or calling him at 402-630-7379. With all the uncertainty, especially with what we’ve seen this year, reaching out to Matthew might be one of the best things you can do to prepare for your future.

Need guidance looking for in-home care, or choosing an assisted living community? Reach out to us today to explore your options!

 

 

Medicaid – Gov Pays You For Home Care

When you have aging parents or loved ones who need home care, you’re naturally concerned that they receive quality services. And you’re on a budget, so an affordable price is key. In this situation, Medicaid care may provide help paying for senior care in Omaha. If you’ve been unsure where to turn for the best options, we are here to help.

It’s a fact: in-home care for seniors in Omaha is typically much more cost-effective, and more customizable, than nursing home care. Seniors also feel more comfortable, safer, and happier at home–so choosing personalized, home-based senior care can be an ideal solution. To make at-home care payment easier, Medicaid care helps pay for many senior in-home services for those who meet their financial qualifications.

Medicaid Waivers for Home and Community Based Care

The fact is, if home care is viable and safe for your low-income senior parent–when they don’t need long-term hospital-level care–Medicaid can help with in-home senior care payments. Nebraska Medicaid waivers let you substitute in-home senior care services for conventional Medicaid nursing home services.

This Medicaid care waiver for the aged and disabled allows low-income seniors in Omaha to avoid being forced into a nursing home, just to access Medicaid coverage. Omaha residents can get more information from Nebraska’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).

How to Ensure You Get High Quality Medicaid Care for Omaha Seniors

No matter who is paying for the senior care that you (or your aging parents) need, be sure to choose your at-home care provider wisely. Award-winning, expert senior care providers in Omaha, like our providers from A Place at Home, offer top quality in-home care for your aging loved ones.

To learn if you qualify for Medicaid senior at-home care, contact Omaha Medicaid. Upon approval, request the “Waiver program” from your assigned Medicaid caseworker–and give the name of your chosen at-home caregiver service, such as A Place at Home. Your caseworker will send us an order, authorizing us as your senior care provider.

For Senior Medicaid Care at Home, Trust A Place at Home in Omaha

At A Place At Home, we will create a customized plan of care based on your senior’s specific needs. To choose us as your senior care service provider on Medicaid–you must first apply, and be approved, for the Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver program. To learn more about our services, contact A Place At Home today.

Why Long-Term Care Insurance Can Help: A Personal Story

In October of 2016, my grandmother broke her back when she fell from her stair lift chair. She had always been fairly independent, but with that fall, everything changed.

She now needed care 24 hours a day. To make matters more complicated, she also had a few other pre-existing conditions including aphasia (difficulty speaking), dementia, and a medical condition that required her to self-catheterize every four hours (something she had handled on her own for almost 20 years).

She is not unlike many other seniors today who have a few manageable medical issues, until a major incident like a fall happens. She was now completely dependent on us, and we needed a plan for her day-to-day care.

Many calls and several internet searches later, the few options available to us to care for her made our heads spin. It would be between $6,000-$8,000 a month for a skilled facility. And, with her medical needs, assisted living and independent living were not an option. The only other possibility we had was for a family member to learn to catheterize my grandmother and bring in added help from an in-home care company for baths, meal prep, and general safety while we were at work. This was definitely our best option as it would allow my grandmother to stay home, and it would be more affordable than a skilled facility.

We continued to research our options and discovered it would still be $3,200-$4,800 a month for in home care (40 hours a week so we could work). That was more than I would make in a month working full-time. Without Long-Term Care insurance, one of us had to quit our jobs to take care of her. It seemed crazy to me that it was more cost effective to quit working than it was to pay for care.

While my grandmother has since made an amazing recovery, it got me thinking about Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance. Where do I find out more information? How much is it? What does it cover?

I found that many of the same companies that offer your car, home, or life insurance, also sell LTC insurance. Many of them offer customizable plans that allow you to choose a length of time for payout (ex. 1-5 years), varying payout per day when a claim is filed ($100-$500/day), and also the ability to include medication management as an option. All of these factors determine your monthly premium. Plans range from $150-$2,000 a month, so there is really an option for everyone.

After the obstacles we faced trying to care for my grandmother, Long-Term Care insurance is definitely a part of my retirement planning. If I ever need long-term care, I want options, not obstacles.

–Jess Forbes, A Place at Home

Paying for Long-Term Care

Have you thought about how you might pay for long-term care? Do you believe that Medicare is an option? What does long-term care insurance cover?

These are questions that many individuals, young or old, may ask themselves about paying for long-term care.

There are several ways to pay for care as you age, but Medicare is not one of them. Medicare is an insurance offered to individuals 65 and over. It will help cover medical visits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and prescription medications only. Depending on the type of plan you acquire will determine how much is covered.

There are four primary ways to pay for long-term care:

  1. Private (Savings, Pension, IRA, etc.)
  2. Long-Term Care Insurance
  3. Veteran’s Aid & Attendance
  4. Medicaid

Private Pay

Private pay is pretty straightforward. You write a monthly check or have it directly deposited from your bank account to the senior living community.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance, on the other hand, comes in many different ways, shapes, and forms. This type of insurance can cover partial or full, short, or long-term. It can even have a lifetime value. So, if you are young and think about your future, your best bet is to purchase a life insurance policy that will deduct for long-term care when and if needed.

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance is how many veterans and their spouses or widows can attain assistance. If you or your spouse have served in the armed forces during a specific time frame, fall under a financial parameter, and need support for daily living activities, this monthly aid can be a way to help pay.

Medicaid

Medicaid is an option if there is little or no money remaining. There are several senior living communities that will accept Medicaid upon admittance. Some require you to pay privately for a set number of months before rolling over.

If you are considering a move to the next place to call home, we can help. Our free Senior Living Alternatives service can help find the best way to pay for your future plans. Contact our Senior Living Advisor today. We are happy to help pave the way or navigate any of these payment options.

Useful resources about paying for care as you age:

 

What is Long-Term Care

AARP

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance

Upcoming Events: Free Workshops on Ways to Pay for Senior Care and Caregiver Burnout

Join us for two free informational workshops this month.

June 21 – Ways to Pay for Senior Care – 3:30 p.m. at Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Road

June 29 – Caregiver Burnout – 2:00 p.m. at Primrose Retirement Community 1801 E. Kanesville Blvd. Council Bluffs

Read on for more information about each workshop. Anchor

Ways to Pay for Senior Care

How much will your health affect your retirement savings? Almost 70 percent of Americans who reach 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point without assistance.  Learn about the costs associated with senior care and what kinds of programs from insurance to government assistance to getting creative with your own money can ensure you receive the care you need.     Anchor

Caregiver Burnout

There are more than 34 million unpaid caregivers providing care to adults over the age of 18 who are ill or have a disability. This can be emotionally and physically taxing on those that provide care. In fact, in a survey given to family caregivers, over 50 % responded that they do not have time to take care of themselves and 49% said they were too tired to do so.  Caregiver burnout is real. Learn more about recognizing the signs of caregiver burnout and how you can take care of yourself while taking care of a loved one.

If you are looking for a loving, caring option for keeping your loved one at home or in the place they call home, call us, we’d like to help make a difference in your life. A Place at Home provides a range of at home services, as well as advocacy, care coordination, and senior community placement to seniors in communities around Omaha and Council Bluffs.