Some of the issues with growing older.

Here are some of the issues with growing older.

The mental and physical burden of loneliness can have a big effect on a person especially for older adults. Usually defined as the perception of being isolated from significant others, whether friends or family, people feel lonely because of the gap between the kind of social relationships they would like to have and the ones they see themselves as having. Since nobody’s life is ever truly perfect, we all feel lonely from time to time, though the feeling is usually manageable and temporary.

Still, there are numerous studies showing the link between loneliness and the development of health problems, as well having a shorter lifespan. Along with depression and other psychological problems, chronic loneliness can also lead to sleep problems, hypertension, an impaired immune system, and the breakdown of the body’s endocrine system.

{ Senior Hug } Helps you find the best Nursing Homes in New York City

The problems associated with loneliness often grow worse with time due to the natural health problems that come with age. As a result, loneliness is frequently a chronic problem in older adults due to increasing health problems which can make it harder for them to stay socially active. Age-related medical issues can also lead to greater psychological distress, including depression, and this can lead to people feeling even lonelier. Medical problems such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, can make many older adults feel more disabled and helpless.

Growing older can also lead to a reduction in social support networks, whether through the death or illness of friends and family members, or through major life changes such as divorce or retirement. Losing this kind of emotional support can have a devastating impact on the ability of older adults to cope with stress. In many life-span developmental theories, old age is often the time when older adults are especially vulnerable to loneliness which, along with the strain of coping with chronic illness, could cause them to sink into a downward spiral of depression and despair from which they may never recover.

Along with the challenges that come with age however, there are also effective coping strategies that can help protect older adults and keep them from sinking into this downward spiral. According to the motivational theory of lifespan development proposed by Jutta Heckhausen and her colleagues, people can cope with stress life changes by engaging in either goal engagement strategies or self-protective strategies to build up a sense of control over their lives.

Goal-engagement involves expending time and energy to accomplish specific goals, whether through learning new skills or learning to compensate for health problems that may keep them from familiar activities. Using goal-engagement strategies also means finding the motivation to overcome obstacles instead of sinking into apathy or feeling helpless.

This in turn leads into the need for self-protective strategies to cope with the stress that can come with life changes. By recognizing the difference between attainable and unattainable goals, older adults can mentally prepare themselves to handle emotional distress, whether by reassuring themselves about their ability to accomplish realistic goals or by “disengaging” themselves from goals which are no longer attainable. As people grow older, accepting physical limitations and learning to compensate for them can be an important part of living well, even with chronic illness.

As one example, older adults who develop serious heart problems may become afraid of engaging in any sort of physical exertion, including sex, for fear that what might happen. Learning to accept these limitations and finding ways to work around them, whether by starting new hobbies that are less physically exhausting or finding new ways to do enjoyable activities can be an important part of staying active. Along with learning to attain health-related goals, it is also essential to overcome the low self-esteem and feelings of depression that can lead to becoming more isolated.

10. Ways to pay for a Nursing Home in New York

Ways to pay for a Nursing Home in New York City.

There are many various ways to pay for a Nursing Home.

Paying for Nursing Homes:

Paying for nursing home care is a major concern for most individuals. If persons enter a nursing home directly from a hospital, Medicare will often pay, but only for a limited time, and this can be a major hurdle..

The financial toll of a nursing home stay can affect the entire family, and sometimes in various circumstances everyone needs to chip in.
Medicaid is regulated by both federal and state laws and provides funding that will pay most nursing home costs for people with limited income and assets. Eligibility for Medicaid varies by state and is provided only to persons in Medicaid-certified facilities.

A Medicaid-certified nursing home must continue to provide care for a resident whose personal funds are spent while residing there.

A nursing home that does not participate in the Medicaid program can discharge the resident. Some nursing homes try to avoid admitting residents who are currently or will soon become Medicaid recipients as they can charge private paying residents a higher fee than they would receive under the Medicaid program. They will only do things that are usually benificial to their facility.

Things can sometimes get a little complicated.

And it can get a little tricky. It’s important to always make sure that you always do a diligent research to get as much information as you can get.

If you will be relying on Medicaid from the beginning, find out if the nursing homes you are considering accept Medicaid residents.

Medicare, which pays for a number of health care services including hospitalization and limited nursing home stays for episodic illness, will not pay for long-term care in a nursing home.

If the older person has long-term care insurance, this can, under certain circumstances, be used to pay nursing homes expenses.
If you are considering purchasing long-term care insurance for possible future use, be sure to check the costs carefully, read the small print, and review the background and track record of the company involved.  All aways make sure to do  a diligent research before signing anything. 

It is currently recommended that people consider purchasing long-term care insurance as they approach the age of fifty. Premiums for long-term care insurance increase as one ages and vary in cost with the number of chronic conditions present and type of coverage desired.

7. Alternatives to Nursing Home Care in New York

What are some of the alternatives for a Nursing Home in New York City

There are various alternatives to going into a Nursing Home

Among These alternatives includes:

Adult Day Care is used commonly for patients with dementia who need supervision and assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs) such as toileting, bathing, eating etc., while primary caregivers work.
Assisted living facilities are residential facilities that provide individual rooms, two to three daily meals, and activities for senior citizens who can no longer live alone but do not require 24-hour nursing supervision.

These facilities are sometimes referred to as congregate care or congregate living facilities and have grown in number recently. Assisted living facilities provide 24-hour on-site support and assistance including help with medicines and personal hygiene. Many assisted living facilities offer a secured Alzheimer’s unit..

These facilities are prohibited from providing skilled nursing services and are regulated under a different set of state regulations than those governing a nursing home. If skilled nursing services are required, these services can be provided by a separate home health agency as directed by a doctor or his or her designee.

There is no doctor involvement in the plan of care for an individual residing in an assisted living facility nor are doctors required to visit, either by state or federal law. An older adult still should receive primary care from their community physician or from a physician who may have an office practice on site at an AL facility.

Board and care homes are generally smaller, more home-like residences for individuals who can no longer live independently. These facilities provide room, board, and assistance with some activities including managing medicines and help with personal hygiene.

Fees and services vary from one site to another. The size of the residence determines whether or not it is regulated by a state agency and this varies from state to state.  Again make sure to do your diligent research before signing up for anything.

Sheltered Housing is subsidized through Housing and Urban Development. Programs may be supplemented by social work services and activities coordinators. Personal care assistance, housekeeping services and meals are sometimes offered.  The rules and regulations for these housings can vary from shelter to shelter.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) usually have all levels of living arrangements, ranging from independent living to nursing home care. The financial requirements for a person to enter a CCRC will vary according to whether health care is included in the total cost or charged only if used. In general, CCRCs are reluctant to accept people directly into the assisted living or nursing home facilities.

These are just some of the few alternatives that your loved one can do instead of being in a nursing home, it is your job to do more research to find the perfect place for your loved ones.  Make sure to visit seniorhug.com often to find the right Nursing Homes in New York City for your loved ones.

32. Paying for New York Nursing Home Care

Paying for Nursing Home Care especially in New York can be quite expensive.  It can definitely take a toll on a family`s finances.

Before you do anything, it is important to do some really good research.  It’s important to check with Medicare, Medicaid, and any private insurance provider you have to find out their current rules about covering the costs of long-term care.

You can pay for nursing home care in several ways.

Here are a few examples, of course it can vary from person to person:

Medicare. For someone who needs special care, Medicare, a Federal program, will cover part of the cost in a skilled nursing home approved by Medicare. Check with Medicare for details.

Medicaid. Medicaid is a State/Federal program that provides health benefits to some people with low incomes. Contact your county family services department to see if you qualify.

Private pay. Some people pay for long-term care with their own savings for as long as possible. When that is no longer possible, they may apply for help from Medicaid. 

If you think you may need to apply for Medicaid at some point, make sure the nursing home you’re interested in accepts Medicaid payments. Not all do.  Knowing the right information is very essential, this  can be the difference between saving a ton of money or having to pay an extra amount of dollar.

Understand that there are plenty of Nursing Homes around New York City that do offer some private pay.

Long-term care insurance. Some people buy private long-term care insurance. It can pay part of the costs for a nursing home or other long-term care for the length of time stated in your policy.

This type of insurance is sold by many different companies and benefits vary widely. Look carefully at several policies before making a choice.

Always try to do plenty of research since every little bit can help with the overall costs of sending a loved one into a nursing home in new york city.

When thinking about nursing home costs, keep in mind that you can have extra out-of-pocket charges for some supplies or personal care, for instance, hair appointments, laundry, and services that are outside routine care.  Everything can add up pretty quickly.

29. Paying for a Nursing Home in New York City

Paying for a Nursing Home in New York City is one of the major issues and concerns.

How can I pay for nursing home care?

Nursing Home can be quite expensive especially Nursing Homes in New York City.  It can have a huge impact on your wallet and your financial situation.

There are many ways you can pay for nursing home care. Most people who enter nursing homes begin by paying for their care out-of-pocket.

As you use your resources (like bank accounts and stocks) over a period of time, you may eventually become eligible for Medicaid.

Medicare generally doesn’t cover long-term care stays (room and board) in a nursing home. Also, nursing home care isn’t covered by many types of health insurance. However, don’t drop your health care coverage (including Medicare) if you’re in a nursing home.

Even if it doesn’t cover nursing home care, you’ll need health coverage for hospital care, doctor services, and medical supplies while you’re in the nursing home.

There are several other ways you can pay for nursing home care:

You can use your personal money and savings to pay for nursing home care. Some insurance companies let you use your life insurance policy to pay for long-term care. Ask your insurance agent how this works.

If you qualify for Medicaid, you may be able to get help to pay for nursing home care costs. Not all nursing homes accept Medicaid payment.

Check with the nursing home to see if it accepts people with Medicaid, and if it has a Medicaid bed available. You may be eligible for Medicaid coverage in a nursing home even if you haven’t qualified for other Medicaid services in the past.

Sometimes you won’t be eligible for Medicaid until you’ve spent some of your personal resources on medical care. You may be moved to another room in the Medicaid-certified section of the nursing home when your care is paid by Medicaid. To get more information on Medicaid eligibility requirements in your state, call your Medicaid office.

There are many Important things to know about Medicaid,n and how it can affect you financially when choosing the right Nursing home especially in New York City.

 

Paying for care

You may have to pay out-of-pocket for nursing home care each month. The nursing home will bill Medicaid for the rest of the amount. How much you owe depends on your income and deductions.

Your home

The state can’t put a lien on your home if one of these is true:

There’s a reasonable chance you’ll return home after getting nursing home care.

You have a spouse or dependents living there

This means they can’t take, sell, or hold your property to recover benefits that are correctly paid for care while you’re living in a nursing home in this circumstance.

In most cases, after someone who gets Medicaid nursing home benefits passes away, the state must try to get whatever benefits it paid for that person back from their estate.

 

 

Your assets

Most people who are eligible for Medicaid have to reduce their assets first. There are rules about what’s counted as an asset and what isn’t when determining Medicaid eligibility.

Also, states are required to let married couples protect a certain amount of assets and income when one spouse is in an institution (like a nursing home) and one isn’t.

A spouse who isn’t in an institution may keep half of the couple’s joint assets, up to a maximum of $119,220 in 2016, as well as a monthly income allowance. For more information, call your Medicaid office. You can also call your local Area Agency on Aging to find out if your state has any legal services where you could get more information.

Transferring your assets

Transfers for less than fair market value may subject you to a penalty that Medicaid won’t pay for your nursing home care for a period of time. How long the period is depends on the value of the assets you gave away.

There are limited exceptions to this, especially if you have a spouse, or a blind or disabled child. Generally, giving away your assets can result in no payment for your nursing home care, sometimes for months or even years.
Long-term care insurance

This type of private insurance policy can help pay for many types of long-term care, including both skilled and non-skilled care. Long-term care insurance can vary widely. Some policies may cover only nursing home care. Others may include coverage for a whole range of services, like adult day care, assisted living, medical equipment, and informal home care.

If you have long-term care insurance, check your policy or call the insurance company to find out if the care you need is covered. If you’re shopping for long-term care insurance, find out which types of long-term care services and facilities the different policies cover.

Also, check to see if your coverage could be limited because of a pre-existing condition. Make sure you buy from a reliable company that’s licensed in your state.

Federal employees, members of the uniformed services, retirees, their spouses, and other qualified relatives may be able to buy long-term care insurance at discounted group rates.

Best Nursing Homes in New York City

Nursing Homes (list) within New York City

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Finding the Best Nursing Homes in New York City.

Trying to find the perfect Nursing Home for your loved ones can be very tough, especially in New York.  I personally experienced the difficulties when we tried looking for the perfect nursing home for my grandparents in New York City.  Here are some of the things to consider such as the living costs and other factors involved in Finding the best Nursing Homes in New York City for your loved ones, within the five boroughs of New York.

  • Type of residence
  • Size of apartment (studio, one or two-bedroom apartment)
  • Types of services needed
  • Geographical location of the community

There are really many factors that can come into play when choosing the right Nursing Home for your parents or loved ones.   Especially in a place like New York City where the prices can play a very significant role.   Like any of us, we really value and worry about not only the comfort but also the safety of our loved ones, therefore for me it was really important that I did an extensive research on the Nursing Homes that I was planning on choosing for my loved ones.

Goals are to:

  • Understand the different kinds of nursing home care that are available.
  • Review the older person’s needs, your ability to provide care, and your own health care needs and stamina.
  • Learn about the nursing homes in your area and the services they provide.
  • Discuss the situation with the older person, family, friends, and health professionals.
  • Choose the nursing home that best meets the older person’s needs, realizing that no place, even one’s own home, is perfect.

Some of the Best Nursing Homes in New York City

Nursing Homes within the three boroughs of New York City.

Below are the links:

Manhattan (New York City)

It is quite hard to find the right and the ideal Nursing Homes in New York City.  Plenty of research and assessment are needed to be done and hopefully this website can help in some way help you find the right Nursing home.

:Best Nursing Homes in New York City.

The City of New York, often called New York City or simply New York, is the most populous city in the United States.   With an estimated 2015 population of 8,550,405  distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles (784 km2),   

New York City is a very crowded place.  There is plenty and influx of too much information both online and offline of what and where the best Nursing Homes are located.  Sometimes it is really important that you personally get out there and talk to some of the residents of the Nursing Home.

New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the United States.  Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area, one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world.

Taking on the role of a elderly caregiver can be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but also one of the most daunting. It’s not for everyone, but  for those who are compassionate, caring and empathetic, it can be perfect for them.  But personally it can also be hard when you are personally taking care of a family member.

Life can be very busy and hectic, caregiving is something that should not be considered lightly and there’s a difference between good and exceptional care.  We all look for certain set of values that a Nursing home has so that we can feel comfortable that our loved ones are being taken care for.

This blog will be updated more often…

Nursing Homes in New York City

What is an Assisted Living Facility

How to Choose a Residential Care Facility

Some Common Problems with Getting Older

Some of the issues with growing older.

Finding the right Nursing Home

Nursing Homes in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.

Alternatives to Nursing Home Care 

Problems with Falls in Elderly Population

Some Major Social problems as we get older

Main Concerns of seniors about Nursing Homes

As I get older plenty of folks around me, especially some of my relatives are getting older. As we get older, there are certain real concerns that starts to creep up and sometimes can cause plenty of anxiety.  For adults who are planning to retire, the process and the ability to be able to have some financial freedom and be able to retire is the main issue.  And as we get even older and as our health starts to fail.  Then our main concern is who will be taking care of us when we get sick and looking for the right Nursing Home that fits our needs.

Best Nursing Homes in New York City Seniors

The Reality of Health Care System in America

What is really frustrating is that even though we have spend so much money on our healthcare system, there are still so much problems that we have to solve.  The United States spends the most on health care per person almost close to $100,000 per person annually, and despite all these tremendous cost, we are still not much healthier than other countries who spends way less than we do. What this basically means is that the amount of spending doesn’t necessarily translate into better health care. There are three different stages as countries develop.

Low-income countries spend the least on health, and the sources of that little bit of funding are international donors and people paying out of pocket. In middle-income countries, people still pay out of pocket, but the government has more capacity and is paying for some health care. And in high-income countries, the money comes mostly from government and private insurance.

Does the impact on health care when people pay out of pocket

When people are paying out of pocket, the poorest people will forgo treatment — or they’ll have treatment and be thrown into poverty because of medical costs. That’s mostly a problem for poor countries, though the U.S. stands out among high-income countries as having catastrophic medical expenditures that put people into poverty.

Do measures of health, like high life expectancy, improve as medical spending goes up?

Well, yes, but it’s a little hard to prove that higher spending causes better health outcomes. It’s easier to show that higher spending leads to more health services provided and more people covered for health services — and that’s what leads to better health. Generally, as health spending goes up, so do health outcomes. But there are so many possible issues that can arise.

I think that the Health Care system in this country still has a long way to go.  I strongly believe that it takes a partisan point of view with any political biases involved in order to really fix the fragile health care system in America.  Everyone is affected both young and old and not just the ones who are sick.   I believe that human mortality is very uncertain and all of us can get sick anytime.  This also has a greater effect on the senior population who are usually on a set budget.  The price of a Nursing Homes especially here in New York City should also be looked at really carefully

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Are you financially ready for retirement

The latest studies have shown that plenty of Americans are not prepared for retirement. According to the study, the mean retirement savings of all families is $95,776. But many estimates that the figure doesn’t really add up, Since so many families have zero savings and since super-savers can pull up the average, the median savings, or those at the 50th percentile, may be a better gauge.

The median for all families in the U.S. is just $5,000, and the median for families with some savings is $60,000. There is a huge gap between mean retirement savings ($95,776) and median retirement savings ($5,000) indicates inequality — that the large account balances of families with the most savings are driving up the average for all families.

The Fear Of leaving our loved ones with people we don’t know.

I believe that one of the greatest fears that a person can have is not knowing what will happen to their loved ones especially there parent when they send them of to a Nursing home somewhere in the city.  I think that we can all feel quite guilty and responsible is something bad would happen to our loved ones.  Obviously that is very normal and for anyone who does care about their loved ones, that is understandable.  Sometimes our anxieties and our concerns can stand in the way of sending our loved ones to a great Nursing Home.   That is why it is important for us to really do our diligent research on the best nursing homes that we can find in our area.

One of the main issues that we grapple with growing older involves the mental and physical burden of loneliness which can really have a big effect on a person especially for older adults. The problems associated with loneliness often grow worse with time, that is why it is very important that the staff in the Nursing Home is really able to analyze the symptoms of depression.

As a result, loneliness is frequently a chronic problem in older adults due to increasing health problems also there are plenty of senior medical ailments that can lead to psychological distress. Growing older can also lead to a reduction in social support networks, whether through the death or illness or through a major life changes. The major issue is that losing this kind of emotional support can have a devastating impact on the ability of older adults to cope with stress.

Best Nursing Homes In New York

Do we get more introverted as we get older ?

I have visited some of the best nursing homes in New York and I have to say that there has been a pattern of behavior that I noticed within the Senior Population.   I notice that seniors somewhat become more isolated over time.  Of course we all know that “loneliness” and “isolation” which can both lead to depression is huge issue with the patients in Nursing Homes in New York.  But I believe bringing awareness to this issue is a first step into solving the problem.  It is both the responsibility of the staff and also the family to look after the signs and symptoms within their elder family member so that that the issue can be addressed as soon as possible.

 

 

 

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