New approaches to care are giving families more choices than ever before. This article is the second in a three-part series that explores some of the most interesting new developments in long-term care. This week we examine Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) programs.
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Research shows that more than 85 percent of seniors prefer to remain in their own homes or communities as they age. Yet few options exist that address the two most importance concerns for those who wish to age in place:
- How will I pay for the long-term care services that I may need?
- Who will help me if I need assistance?
Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) programs answer both of these questions. They offer a viable solution for older adults who want to remain in their homes while enjoying the security of a continuing care retirement community along with the services needed to safely age in place.
There are several CCaH programs in southern Connecticut. One is Senior Choice at Home®, the Continuing Care at Home program managed by Jewish Senior Services® in Fairfield, formerly known as The Jewish Home for the Elderly. Senior Choice at Home is a comprehensive, lifetime program that pays for, provides, and coordinates long term care. It is designed to provide protection for individuals who wish to remain in their homes, ensure their care is paid for, and protect their assets as their health care needs evolve. Should one need to live in an assisted living community or receive nursing home care, the program will cover these costs as well. The program benefits can also blend with an existing long-term care insurance policy to fill gaps.
How does a CCaH program work? Members enroll when they are healthy and well; they pay fees (typically an entrance fee paid either up front or over a period of time and a monthly or annual fee based on the service plan chosen) in exchange for a promise of future care. Services covered by the plan include care coordination, non-medical home care, emergency response system, adult day care and coordination of Medicare services all designed to help the individual remain in his/her home for as long as possible. Access to care in an assisted living or nursing home is also part of most programs. If the member experiences a change in health, the CCaH care coordinator arranges for the needed services and the plan pays for the care up to daily and lifetime limits selected at the time of enrollment.
Membership in a CCaH program can offer financial, emotional and personal benefits. Families avoid the high costs associated with long-term care in the home or in a facility. Long-term care is provided and paid for, whenever and for however long one needs it. Family members are free to make the most of their time with elderly loved ones without concerns about the demands of caregiving. Elders gain peace of mind that comes from minimal interruptions to their present lifestyle coupled with peace of mind knowing that they doing something which has the potential to protect the majority of their assets preserving a financial legacy for whomever and whatever they wish.
For older adults who are interested in being proactive about making arrangements for their care, CCaH programs are ideal. The services evolve with elders’ changing needs, offering peace of mind for seniors and families alike.
