5 Benefits of Live-In Care

 Seniors that choose to have live-in caregivers benefit from having someone present with them 24 hours a day. Choosing to age in place in the comfort and safety of their own homes can have many advantages. The team of caregivers at United Methodist Communities HomeWorks has compiled some compelling reasons why live-in care just may be the right decision for your senior family member.

#1 – Lower cost of care

In Genworth’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, in-home care in the state of New Jersey cost an average of $26 an hour or $4,957 per month compared to staying in an assisted living community, which costs an average of $6,650 per month. By staying together at home, couples can save even more by having a single caregiver to look after both people, rather than having to pay for a more extensive care team. In addition, you can avoid the costs of selling a property, moving house, and buying new furnishings for the new space.

#2 – Less disruption

One of the biggest challenges for seniors and their families is the move out of comfortable, familiar surroundings into a new apartment at an assisted living community. As wonderful and suitable as the new space might be, this is a significant and often challenging psychological adjustment for seniors to cope with. By staying in the comfort of their own home, in-home health aides can ease seniors into care, making their home not only a familiar space but a safe one too. This is ideal for seniors who are still active in their community, who value their independence, and who need a little extra help to keep their current home working for their needs.

#3 – One-on-one, personalized attention

A live-in home health aide has no other patients or responsibilities beyond the scope of the needs of your senior parents. This means that they get one-on-one attention at all times and that care can be customized to their needs rather than relying on an entire team’s schedule. This means that medical issues can be spotted more immediately and managed more effectively, that days and activities can be tailored to their needs, mood or interest, and that they can be more easily treated as individuals rather than patients. It also means that there’s a single point of contact for family members. It can be easier to get to know and maintain an open line of communication with one individual, which will help you check up on your parents  and help create the right environment for them.

#4 – Supported independence

One of the most common concerns seniors express about moving into assisted living is a loss of independence. While most high quality communities encourage and support independence for their residents, staying at home can still be one of the best options for seniors who want to retain their independence.  A live-in caregiver can help seniors to keep up with their usual social engagements, stay active in their hobbies, and keep up relationships they’ve built over the years within their community. 

Having so much control over daily life is important for anyone, especially seniors, and a live-in caregiver in New Jersey can help keep this independence alive by driving your loved one to appointments, taking on light housekeeping duties to give them more free time, and helping your loved one to live by their own schedule.

#5 – Companionship

At UMC HomeWorks, we work hard to find a live-in aide in New Jersey for our clients who can be a companion as well as a professional caregiver. Illness, loss of independence, depression and frailty are all serious concerns with aging, and can easily make seniors withdraw and lose those all-important connections. By living with a home health aide, seniors have a companion by their side who they enjoy speaking with, who they can share new memories with, and who can provide a high level of care if needed.

For more information about 24-hour live-in care in NJ, please give us a call or visit our website. 

Originally posted: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-benefits-of-live-in-care/

How Can I Cover In-Home Care Costs?

 When deciding on in-home care for mom or dad, trying to calculate all the costs involved can easily become overwhelming. United Methodist Communities HomeWorks is here to help families understand their options when it comes to affording in-home care for their loved ones. When you’re paying for in-home care, it’s important to understand what exactly this monthly cost covers. This will be different for every agency and depends on the care your parent needs, so be sure to go through the cost breakdown in detail. Let’s take a look at the available options in New Jersey.

Understanding in-home care costs in New Jersey

According to Genworth’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, in-home care in the state of New Jersey costs an average of $26 an hour or $4,957 per month. In comparison, staying in an assisted living community costs an average of $6,650 per month, so in-home care still offers a competitive, financially viable option for seniors and their families.

At HomeWorks, our rates are determined by the kind of care your loved one needs, the hours you’ll require a home health aide, and the length of time that you sign up for. As a result of all these variables at play, we tailor costs to each client. Typically, non-medical care (such as assistance with bathing, dressing, cooking meals, transport, light housekeeping, companionship and running errands) costs less per hour than medical care (palliative care, wound care, and nursing) from a trained nursing aide because of the qualifications required and the responsibilities the care entails. However, long-term contracts through a home health agency can help bring the cost-per-month down.

In-home care financing options in New Jersey

Before committing to in-home care, it’s important to research different options provided by reputable local agencies in your area. This will give you a clearer idea of what the monthly costs will be, and how you can expect these to change as care needs evolve. Many families consider the following options to help finance in-home care costs in NJ.

• Collective sibling agreements – This is a legal agreement between siblings or family members that outlines how each party can help contribute towards care costs. This is especially helpful for family members who live far away from their parents. These agreements usually include responsibilities that each party will carry, as well as stipulations that outline how they will be repaid through the parent’s estate plan. This helps spell out expectations upfront and avoid frustration, miscommunication, and resentment down the line.

• Reverse mortgage – A reverse mortgage uses the value of the equity in a property to get cash either in a lump sum or in monthly amounts. As a result, it’s a good way to use your parent’s home to pay off their in-home care costs without having to sell. However, this option does have limitations – your loved one must be 62 or older, has to own the home outright or have very little left on their mortgage, and the home must be managed within very strict guidelines for insurance, maintenance, etc. in order to not default on the loan.

• Long-term insurance and annuities – You can use the funds from long-term insurance or a retirement annuity to help pay for in-home care. The benefit of an annuity is that it isn’t considered an asset when applying for Medicare, but the drawback is that you can only start drawing out funds after a certain date or you’ll face a penalty. If you are considering a long-term insurance policy, it’s important to see if there is coverage for long-term care in the policy itself, as well as the additional terms that this carries. With either option, it is essential to use an experienced and ethical financial adviser for guidance.

• Veteran’s benefits – Veterans who have served more than 90 days active duty with at least one day falling within an active war period, and who have been honorably discharged may qualify for the Veteran’s Pension, as well as aid and attendance benefits from the VA. The qualification process for veterans and their surviving spouses who need benefits is complex, and we advise that you use free Veterans Service Organizations to assist you. 

HomeWorks is run by the faith-based, non-profit United Methodist Communities network to provide in-home care as an alternative to assisted living. Our team will work with you to understand your options for paying in-home care costs in NJ, and we are partnered with Veteran Home Care to help aging veterans and their spouses to get the home assistance and benefits they need. 

For more information, please give us a call today or visit our website.

Originally posted: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/covering-in-home-care-costs/

How To Make Valentine’s Day Special For Seniors

Valentine’s Day is all about love and affection, so older adults should be celebrating this fun holiday, too! There are plenty of ways to spend quality time with your elderly parents and loved ones on February 14^th, so here are a few suggestions from our assisted living community in South Jersey.

• Homemade Valentine’s Day cards: If you have younger children, a craft day making pretty cards with personal messages is a great way to get the kids involved. Take the cards, kids and a favorite treat for lunch or coffee over to your loved ones for a Valentine’s Day filled with love, family and quality time.
• Get baking: If baking is a shared hobby, then Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to get together in the kitchen. Baking treats for family, friends and loved ones – even for other elderly neighbors and caregivers — is a great way to spend time together and make everyone’s day a little sweeter.
• Movie night:  If you don’t have a romantic night planned for yourself, then why not grab some popcorn, some of your favorite romantic comedies and spend the evening on the couch in great company — and in comfort!
• Update family photos: This presents an opportunity to look back in time as well as create lasting memories for you and your loved ones. Gather the family together for a fun photo shoot — you can even include a Valentine’s Day theme — and smile for the camera! If you do the shoot a week or so before Valentine’s Day, then printed and framed family photos will make the perfect gift.
• A special dinner: Whether you’re a talented cook or would rather treat everyone to a night out at a restaurant, a dinner is a lovely family event that will bring everyone together for some quality time. If you’re at home, you can add a Valentine’s Day theme with some easy arts and crafts, pretty red roses or a themed menu.

Assisted living and nursing home care in Camden County, NJ 

Collingswood is part of United Methodist Communities, a network of senior living and assisted living facilities specializing in high quality care and support. Our senior living communities NJare known for their beautiful settings, spacious residential apartments and wide range of resident services. With qualified and experienced nursing, therapy and management staff on hand to provide expert assistance, seniors enjoy all the benefits of independent living.

In addition to our assisted living communities, we also offer a range of long term care services, including hospice and palliative care, short term rehabilitation and respite care. We aim to keep our residents “aging-in-place,” ensuring that they stay in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own private apartments for as long as possible, even as their care needs change.

To find out more about United Methodist Communities, our senior living community or our assisted living services, please contact us and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/make-valentines-day-special-seniors/

How to find a home health aide you can trust

Hiring caregivers from home health agencies can be a daunting task – after all, you’re putting the health, safety and happiness of your loved one into the hands of someone you don’t know. Fortunately, there are ways to find a senior home care services provider you can trust, and who will be a positive and helpful supporter of your loved one’s wellbeing and quality of life. Here are some tips from our HomeWorks senior home care services program in New Jersey.

• Assess your loved one’s needs: Different home health aide agenciesprovide different services, so the best first step is to decide what your loved one really needs. If he or she needs light assistance around the home, but may need more qualified assistance at a later stage, choose a provider that scales their services to meet the changing needs of their senior clients. If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s, make sure that their caregivers are experienced in this area and offer specific services and support to ensure the best quality of life.
• Agencies over individuals: Home health aide agencies are the easiest way to find reputable caregivers, as they will ensure their aides have the right skills to take care of your loved one. They will also have access to a wider range of qualified caregivers, which is important should your loved one’s care needs change or escalate over the years.
• Reputation: Senior home care services that have been operating in your area for a long time have a reputation you can research to help you make this important decision. In addition to speaking to caregivers and staff, take the time to talk to the families of seniors who are using or have used their services to get a accurate idea of what they offer.
• Experience and training: Caring for the elderly is not a straightforward job, it’s a vocation that requires training, compassion, patience and skills. Ask about the training and experience your loved one’s caregiver will have, especially if he or she needs specific medical, nursing or therapeutic assistance.

Need a home health aide in New Jersey? Speak to us today

United Methodist Communities has been assisting seniors in New Jersey for over 100 years. As part of our dedication to helping the elderly in our community to live full, independent lives, we’ve launched our HomeWorks program to provide expert, compassionate in-home care.

All of our caregivers are highly trained and certified to assist with all aspects of in-home care, from managing the household and meals, to professional nursing care. We are also fully able to assist residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

For more information on our home health aide services, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/find-home-health-aide-can-trust/