INTERESTING FACTS AND STATISTICS ON ELDER CARE AND CARE-GIVING - 
FINANCING CARE-GIVING

Care-giving options can be costly.  Just what kind of costs are we talking about and what kind of financial support or assistance is available?  The following table lists care-giving options and the costs associated with each option.  For additional information, call the Elder Care Locator, a toll-free number established in 1991 to provide a wide range of information on services in your community.  The Elder Care Locator is available weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at (800) 677-1116.

Home Health Care..............Can be very high. Costs do vary.  Nursing Home Care considerably depends on the care level and length of time care is provided.

Medicare......................Provides only limited coverage for home health care or nursing home care and strict rules must be met to qualify.

Medicaid......................Covers care for chronic conditions for those with very limited income.

Home-delivered Meals..........Are subsidized and are usually low cost, Senior Center Meals sometimes free.

Volunteer Services............Most are free.  These volunteer (Friendly visitors, organizations would welcome telephone reassurance, contributions to support their costs, home repair by civic groups, etc.)

Senior Center Programs........Frequently are free, and sometimes offered for modest fees or sliding scales based on ability to pay.

Housing.......................Costs vary tremendously and are not covered by public or private insurance.  Usually low-cost, subsidized housing for seniors is in demand, and there are long waiting lists.

Home Sharing...................Can generate revenue for the homeowner though rents are usually considerably less when labor exchange is part of the agreement.

Modifications and Construction Projects.............Are costly though ECHO (Elder Cottage  Housing Opportunity) housing units are relatively economical, self-contained homes which can be placed on your property.

Hospice Care..................Is fully covered under Medicare when provided by a Medicare-certified program and after the physician has determined an illness is terminal.

Adult Day Care................Average about $30 a day (nationally).  Depending on sponsorship, adult day care may be free or charged on a sliding scale.  Some individuals qualify by Medicaid, and states vary in their regulations.

Personal Emergency............Are sold by several manufacturers and Response Systems (PERS) typically are purchased by the consumer.  An additional monthly fee will be paid to the service monitoring the transmitter.  Some local hospitals, fire and rescue service may loan and install these systems.

Respite Care..................Is not covered by Medicare, but in some states Medicaid does provide a benefit.  Some respite programs are managed by volunteers and are free and some are subsidized by public funds.

For more information on care-giving, begin with the Elder Care Locator.  You may also want to call the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging at (202) 508-9420, the National Association for Home Care at (202) 547-7424, the American Association of Retired Persons at (202) 434-3525, or the National Institute on Adult Day Care at (202) 479-1200, ext. 6613.

If you need more information on referrals regarding this topic, please call the Civilian Employee Assistance Program Counseling and Referral Service (CEAP C/RS) at (202) 433-0087 or outside the local dialing area you may use 1-800-995-9791.

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