Having to face the fact that you require long-term care for the rest of your days can be very hard to come to terms with, especially if you have always been self-sufficient and independent. There are many considerations to be made when you learn that you need long term care. Not only will you worry about how receiving care will make you feel but it is also natural for you to start to worry about how you will afford care. With soaring long term care costs, it is reasonable for you to start to think about how you can ensure that you are able to afford the care you need. Next, you will need to start thinking about which healthcare facility will be best suited for you. This article aims at providing you with a little helpful advice on all of these scores.
The financial burden of long term care can seem daunting. However, keep in mind that there are ways to get financial assistance. You may qualify for assistance through the NHS and Continuing Care if you have nursing needs. You may also qualify for assistance through your local authority if you don’t’ have sufficient funds to pay for your care. If you do not qualify for free care through either program, or you only qualify for particle help, there are financial products specifically designed to help you pay for your care costs. For example, there are a variety or care plans and annuities that can be specially designed for your exact needs. There are also equity release plans that can help you pay for your care while also allowing you to stay in the comfort of your own home for as long as possible. In order to learn which of these options, if any, are best for you and your particular financial situation, it is advisable that you speak with an independent financial adviser. It might also be wise for you to bring a family member with you to accompany you and to help you further understand your options. An adviser can outline all of the assistance options that may be available to you as well as any alternatives when it comes to self-funding your care.
Next, you will need to decide on a care facility or the setting in which your care will be administered. As far as the actual care facility is concerned, there is a public organisation that can be consulted in order to determine which facilities near you are the best. The Care Quality Commission awards all care homes and hospitals in England with a rating of up to 5 stars. The more stars the facility receives, the better the standard of care being administered to their patients/residents. So, if you have a specific facility in mind and you find out it has been awarded the full 5 stars – this will mean that you can relax in the knowledge that you really will be well taken care of there. However, lower star ratings should give you cause for concern and it is recommended that you question the facility if they have been awarded a particularly low score to ascertain how they intend to improve in the future. As the choice of a care facility affects the rest of your life, it is important to never rush into such a decision. Visit the facility several times beforehand to get a general feel for the place and don’t be afraid to investigate a number of different venues. Bring a family member you trust with you to get their opinion as well. Have a chat with other residents to gauge the general opinion of the place and watch how members of staff react to your questions. This could potentially be where you live for the rest of your long or at least a long period of time. So, it is not a decision that you should take lightly and is certainly one worth spending time thinking about and researching.
Long-term care is a very important thing to face. Take your time to find the facility that is right for you and make sure you consult a professional financial adviser regarding the funding of your care. Once you are receiving care, you will not want to have to think about your financial situation. So, consult with an adviser that you trust and make sure that you have made all big decisions before moving in to care. This can help alleviate any unnecessary stress once you are receiving the care you need.