Dementia Care Planning and Seniors
Cremation services in Skaneateles, NY may be one of the items seniors include when they are planning for their care at the end of their lives. However, there are several other concerns that are unique to seniors that need to be considered as part of a comprehensive care plan for the end of their lives.
One thing that seniors need to factor into their end of life care planning is the possibility of developing dementia. Almost all older Americans imagine themselves – and would be delighted to – living independently and taking care of themselves until the day they die.
However, as lifespans increase and the rates of dementia increase, the likelihood of developing some type of neurological decline is something that seniors need to include in their care planning.
Questions about having dementia that seniors should ask – and answer – include in their care plans are:
- If I develop dementia, who will be my medical advocate?
The person they choose should be someone they trust, someone who is close enough to be with them within an hour or less, and someone who will make sure their medical wishes are honored.
This also means that they need, at a minimum, a signed and dated medical power of attorney and a living will.
2. If I am unable to be completely independent, what kind of care do I want?
Even when neurological decline limits a senior’s independence and ability to care for themselves, seniors still have choices about the kind of care they want.
Some seniors may want to stay in their homes and have a family member move in and help them out. Or they may want to live with a family member who will be able to give them the extra help they will need.
Other seniors may not want to be a burden on their families, so they’d want to go into an assisted living facility where their families could visit, but would not have to undertake the day-to-day (and progressive) caregiving that dementia requires.
Before any decisions are made, however, seniors should sit down with their immediate family members and talk openly about their care planning and what might happen if they develop dementia. This gives family members an opportunity to give their input and not be left out of the process.
3. How will I pay for my care?
Needing care and being able to pay for care are two concerns most seniors have when they think about not being able to live independently anymore. While some nursing homes will accept Medicare to pay for a senior’s residency, most assisted living facilities are private pay, which means Medicare will not cover any of the living costs.
Nursing homes are generally more of a gamble in terms of quality care, while assisted living facilities are usually a better alternative. However, many seniors and their families find themselves at a financial crossroads when they decide upon the nursing home or assisted living arrangement.
Medicare admissions to nursing homes often have restrictions – going several years back – on the assets seniors can have to be eligible. Many seniors find they are not eligible for Medicare admission because they own a home, have too much income, or have too much in financial assets to qualify.
Private pay assisted living facilities are expensive. While long-term care insurance and some other special financial funding can help offset the cost, in general, unless a senior is very well-off, the cost can be prohibitive.
Choosing to have family as caregivers is significantly less expensive financially, but it can be very emotionally and mentally expensive if boundaries are not defined beforehand and adhered to afterwards.
If you’d like to know about cremation services in Skaneateles, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help.
