Updates

What is Long-Term Care Insurance? Long-Term Care Insurance is a specific insurance policy that can be purchased to assist with the costs of Long Term Care not covered by private insurance, Medicare, or AHCCCS (Medicaid). Most long-term care insurance policies will cover In-Home Caregiving, Assisted Living, Adult Day Care, Assisted Living Homes, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Modifications, and Care Planning. Traditional policies will have a monthly premium that will be determined based on age, health, length of benefits, inflation rate, elimination period, and the daily benefit. With traditional policies, premiums are continual and will not be returned if unused and there is no cash value. Traditional policies will have an elimination period usually around 30-180 days once you are eligible, which is the consecutive time…

Why Should I have a Plan? Most everyone has an idea of what their Golden Years will look like. You may save for retirement, make travel plans, and look forward to more time spent with loved ones. What often times isn't planned for is what happens when you can no longer drive, take care of your house, or even yourself. Have you made a plan for when taking care of the day to day things becomes a struggle? There are many complicated factors that will go into determining your potential qualify of life including your finances, health, goals, support system, and most importantly, how well you have planned. Where Do I Start? Step 1: Develop your goals Stay at home with help from family or In Home Caregiving Move to Assisted Living,…

When Is It Time to Hire a Caregiver? If you have aging loved ones who are living independently, chances are you may need to step in and offer assistance at some point. But how do you know when the timing is right and what type of help is available?  This guide is provided by Homewatch Caregivers and will give you tips on warning signs to look for at your next visit to your loved one's home and what next steps you can take. What to Look For Bathroom: Expired or empty medications bottles Unused or empty toiletry containers Accumulated grime or unemptied trash Bedroom: Piles of dirty laundry Unwashed bed sheets Kitchen: Stale or expired foods Broken appliances or scorched pots and pans Instant meals only…

What exactly are Advance Directives? There can be a lot of confusion surrounding Advance Directives, but they are actually very simple and easy to complete documents. They consist of: Durable Health Care Power of Attorney (Medical Power of Attorney) Durable Mental Health Power of Attorney Living Will (End of Life Care) Letter to My Agent Pre-Hospital Medical Directive (No Not Resuscitate) How do I get them? These documents are all available for free to print through the Arizona Attorney General's office and can be found here. They can be completed independently and require either a witness or notary to your signature. If additional support and education is needed, an Elder Law Attorney can assist you in understanding and completing them and you can find one in your area…