A Home Remedy: Staying at Home as an Alternative to Nursing Home Care

submitted by CAROLYN FRUTOZ-de HARNE & JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE CO.
Sun Contributors
Archived April 2007 article

If given a choice, few people would choose staying in a nursing home over living at home or with loved ones. And many have that choice. While failing health can make a nursing home the only option for some, many more can live comfortably at home or with their children with help from a home-health aide and regular visits from a nurse.

Living with your children is sometimes the best option. You get to spend time with family, your grandchildren get to spend time with you, and your children won't have to worry about whether you're getting the care you need. However, caring for a parent can be difficult for children who have families of their own and demanding careers. Home healthcare assistance can make this option more affordable and less stressful for your children.

If you prefer your independence, home-care assistance may make it possible for you to continue living at home. Of course, it's important to consider your safety. Individuals with dementia and those who can no longer perform such daily tasks as cooking, dressing and cleaning may need to live with someone who can provide 24-hour supervision.

Paying For Home Care

Of course, home care can be almost as expensive as nursing home care. Even though you're not paying for a room, having someone come into your home to care for you can be costly - and government programs generally do not cover non-medical expenses, unless you have virtually no assets.


Typically, a home-care aide will spend eight hours a day in your home, but some home-health agencies provide aides for as few as four hours a day, and some provide 24-hour care. Live-in care is one option, as room and board help pay the costs of care.

One way to make home care more affordable is with long-term care insurance, which typically covers the cost of nursing care and homemaker services, such as cooking, bathing, dressing and otherwise providing the personal care that you may need. It may also fund home modifications and training for those who are living in the home.

The dilemma for many is that they cannot afford long-term healthcare costs, but they also can't afford the insurance they need to protect themselves against those costs. There are several ways to make insurance more affordable:

• Consider group coverage. For any type of insurance, group coverage is significantly more affordable than individual insurance. That's because underwriters can better predict the insurance company's costs and can spread risk among a large number of people.
• Buy it when you're young. The younger you are when you buy long-term care insurance, the less it costs. Premiums increase as a person ages, because the odds of needing long-term care increase. To control costs, purchase a policy that is guaranteed renewable for life and has level-funded premiums (i.e., premiums remain at the level they are at when you purchase the policy).
• Buy only what you need. Long-term care insurance comes with many different features. Stick to features that serve your needs, and don't buy what you don't need.

If you decide to use home care, whether you pay for it with your own money, with insurance or with help from your children, be certain to use a reputable home-healthcare agency to find you a suitable aide. You don't want someone who is abusive or untrustworthy to come into your home or the home of your children.

Under the right circumstances, home care can be a welcome alternative to nursing home care, allowing you to live comfortably in a setting you enjoy. The key to home care is to plan in advance and to determine an option that is both realistic and affordable.

Carolyn Frutoz-de Harne is the President and CEO of Hawaii HealthCare Professionals, Inc., Hawaii's #1 HomeCare Company. For more information, contact Carolyn at (808) 531-8177, toll-free 1-888-531-8177 or visit www.hhcpcaring.com.