Articles Posted in Senior Health Care

Governor Cuomo Declares November As New York Caregiver Recognition Month

Published on: November 21, 2011 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Last week the Director of the New York State Office for the Aging held the first-ever New York Caregiving and Respite Coalition Conference. Over 120 participants attended the event, which was meant to honor all those family members across the state who provide vital services to their friends and family members in need of New York elder care or disability assistance. Literally hundreds of millions of caregiving hours are provided every year in informal settings by community members who provide anything from around the clock help to periodic aid to seniors and disabled residents. As an AARP report last month revealed, the value of the senior care services provided free of charge dwarfs the total care provided by public bodies, usually via Medicaid. Specifically, the report found that New York coffers alone are saved $3.2 billion because of the work of these friends and family members.

Recognizing the sacrifices made by so many family members was at the heart of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s issuance of a proclamation declaring November as Caregiver Recognition Month. In making the statement at last week’s conference, the Governor explained of family caregivers that “their commitment, generosity and dedication make a profound difference in the lives of others and reflects the best of the Empire State.”

Our New York elder law attorneys know the impact that family caregivers have on the lives on their loved ones–and on the state’s entire elder care system. As the Governor explained in his address, the state estimates that more than 50% of senior New Yorkers would likely be placed in institutional settings without the aid of unpaid caregivers. These nursing homes and other special facilities are rarely the preferred living option of seniors who are almost always happier when they age in place, close to their loved ones.

AARP Report Finds Expanding Costs of Family Elder Caregiving

Published on: November 15, 2011 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released a new report discussing the contributions that family members nationwide make to caring for their elderly family members. Recent news has focused on how local, state, and federal governments will handle the burdens of caring for an aging population. Yet, as this new report points out, the costs bore by family caregivers actually dwarfs that spent by these public bodies. It is a reminder that long-term care planning remains more than just a necessity for seniors but also for their entire family.

The size of the numbers is undeniable. Roughly 42 million family members are acting as caregivers for their senior loved ones at any point in time, with nearly 62 million providing at least some support throughout the year. In economic terms, these caregivers provide over $450 billion in annual, unpaid care. That total is up 20% from two years before ($375 billion). These totals include the contributions of millions of area residents who provide support for aging family members whose New York elder care planning went awry or whose plan was nonexistent. The financial estimates are actually conservative. They do not account for care given by those under the age of 18. They also do not include caregivers who provide assistance outside of basic daily living tasks, like help with bathing, dressing, managing medications, and aid with finances.

It is helpful to put these family-provided long-term elder care costs into context. The $450 billion annual sum is more than the total Medicaid spending, for both basic health and long-term support services. When looking only at Medicaid support for senior care, the costs bore by families is four times larger. Researchers believe that the $75 billion increase in the previous two years was primarily caused by an increase in the total number of caregivers and hours of care provided. In other words, the allotted value of the work ($11.16 per hour) remained constant over that period of time.

New Companion Service Provides New York Elder Care at Senior’s Own Home

Published on: October 26, 2011 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The aging of the population both in our state and throughout the country is leading many community members to re-think the best way to provide long-term care for seniors when they reach their golden years. In the past, options for seniors were few and far between. In most cases a senior lived on their own for as long as they could. When extra care was needed it was provided by a close relative if possible. If no relative was able to provide the care, or the senior’s needs were more than a relative could handle, then the individual ended up in a nursing home. Most seniors in our area were unable to pay for that nursing home care on their own, and so it was paid for by New York Medicaid programs. However, most of the seniors’ assets built up over a lifetime were lost to pay for the care or to qualify for Medicaid participation.

Recently, there has been an explosion in new options available to area seniors and their families, particularly for those families that take the time to visit with a New York elder law attorney to plan ahead for this stage in life. For example, many assisted-living facilities have been built which allow seniors to receive day-to-day aid from professionals while keeping much more independence than that found in traditional nursing homes. Other services are popping up which allow seniors to receive extra care without leaving their home at all.

For example, this week Bright Days Home Care, a new “senior companion” service announced that it was opening its doors to provide assistance for local residents. The New York elder care service provides companions to visit the homes of seniors on a particular schedule to provide any manner of aid necessary. This new service provides non-medical care, which may include anything from buying groceries and making dinner to cleaning the house and chatting with the senior about their day. In addition, the company’s founder explains that the at-home service also helps local families find other resources. She notes that they “are committed to ensuring that people are aware of the plethora of options that are available.”

State Takes Steps to Eliminate New York Medicaid Caseworkers

Published on: October 20, 2011 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Syracuse News reported this week on public concern over changes that are about to take effect within the New York Medicaid system. Per the planned alterations, many local residents with developmental disabilities will lose their caseworkers as that task is soon to be outsourced to non-profit agencies in the state. Currently, many of these residents receive assistance from a group of public employees known as Medicaid service coordinators. However, these residents have been instructed that by the end of this week they must select a non-profit to take over this function.

Many community members are concerned about the effect the changes will have on their vulnerable family members with disabilities who have grown familiar with their personal caseworkers over many years. The service coordinators function as advocates for program participants, developing relationships with the clients and helping their family find the services that they need. Many coordinators have helped families find appropriate educational opportunities, arrange for respite care, and have linked participants with employment programs. Our New York Medicaid attorneys are aware of the complications that are intrinsic in working through the Medicaid system, as we also devote our time helping local residents work within the system to protect their assets while receiving the resources that they need to get by each day.

Cost-cutting is the state’s motivation for changing the way the services are provided. The state spokesman for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities reported that non-profit agencies already handle roughly eighty percent of Medicaid service coordination in the state. Nonprofit agencies explain that they are prepared to handle their expanded role. However, they also report that it may be difficult to complete the transition in a month–which is the goal of the administration. Even if the changes go through, there is a chance that families may be able to remain with the same service coordinator if that coordinator is hired by a nonprofit after leaving the state payroll. The program shift will allow the state to cut 300 service coordinators who had previously served about 10,000 local residents. Current service coordinators may try to approve an amended contract and submit it to the state in an effort to halt the layoffs. However, there is no guarantee that the privatization effort will be halted.

Elderly Residents Can Keep Their Pets With Flexible Care Options

Published on: August 3, 2011 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Many seniors consider their pets to be part of their family. The companionship that an animal brings is often particularly important for those who have lost their spouse or who live alone. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention specifically credits pets with decreasing blood pressure, increasing socialization opportunities, and providing exercise for owners. New research out of Miami University of Ohio and St. Louis University found that pet owners were more physically fit and less fearful of basic daily stresses than those without animals.

The unique connection between owners and their animals is one of the key reasons that our state allows residents to create a New York pet trust as part of their estate plan to pass along resources for the care of their animals. In addition, senior pet owners can now receive varying degrees of assistance to help care for their animals in their golden years. Proper pet care is often daunting for seniors who struggle to get their animal to and from the vet, provide regular walks, and similar tasks. In the past, residents were often forced to give up their beloved animals when they were no longer able to provide them the care they needed on their own.

Fortunately, as Global Animal discussed in an article this morning, various services are now available to help senior pet owners keep their pets in their own home. For example, pet sitters are prevalent in most cities to help walk dogs, administer medication, and perform other aid. Many of these sitters double as veterinary technicians so they are often trained to catch animal illness that may not be noticed by the pet owner.