Many Options to Help with Aging in Place

Photo by Ben Sutherland

Many options exist to help when elders and loved ones want to age in place and are looking for financial assistance. In this blog, we summarize several of the different articles we maintain that relate to helping elders and their families pay for the expenses related to aging in place.

Home Modifications

Home modifications are the changes that one makes to their home to make it easier for them to live independently and with the most amount of safety. Support to help pay for these modifications comes from many programs and in many forms. Medicaid, the VA, several state programs and a many community organizations provide support and assistance for home modifications.

Visit the Home Modification article on the payingforseniorcare.com website for a complete review of these programs.

Cost saving technologies

A wide range of products are marketed as aging in place technology. In this article, we focus on current technology that helps to reduces costs. With personal safety monitoring technologies, family members benefit from knowing their loved one is safe. For individuals who spend significant time alone, online companions can help keep elders company without the travel costs. Medication Management technologies help seniors who take multiple medications on an ongoing basis and are challenged to remember to take which pills to take when.

Visit the Cost Saving Technologies article on payingforseniorcare.com for more complete coverage of the technology options that available in 2014 and help cut costs.

Durable medical equipment

Americans who are aging at home instead of in a skilled nursing facility increasingly need to purchase home or durable medical equipment. Durable Medical Equipment can be understood as different from Home Medical Supplies. Normally, multiple sources of payment exist for any single item of durable medical equipment. Seniors and their family caregivers should be aware of all the possible sources of funds that may be available in order to increase their possible benefit.

Visit the Durable Medical Equipment article on payingforseniorcare.com for more complete coverage of the financial options.

Walk in tubs

Bathroom injuries are common for seniors trying to steady themselves on shower doors, towel racks and other fixtures while getting in and out of the tub. Medicare does not consider walk in bathtubs ‘durable medical equipment.’ Medicare will not cover the expenses associated with a walk-in tub. Medicaid, however, does have options that are likely to assist in the procurement and installation of a walk in tub.

Learn more Medicaid Waivers and other programs that can help with buying and installing a walk-in tub on payingforseniorcare.com.

Stair lifts

Medicaid will likely reimburse for medically required stair lifts as long as they enable elders to continue living in at home and avoid a nursing home. Options exist for elderly veterans and their spouses who are not able to climb stairs for reasons unrelated to their military service. Because a stair life is a type of home modification, various state-specific programs provide financial assistance for them.

Visit the Stair Lifts article on payingforseniorcare.com for more complete coverage of the programs to help pay for them.

Home care supplies

Home care supplies are generally disposable and usage is intended for one person. Individual expenses associated with home care supplies vary greatly. When used for medical purposes, prescriptions might be obtained but are generally not required. However, insurance policies will more likely reimburse for the supplies when the elder has a prescription or a statement of medical need from an accredited medical provider.

Visit the Home Care Supplies article on payingforseniorcare.com for more complete coverage of the financial programs to help pay for them.