Long Term Care - Please Help!

[oldgrammy]

Hello all,

My name is Karla Johnson and I am a 67 year old woman from Texas (yeehaw! :) ). Here is my situation, I hope someone has advice for me as I really need it!

I have self diagnosed myself with the early stages of alzheimer's disease. My mother got it as well and I went through the whole process from start to current day (she is in now in a nursing home). Anyways, I was able to find a website that guided me through the application process for Long Term Care in my state (LongTermCareInsuranceFinder.com (http://www.longtermcareinsurancefinder.com)) and now that I have the quote back for how much it is going to cost me, I don't know if I can afford it! I have looked everywhere and it seems the free quote I got back from them was one of the lowest so that is not the problem, it is just that I have been out of work for quite some time and my husband is long passed away. My funds are running out and I am not sure where to turn next. I fear that I will become a financial burden to my family if I can not afford to pay for this Long Term Care Health Insurance which I think I will very desperately need soon.

Does anyone have any suggestions as where I may seek state or government funding for my Long Term Care payments? Any information would be greatly appreciated as I am losing my mind day by day over this (literally!). Thank you!

-Old Grammy

[Tootsie]

Hi Karla,
Welcome to the Alzheimer's Forum, here at braintalk communities. I check this forum almost every day, and am sorry to find that you need our help.

There are many things for you to consider, besides the need for long term care for yourself. You may be able to stay in your own home for an extended period of time. That would depend on many other issues, besides finances.

First of all, you have "self diagnosed" yourself. Before you stress yourself out more, you need to make an appointment with a general practitioner, or an internal medicine doctor, who is board certified. There are a number of conditions that we seniors develop that are reversible and can produce symptoms that are similar to Alzheimer's Disease. You cannot "self diagnose" these conditions as they require laboratory testing. Some of them are anemia, vitamin deficiency, hypothyroidism, drug reaction, or interactions of both prescription and over the counter drugs.

You need to discuss with your family, who will be responsible for decisions regarding your finances AND who will make medical decisions for you when you are no longer able to do so. This covers incapacity from heart disease, a stroke and also Alzheimer's Disease. Each state varies in their local laws about how to do this. Finances are handles by a Power of Attorney. Medical decisions are decided by a different document called Durable Power of Attorney. If you have cared for your mother, you may already have taken care of these things.

Many people will A.D. are able to stay in their own homes if family is nearby. An alternative is to have a home health aide come in for a few hours a week, extending that time, as needs develope. There is Meals on Wheels that delivers food regularly.

As for long term care insurance, it is more expensive, the older you are when you first take out the policy. Sometimes other health problems make you uninsurable. My husband has it. I do not. If you own a home or other assets, most states require those funds to be depleted before the other programs become effective. Medicare does not cover custodial care. However, there are other programs for indigent people that pay for such care, once you have spent your own assets. Cheerio.