Basic Salary Information to Family Caregivers
Life, for most of us, is a juggling act where work, family, home and play are a few of the many things we try to balance. But what if you could get some of these pieces to fall into sync with each other? Within the number of articles I made in the past, I have pointed out how Vermont seems to be doing exactly this for its citizens. In 2005 the state known for its maple syrup, Ben & Jerry’s and forward thinking began to implement Care for Choices, a new plan for Medicaid-eligible seniors who are in need of long term care assistance.
The choice in this case is twofold: the senior can stay at home and assistance is given by a member of the family, a friend or a neighbor who is paid by the state to provide care for the individual. (In the past I’ve written about how the Internet can help out in managing family caregiver duties. In this case it’s the state, at least in Vermont, that is offering its own helping hand by paying family caregivers whose finances or time is strained when trying to balance both work and family.) So then, you might ask why Vermont is doing this anyway? Well, the reasoning is fairly simple, the state needs to be proactive. According to the May update from the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living, ;the state;s fastest growing age group is…65 to 74, [which is] projected to grow 62% during the period 2005–2015.;
Back in 1996, reports estimate that Vermont spent 88% of its public long term care dollars on nursing facilities leaving just about 12% for community and home based services. Today, the figures are 68% and 32% respectively, giving Vermonters greater choice in their continuous care options. And not only does Vermonters benefit; the state does too: caregivers are paid an hourly rate of about $10, with an eight-hour day costing $80, whereas skilled nursing facilities cost the state on average about $122 a day. However, there are still a few unanswered questions: is this keeping those seniors who do not require skilled care out of nursing facilities? Or worse yet, keeping those who need skilled home care with caregivers that are unable to provide them with all the care and attention they need? How many people not requiring skilled care have been made to move into a facility preemptively? And will this really make a financial difference to the state?
These are the types of questions that only time will be able to answer. What we know so far is that the number of Medicaid-eligible seniors in skilled nursing facilities has dipped and rates of homecare have increased since the Care for Choices plan first came into action. And every person’s scenario will be different. However, in my opinion, every time the state steps in to ensure that a senior’s needs and desires are met should be applauded. I’m sure many Vermonters are very glad of the opportunity to aid seniors with household chores, getting dressed or even rides to a doctor’s appointment. The very idea of the state compensating you for your work can take money pressures off so many family caregivers.
Whether this proves the very best option for a particular person comes down to personality, compatibility and needs, similar to the process of choosing the right facility for yourself or a loved one. And also, no one can argue that selecting is better than being told.
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Tags: adult care, adult day care, long term care