Paying for nursing home, assisted living facilities in Limestone

Feb. 25--There are two nursing homes, three assisted living facilities and one senior citizen center in Athens that serve residents in both Athens and Limestone County.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities appeal to a different clientele. Assisted living is housing that provides some care, whereas nursing homes are primarily caring facilities that also provide housing, according to After55.com.

Many nursing home residents have physical or mental health issues that require attention from nursing professionals, according to CareConversations.org, a trade association website. That care must be available 24 hours a day. Still, many people stay in nursing homes on a temporary basis to receive rehabilitative care after incidents such as strokes or heart attacks.

Cost

The cost of nursing homes and assisted living facilities can range from a few thousand a month to $25,000 or more, depending on geographic location, staffing levels, the size and quality of the facility, and specialty care, if offered. For example, a nursing home that specializes in the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia may charge more. Officials at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities say the best way to obtain pricing is to call the facility and explain your needs or the needs of your loved one.

According to insurance company Genworth, assisted living community rates range anywhere from $2,500 to nearly $7,000 per month depending on location and level of care required.

When checking costs at various nursing homes, be sure to ask the staff not only the current cost but how much rates have increased over the past few years.

How to pay

There are three basic ways to cover the cost of long-term residential care, according to CareConversations.org. Short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation, which usually follows hospitalization, injury or illness, is paid for through Medicare and other types of health insurance. Here are three options:

--Medicare, Medicaid, VA

Medicare, the federal program that provides health insurance coverage for Americans ages 65 and older, will cover care in a skilled nursing facility for up to 100 days, usually after major surgery or another hospitalization, according to Medicare. It will not cover long-term says.

If you loved one has a low income and very few assets, not including a house they own, they may be able to use Medicaid to pay for part or all of their nursing home costs. First make sure the nursing home in question is Medicaid-certified.

Also, the Veterans Administration may cover the cost of nursing home care for U.S. military veterans. Check with the VA.

--Private insurance

Many nursing home residents use long-term care insurance to pay for their care, according to CareConversations.org. Long-term care insurance is designed to lower out-of-pocket costs for long-term care, including nursing home care and assisted living. People are encouraged to buy a long-term care insurance policy long before they will need to use it, which may mean paying premiums for decades before they move into a long-term care facility.

If your loved one has a life insurance policy, cashing it out can help him or her pay for nursing home costs. Certain types of life insurance policies will allow the policyholder to use the insurance toward long-term care. If the life insurance policy includes accelerated death benefits, the policyholder will be able to take a portion of their death benefit while they're still alive in order to pay for long-term care. If the death benefit is not enough to cover nursing home costs, the policyholder might choose a life settlement, in which he or she sells the life insurance policy to a third party.

--Personal, family assets

Most residents entering a skilled nursing facility pay for their care using their own money, at least initially, according to CareConversations.org. This might mean your loved one's personal savings, stocks or other assets. It's not uncommon for adult children and other family members to combine their money to help cover the costs of nursing home care until their loved one becomes eligible for a public benefit program like Medicaid.

Because nursing home care can be so costly, families seeking that option for a loved one sometimes turn to more creative ways to use personal assets to pay for the costs. Some people choose to take out a reverse mortgage to help pay for long-term nursing care. A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner to exchange the home equity they've built up over time into cash. The person can then access the money either in a monthly payment, a lump sum or a line of credit. Since this option is such a huge commitment, it's crucial to work with a reputable company and to ensure that you understand all of the terms and fees involved.

It's important to check with the skilled nursing facility about what types of care and services are included in the fees your loved one is being charged, and which ones may cost extra.

Here is a list of assisted living facilities and nursing homes in Athens:

--Athens Convalescent Center (assisted living facility)

611 W. Market St., Athens

256-232-1620

--Limestone Health Facility (nursing home)

1600 W. Hobbs St., Athens

256-667-8963

--Limestone Lodge (assisted living facility)

1532 W. Hobbs St., Athens

256-233-1224

--Limestone Manor (assisted living facility)

600 U.S. 31 North, Athens

256-232-3900

--Restore Therapy Pavilion Athens Health and Rehab (nursing home)

611 W. Market St., Athens

256-232-1620

--Traditions of Athens (senior citizen center)

22171 Traditions Way, Athens

256-444-3255

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