From the National Institute on Aging

The cost of long-term care can be a significant concern for older adults and their caregivers. These expenses can consume a substantial portion of monthly income, even for those who believe they have saved enough. How individuals pay for long-term care depends on their financial situation and the types of services they need.

Many people assume their current health or disability insurance will cover long-term care, but most of these policies offer limited, if any, long-term care benefits. Consequently, individuals often need to find other ways to pay for these services. They may utilize a variety of payment sources, including personal funds, federal and state government programs, and private financing options.

The Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator can help you find resources in your area, including in-home help and transportation, and can provide information about paying for care. Visit the Eldercare Locator online at www.eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116.

Personal Funds
Many older adults cover the cost of long-term care with their own money, known as personal or “out-of-pocket” funds. This may include personal savings, pensions or other retirement funds, income from investments, or proceeds from selling a home.

Initially, family and friends often provide personal care and other services, such as transportation, at no cost. However, as the needs increase, paid services may become necessary.

Older adults frequently pay out of pocket for adult day care programs, meals, and other community-based services that help them stay in their homes. In some cases, these services are offered for free or at a low cost by local governments and nonprofit organizations. Professional care in assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities is almost always paid for out of pocket. In some states, Medicaid may cover certain costs for eligible individuals. More information on Medicaid and other government programs can be found below.

LongTermCare.gov offers details about long-term care needs and available benefits. Visit the Costs & Who Pays page to learn more about the costs of long-term care, who pays for services, what insurance covers, and self-payment options.

Older adults may qualify for some government health care benefits. Caregivers can assist by learning about possible financial aid sources and helping older adults apply for appropriate assistance.

Several federal and state programs assist with healthcare-related costs. Over time, the benefits and eligibility requirements of these programs can change, and some benefits vary by state. For the most recent information, check directly with the individual programs.

Government Programs

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Social Security Administration Programs

Private Financing Options

In addition to personal funds and government programs, several private payment options are available, including long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, certain life insurance policies, annuities, and trusts. The best option depends on many factors, including the person’s age, health status, and financial situation.

Compensation for Family Caregivers

Family caregivers often make significant sacrifices to care for older, sick, or disabled relatives, with some even quitting their jobs to provide full-time care. Caregiving involves many costs, such as travel expenses, bill payments, and household essentials, which can create a considerable financial burden.

Many states offer compensation for family caregivers, but laws, eligibility, and funding for this support vary by state. The most common source of assistance is Medicaid, which provides several state-based programs for eligible individuals based on income or disability. These programs include home- and community-based services, adult foster care, and Medicaid personal care services. For more information, contact your state Medicaid agency.

Veterans and individuals with certain diseases may also qualify for financial assistance through federal and state agencies or private organizations. Information is available through the Eldercare Locator or by calling 800-677-1116.

Long-term care insurance often covers care at home. However, policies differ regarding who can deliver that care. In some cases, only professional services are covered, while in others, family members can be paid to provide care. Check with your long-term care insurer for the specifics of your policy.

by Carol Leish, MA

Ventura County will host the first annual Government and Disability Summit from Sept. 24-27, 2024. This conference presents a unique opportunity for representatives from various levels of government, nonprofit organizations, and companies from across California to increase their involvement in building bridges and breaking barriers in the realm of disability awareness. This is the first step toward creating a more inclusive and accessible community for people with disabilities or issues related to disabilities.

Dani Anderson, disability access manager for Ventura County, says, “As a lifelong Ventura County resident with a disability, it makes me so proud to lead this effort to create change within the state!”

Attendees will engage in collaborative dialogues with diverse stakeholders to co-create a more inclusive future for communities throughout California. Topics covered will include emergency preparedness, transportation, voting, accessibility, and technology. The summit will also address health, recreation, employment, and collaboration. It aims to empower individuals with disabilities to share their experiences and educate others, championing accessibility at the government level.

Anderson explained that sponsors of this groundbreaking event will gain brand exposure while advocating for a more inclusive and accessible California. “The deadline to become a sponsor is Aug. 23; however, the earlier the better to get all of the sponsorship benefits!”

To register for the event or join the email list, visit www.govdisabilitysummit.org or contact Dani Anderson, disability access manager for Ventura County, at [email protected].

by Carol Leish, MA

With the percentage of elderly people in Ventura County forecasted to grow to 30% of the population within the next several years, preserving the high quality of advocacy that the Ombudsman of Ventura County has been providing since 1981 is even more critical.  “We are very excited to have Keith Gosselin transition intro the position of Executive Director,” stated Sylvia Taylor-Stein, current Executive Director, who will transition into a new role and continue to serve the volunteers, long-term care residents, and the community that she loves.  She said that, “He has effectively expanded the capabilities of several nonprofit organizations during his professional career.

Gosselin, who has a BA in Management from Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles, and an MBA from the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, has been a tenured Associate Professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University, along with having been an adjunct faculty member at Cal State University, Northridge, California Lutheran University, and University of CA Los Angeles and UCLA.

During his 20+ years of college instruction, he taught mostly marketing classes, such as Principles of Marketing, Advertising Sales Management, Market Research, Social Media Marketing the Nonprofit, and International Marketing. And, with his MBA in Finance, along with a high-tech background, he taught Principles of Finance, along with Management of Information Systems at Mount Saint Mary’s University, every year.

Gosselin’s most recent position was as the Executive Director for His Hands on Africa, a nonprofit that provides free dental services in Rwanda.  He was tasked with increasing U.S. donations to finance expansive efforts, which he did by growing the annual fundraising from $350,000 to over $850,000 in just one year.  As a result, the number of Rwandans receiving free oral health care will continue to increase significantly over the next decade.

Long Term Care Services of Ventura County, Inc. is a 501c 3 nonprofit that advocates for the higher quality of life and care possible for all our disabled and elderly living in long term care facilities.  The Ombudsman staff & volunteers make unannounced and unscheduled visits to long term care facilities to help ensure the quality of care and the quality of life for the elderly and disabled residents.  Gosselin said, “I am honored to be a part of a best-in-class organization that represents the needs of two of the often-overlooked populations in our communities:  the elderly and the disabled.”

In terms of goals, Gosselin said, “My priority at Long Term Care is to retain the incredibly high level of quality of services that the program has provided the community for the last 25+ years (courtesy of Sylvia Taylor-Stein)), through our staff and incredible volunteers.  Secondarily, I plan on increasing and diversifying our funding to reduce our reliance on government grants and to expand upon our services into the areas of the community that we would like to better serve.

For more information about the Ombudsman of Ventura County program, please visit www.ombusmanventura.org.

Founded in 1984, CAREGIVERS serves hundreds of seniors throughout Ventura County — one of the largest aging populations in the nation. The local nonprofit, a public benefit organization, has a mission to promote the health, well-being, dignity, and independence of frail, homebound elders through one-on-one relationships with trusted volunteers. CAREGIVERS provides non-medical, in-home support services and transportation with a goal of preventing premature placement into board and care facilities and making it possible for elders to continue to live in the comfort and security of their own homes. Examples of assistance that volunteers may provide include cleaning up around the house, such as washing windows, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, yard maintenance, home organization, and much more.

CAREGIVERS programs are carried out by over 300 giving, caring volunteers who are recruited and trained from our local community. Kayla Meza, a student at California State University, Channel Islands, plans to go into the healthcare field and recently completed a semester with CAREGIVERS as part of her service-learning course. “Throughout the semester, I have had the privilege of assisting three seniors, one of whom I have built a great friendship with. One of my seniors has some health conditions that prevent her from doing everyday tasks such as sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, laundry, and cooking. The little help — an hour per week for each of them — that I provide goes a long way for my seniors, and they are always very appreciative of the time I dedicate to them.”

Currently, CAREGIVERS is in great need of additional volunteers. They make every effort to match a carefully screened and trained volunteer to a homebound elder who needs basic assistance and companionship in order to foster a long-term, one-on-one relationship between them. “The organization only asks about 1.5 hours of help per week,” explained Meza. “As of today, Ventura County CAREGIVERS really needs volunteers in Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo. They also have opportunities to serve as Team Leaders to high school volunteers throughout Ventura County. There are many homebound seniors who need assistance, and unfortunately, the number of volunteers cannot keep up with the number of seniors needing help. If you decide to volunteer for Ventura County CAREGIVERS, I promise you will not regret it.”

All Adult Volunteers and Youth Leaders must pass a LiveSCAN background check, which is paid for by CAREGIVERS. To learn more, visit www.vccaregivers.org, email [email protected], or call 805.658.8530.

The three most common places people at the end-of-life die are at home, in a hospital, or in a care facility. While not everyone has the chance to decide where they will die, people who know the end of life is approaching may be able to plan ahead. Several factors may help with this planning, including knowing the type of care you need and want, where you can receive this level of care, advance care directives, costs, and availability of family and friends to help.

It’s important for a caregiver or family member to work closely with the health care team to decide the type of comfort care needed at home in order to make the dying person as comfortable as possible. This type of care can often be provided by nursing assistants or family and friends without medical training. However, a doctor will continue to oversee the patient’s health care plan. Hospice care is frequently used at home.

Caring for someone who is at home at the end of life can be physically, emotionally, and financially demanding for the people providing the care. Extra support from paid caregivers or home service providers, also known as respite care, can help. If the person who is dying is returning home from the hospital, sometimes a hospital discharge planner, who is often a social worker, will be able to help with the logistics. Your local Area Agency on Aging might be able to recommend other sources of help.

In a hospital setting, you will have access to medical professionals who understand the needs of a dying person. This can be very reassuring to both the person and their family.

In addition to the regular care team, some hospitals have palliative and hospice care teams that can assist with managing uncomfortable symptoms at the end of life, such as digestive issues or pain. These teams can also help with making medical decisions for patients or families.

No matter which end-of-life care setting you choose, it’s important to make plans for this care in advance. Having these documents in place helps medical staff provide the care that you wish to receive at the end of life and helps family members avoid having to make difficult decisions about your care without your input. Learn more about advance care planning.

Many people are in care facilities, such as nursing homes, at the end of life. In a nursing home, nursing staff are always present. Unlike a hospital, a doctor is not in the facility at all times but is available when needed.

Some people are discharged from a hospital to a care facility, while others may already be living in one. If you have lived in a nursing home or long-term care facility for a while, you may choose to stay and receive end-of-life care there. You and your family may already have a relationship with staff who work there, which can help make the care feel more personalized than in a hospital.

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.