06-22-2022 Primetime Livnig - Flipbook - Page 16
16 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, June 22, 2022
CONTINUING CARE
Continuing care
at home now
available in
Maryland
New program can supplement
or replace long-term
care insurance
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
A
cross the U.S., there is a new national movement gaining traction by provid- really don’t want to move to another locaing continuing care at home (CCaH) to make aging in place not only possible,
but easily implemented. The Wesley at Home (https://thewesleyathome.org/),
a new continuing care at home program, is in its final step of the registration process
to begin serving members in Baltimore City and Baltimore County this summer. It will
join 37 existing programs (so far) throughout the country that respond to the needs of a
large percentage of the population – 77% of those over 50, according to AARP – who
prefer this option to any other.
In a study that appeared in Health
Affairs (www.healthaffairs.org), it states,
“Health problems, cognitive decline and
mobility limitations that become more
common with aging often result in older
people struggling to live independently.” It
goes on to say, “seniors generally have a
desire to live and receive care in the least
institutional and most homelike setting
possible.”
Obviously, there are a lot of choices,
such as continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) that provide progressive options from independent living to
assisted living to memory care and hospice, along with various activities and
amenities. But Medicare does not pay for
long-term care should you require it. For
that, you are the responsible party.
And, if you’re like most seniors, you
tion. Imagine a continuing care retirement
community that’s custom designed just for
you, providing care in your home, where
you’d probably prefer to stay. That’s what
CCaH is all about.
Amanda Young, executive director of
The Wesley at Home, explains why you
should choose continuing care at home.
“It’s the best of both worlds. I’ve been in
the CCaH industry for seven years and
this allows you to secure a plan for personalized care in your home as you age
while keeping your options open. If you
decide to move, you can take the plan anywhere you want. You could even choose a
retirement community because most don’t
include the cost of care. I’ve known members who have moved out of the area to be
closer to family or decided on a retirement
community. The plan stays with you wherever you go.”
But what about long term care insurance? Ron Jacobson, LTCP, owns MediHealth, Inc. (https://medi-health.net/) and
specializes in insurance products like
Medicare supplements, long term care,
and home health care protections. He
compared CCaH to Long Term Care
Insurance (LTCI). “If you purchased LTCI
25 or 30 years ago as part of your life
insurance, you probably paid a reasonable
amount of money for it. Buying it today,
though, is incredibly expensive, requires
underwriting, and comes with an elimination period, usually 90 days. It may also
have a term limit depending on the policy.”
Something else to keep in mind is that LTCI
gives you money, but not the actual care.
For that, you’re on your own. It’s included
with CCaH.
What CCaH Includes
The Wesley at Home describes itself
as “a self-funded Long Term Care benefit,
focusing on aging in the home, plus preventive wellness within the community. “In
Respite care,
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