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Long Term Care is a reality that many of us may face someday - either personally, or for one of our family members.  Finding the right service can be difficult and confusing.

At the Cayuga County Long Term Care Office, our goal is to assist people with chronic care needs maintain their independence.  Members of our staff want to provide you with the information that will help you make informed choices about appropriate, cost-effective services.  Long Term Care can be very confusing and we are here to help you or your loved one receive the best care possible.  Our services include information and referral, intake and screening, our nurses will provide a complete in-home assessment or evaluation of your needs, care plan development, case management, community PRI assessment (screening for nursing home placement), and access to Medicaid homecare and Office for Aging programs such as caregiver support and respite and home care (EISEP).

The Cayuga County Long Term Care Office, with cooperative efforts between the Cayuga County Department of Health & Human Services and the Cayuga County Office For the Aging, is your one-stop place to help you find cost-effective, high quality Long Term Care.

Many of us, when considering Long Term Care, automatically assume "Nursing Home" is the option.  Long Term Care consists of many different options.

Long Term Care is the type of assistance someone needs on a regular basis due to a chronic illness, a physical and/or a mental disability.  It generally consists of help with activities of every day living such as bathing, and dressing, and may include the services of a nurse.  In many instances, this type of care can be provided in the home by family members and friends or care providers.  Sometimes, the individual may need more care and supervision than can be provided at home.  For these individuals, there are a range of residential options available from adult homes to skilled nursing facilities.
 

It is a common misconception that Medicare will pay for this type of care.  While short-term recovery and rehabilitative needs may be covered under Medicare, it does not generally cover the needs due to a chronic condition.

Medicaid is the safety-net program designed to ensure that the financially destitute receive the medical services they require.  While the majority of skilled nursing facility residents are covered by Medicaid, most have had to spend-down their financial assets in order to qualify for the coverage.  For many, this is an emotionally distressing process which leaves them feeling dependent and vulnerable.  For those who choose to shelter assets to qualify for Medicaid, new rules will make it harder to do this as lawmakers attempt to limit Medicaid to the truly needy.

Advance Long Term Care planning can help take the shock out of paying for care in your later years.  By talking with a trained consultant, individuals, couples and families can look at their potential needs, assess their financial situation, consider informal supports and professional services available in our community, and lay out a plan to access and pay for long term care services in the future.  For some, long term care insurance may be a tool to help ensure independence and choice when the need for long term care services arises.

The Cayuga County Long Term Care Insurance Education and Outreach Program is on place where county residents can go to get individualized, unbiased help with their long term care financial planning questions.  There are books, consumer guides, pamphlets, worksheets and other resources to use, as well as the expertise of a staff person trained and knowledgeable in long term care issues.  While the program does offer information about long term care insurance, a variety of planning options are reviewed.

Be prepared for a shock when viewing Estimated Long Term Care costs now and in the future for individuals from the ages of 50 - 65.  These are figures that you will be looking at to pay for long term care costs.

When people think of Long Term Care, their first thought is often a "Nursing Home".  Although nursing homes are a long term care facility, there are many other types of facilities that provide long term care as well.  Listed below are types of facilities that you may also consider when searching and/or choosing a facility.

If you are unable to determine which facility may be right for you or your loved one, our office will assist you in choosing the right facility that will meet the patient's needs.
 

Yes.  Cayuga County has a number of facilities.  To view available facilities, click on the link below for a complete listing of the facilities described above.

When considering a facility for yourself or a family member, there are many things that one should think about.  Listed below are some things to think about and ask yourself:

• Is an in-home assessment needed?
   
• Explore all of your options - do not rule out home care or senior citizen housing.
   
• Know and understand the needs of the patient.
   
• Know and understand the difference between each type of facility.
   
• Which facility will be most appropriate for the needs of the patient?
   
• Visit, tour, explore, meet the staff and residents of the facility.
   
• As a general rule, health insurance and Medicare do not pay for long term residential care.  If you are a veteran, check with your local Veteran's office for further information.
   

When choosing a facility for yourself or a family member, you want to be able to choose the facility that will best suit that person's needs.  Visiting a facility will help you make a sound decision for the long term care that you or your loved one may need, therefore preparing for the visit is equally important.  You may have many questions to ask, and there is no better time to have them answered, than on a facility visit.  The following is a list of questions that you may want to ask on your visit:

• Is there a waiting list to enter the facility?  If so, how long?
   
• How are you licensed?
   
• How does the facility choose the order of admissions?  Running list?  Need?
   
• Can the resident bring personal items, such as furniture or other possessions?
   
• Can the family take the resident out of the facility for the day or a longer period of time?
   
• Is there phone accessibility to the resident to make and/or receive phone calls?
   
• Can the family bring special food items to the resident?
   
• Is there a facility physician?  If not, is there transportation available through the facility for the resident to go to various doctor's appointments?
   
• Will facility staff accompany residents to their appointments?
   
• Are there special programs available?  (Special programs may include physical therapy or mental health.) If so, what types of programs do you offer?  If not, what kinds of arrangements are made by the facility for the patient to attend these specialize programs, if needed?
   
• What happens if the resident no longer meets the criteria of the facility appropriateness?
   
• What happens if the resident is hospitalized?
   
• What is included in the daily costs?  Are medications, doctor visits, or oxygen included?
   
• If funds are no longer available by the resident, due the facility costs, does the facility accept Medicaid?
   
• When was your last inspection?  Do you have an available inspection report for viewing?