There are many housing options for seniors, from living independently at home or in a retirement community to those who opt for a bit more help at an assisted living facility. Board and care homes and nursing homes are two other options that often are more budget-friendly for those living on a fixed income. Facilities for seniors are becoming more and more common as the huge generation of Baby Boomers enters their 60s and 70s. Here are a few eldercare facts about which you might be unaware.
More than 13% of our population is comprised by Americans older than 65, and that percentage should continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into their golden years. Perhaps they are known as the golden years because of how much it costs to pay for all the medical expenses associated with aging. In generally, older Americans spend an average of $15,000 per year on medical expenses.
While assisted living communities can be a great option for seniors, the cost is often prohibitive for many Americans. It costs about $3,000 on average to pay for a one-bedroom apartment at an assisted living facility. This adds up to about $36,000 per year for housing, and these costs are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Still, these facilities do have a lot to offer for active seniors who need just a little help with day to day tasks.
A nursing home, which also is known as a skilled nursing facility, is the most realistic eldercare for more than one million Americans. Eldercare is quite expensive and even a room in a nursing home can cost more than $75,000 per year, although much of that expense can be covered by Medicaid. This assistance is what makes nursing home care an option for many seniors. In addition, many seniors also need daily medical care and rehabilitative services, both of which can be provided at a nursing home. Of course, these nursing homes have long had the reputation of being depressing and lonely. This can certainly be true, but the companies that manage nursing homes often work very hard to avoid an austere, medicinal dcor and also to provide social activities.
When possible, many seniors prefer in-home care, and this might be having a nurse come into your home or someone who can help with tasks such as grooming, dressing, bathing, shopping and meal preparation. Of course, these tasks are often taken on by family members, and it is estimated that there are more 40 million Americans caring for an elderly parent. There are more than 1.3 million Americans who have in-home caregivers, and this number is expected to rise considerably in the next few years. While there are plenty of jobs, the pay is fairly low, hovering around $21,000 per year for those who provide care that is not medical. Those with nursing degrees do make considerably higher salaries, ranging from about $28,000 to more than $60,000, depending on the level of education.
Finding an eldercare option can be a daunting task, but there are companies out there that specialize in matching seniors to an assisted living community, skilled nursing facility or other type of eldercare option that suits their unique needs. They will take into consideration your care needs, medical needs and budget and create a list of places that match this criteria. From there, you can visit these facilities and choose the one at which you will be the most comfortable.
More than 13% of our population is comprised by Americans older than 65, and that percentage should continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into their golden years. Perhaps they are known as the golden years because of how much it costs to pay for all the medical expenses associated with aging. In generally, older Americans spend an average of $15,000 per year on medical expenses.
While assisted living communities can be a great option for seniors, the cost is often prohibitive for many Americans. It costs about $3,000 on average to pay for a one-bedroom apartment at an assisted living facility. This adds up to about $36,000 per year for housing, and these costs are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Still, these facilities do have a lot to offer for active seniors who need just a little help with day to day tasks.
A nursing home, which also is known as a skilled nursing facility, is the most realistic eldercare for more than one million Americans. Eldercare is quite expensive and even a room in a nursing home can cost more than $75,000 per year, although much of that expense can be covered by Medicaid. This assistance is what makes nursing home care an option for many seniors. In addition, many seniors also need daily medical care and rehabilitative services, both of which can be provided at a nursing home. Of course, these nursing homes have long had the reputation of being depressing and lonely. This can certainly be true, but the companies that manage nursing homes often work very hard to avoid an austere, medicinal dcor and also to provide social activities.
When possible, many seniors prefer in-home care, and this might be having a nurse come into your home or someone who can help with tasks such as grooming, dressing, bathing, shopping and meal preparation. Of course, these tasks are often taken on by family members, and it is estimated that there are more 40 million Americans caring for an elderly parent. There are more than 1.3 million Americans who have in-home caregivers, and this number is expected to rise considerably in the next few years. While there are plenty of jobs, the pay is fairly low, hovering around $21,000 per year for those who provide care that is not medical. Those with nursing degrees do make considerably higher salaries, ranging from about $28,000 to more than $60,000, depending on the level of education.
Finding an eldercare option can be a daunting task, but there are companies out there that specialize in matching seniors to an assisted living community, skilled nursing facility or other type of eldercare option that suits their unique needs. They will take into consideration your care needs, medical needs and budget and create a list of places that match this criteria. From there, you can visit these facilities and choose the one at which you will be the most comfortable.
About the Author:
Kristana Jenson loves reading home health care blogs. To get more details about assisted living Valley Center facilities or for help finding board and care Vista services, please check out the Care Placement site today.
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