LTC 101: Overview Providers- Cost - Duration of Care

Return to LTC-Guide

Much of Home Care is provided by family and friends.  Home Care services provided by an agency can assist the patient in dressing, bathing, transferring, toileting and eating.  They can cue the patient when it's time to take their medication.  Home care givers are prohibited in performing assistance in taking medication such as giving injections or providing medical support.

Patients who receive proper care at home will delay or even prevent the necessity of a long term facility stay.   

 Assisted Living is the next level of care.  Two types of Residential Care Facilities are Board and Care, and Assisted Living Facilities. They provide a secure style of living, offering housekeeping, and meal and social services in an independent setting.  Residents can also receive assistance with, bathing, dressing and transferring.  ALF's can also provide supervision for the residents with cognitive problems.

The following illustrates how cost of care can vary depending on Location, Location, Location.

Hourly Care Giver services at home are between $20-$25 an hour requiring a minimum of 4 hrs. 6 hrs of supervision at home 5 days a week can cost $2,400 to $3,000 a month

Assisted living with 6 to 9 services (activities of daily living) provided (Standard) $3,200 a month With Nursing Home semi-private room average cost in CA being $260 a day would be $7,800  a month or $93,600 a year. 

The STRESS of caring for a spouse or a parent is huge, and impossible to calculate.  However we can look at the financial impact.

 The following illustration shows LTCi claims in the year 2009.

Fact is the 70% of those 65 or older will require LTC assistance.   54% will require more than a year of care, with the average claim duration being 3.8 years.  

 Genworth Claims Experience 2010