Long-Term Care Planning and Resources

The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program provides free and unbiased health insurance counseling to elders and individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. SHINE wants to remind you about the importance of planning for long-term care. Researching your options, choosing the type of care desired, preparing financially and informing/involving your loved ones will make your transition much more smoothly. Long-term care services involves skilled nursing, custodial and hospice or palliative care. Did you know that long-term care activities of daily living in a home, community, or facility will not be covered by Medicare?

Having a great checklist is helpful; and understanding all of the resources available will be key to the planning process. Did you know there are Federal or State programs such as: VA, Federal & Uniformed Services; the CARES, Ombudsman, and partnership programs; along with other resources that can guide a beneficiary and loved ones through the process. There is a self-assessment guide, a consumer guide; steps on choosing a nursing home or other long-term care providers, a shoppers guide for choosing long term care insurance and ideas on how to use your home to stay at home. It is also important to share your wishes with family members about future medical care, therefore, having advance directives, living wills, health care proxies, Five Wishes, and POA's in place are key to preparing for future health care needs.

Resources are available at your fingertips, all you need to know is where to find it. Let us be your resource connection!