Long-Term Care: How to Pay for the Costs

January 25, 2019 Tim@inhometherapygr.com

Planning for your future healthcare needs is never easy. Few of us know exactly what we’ll require five or 10 years down the road. For seniors, this kind of planning is crucial. You want to think about your current health while considering all the things that you may need to pay for down the road. In some cases, preventative care may work in your favor, but you also need to make sure you’re prepared for the possibility of long-term care. Medicare can be a huge benefit for many seniors, but it doesn’t cover everything, meaning you could be left with massive medical bills should you require hospitalization.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to plan for your future. Long-term care insurance can help immensely, as can downsizing to a smaller home in order to save money. Taking good care of yourself now is another great way to prepare for your post-retirement years.

Keep reading for tips on how to plan ahead for long-term care and the costs associated with it.

Sign Up for Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance can be hugely beneficial when it comes to paying for hospital or nursing home stays during your senior years, but it’s a good idea to look for a plan as soon as possible. The younger you are when you find a good plan the better. Rates increase between 2 and 4 percent when you’re in your 50s and 6 to 8 percent when you’re age 60 and above. Many seniors don’t want to add another expense to their finances, but keep in mind that long-term care insurance can help you pay for many different things, from a hospital stay to home health care.

An Ounce of Prevention

Sometimes, the more you can do to prevent health issues, the better off you’ll be down the road. Paying for the cost of care is a lot more expensive than taking good care of yourself, so start thinking about the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. Reduce stress and anxiety, eat a well-balanced diet, exercise daily, and remove safety issues from your home. This might include trip hazards or anything that might cause a fall. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to ensure your safety and wellbeing in order to prevent any issues.

Downsize

Downsizing to a smaller home can be a big job, but for many seniors, it’s a great way to save money for future needs. At the same time, you’ll be taking steps to ensure that your surroundings are as safe as possible. A smaller home means less to take care of. Making the decision to downsize is one that will benefit you for years to come. Look for a home that already has modifications for easy mobility and accessibility — such as widened doorways — and set a budget that will help you save as much money as possible.

Use a Life Insurance Policy

If you have a life insurance policy with a cashout option, you may benefit from taking a payout. If you’re worried about not having the funds to pay for medical bills, having a lump sum put aside can help reduce that stress so you can focus on other things. Do some research into your policy to see what sort of penalties, if any, you might face for taking a loan against your plan.

Long-term care comes in many forms, but for most seniors, it’s almost always a financial strain if a good plan isn’t present. Think about what your future needs might be, talk to your doctor about the best ways to create a good plan, and start saving so you won’t be caught in a hard spot.

This was a special guest article by Hazel Bridges from AgingWellness. She can be reached at hazel@agingwellness.org.

4 Ways Your Mattress Is Affecting Your Health

December 27, 2018 Tim@inhometherapygr.com

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Given that we spend one-third of our lives sleeping (or, at least, trying to do so), it is amazing that most of us don’t really think about what we are sleeping on. Our mattress is a huge part of our everyday lives. As such, a good mattress allows us to enjoy a restful and invigorating sleep, setting us up for a productive and active day. A bad one, on the other hand, can come with a variety of health problems, both physical and mental.

Body Pains and Aches

If you have been experiencing chronic body pains, especially in your back, your mattress could be to blame. Poor spine support and alignment while you sleep can lead to recurring pain throughout the day. If it builds up into a chronic condition, it can also make it harder for you to fall asleep at night. Thus creating a cycle of poor sleep and exhaustion.

A common sign of mattress-related pain is if the ache is present when you wake up but goes away after some stretching. Restless sleep filled with tossing and turning is another sign. As your body wakes up in pain throughout the night and needs to adjust positions. If this matches your experience. It is probably time to get a new mattress designed to prevent back pain – here are the best ones on the market. While you can buy a mattress online, it’s usually a good idea to try one out in a store first to make sure it’s comfortable. Keep in mind that despite raving reviews, an inner coil mattress is one of the worst items you can put in the bedroom. The hidden metal coils create an electromagnetic field, interrupting your brain’s ability to stay rested for an extended period. This can hinder your efforts to get a good night’s sleep. Avoid these types of mattresses and opt for a memory foam model instead.

Tiredness

When a mattress is uncomfortable, it becomes difficult to get relaxed enough to fall asleep

A bad mattress may be the reason you are tired all the time. When a mattress is uncomfortable, it becomes difficult to get relaxed enough to fall asleep on it. Fatigue can then have additional negative effects on your mental health and your everyday life, from poor performance at work to an inability to go out and socialize with friends and family.

Illness

An old mattress is filled with a variety of contaminants that could be making you sick. According to CNN, mattresses are often covered in dust mite feces, dead skin, mold, and sweat, leaving behind various types of potentially harmful bacteria.

ince you can’t throw your mattress into the washing machine, you need to keep it as clean as you can. Ways to keep your mattress fresh include vacuuming (a handheld mattress vacuum might come in handy), deodorizing with baking soda, and airing it out regularly. Prevent mold and fungus by investing in a dehumidifier, and wash and change your bedding often.

The Environment

It’s not all about your personal health. Mattresses can affect the health of the planet as well, with 20 million of them ending up in landfills or incinerators every year. Whenever you choose to buy a new mattress, recycle your old one. About 80 percent of the components of a mattress are recyclable but not biodegradable, so when you recycle, you are doing the planet a big favor.

You can take apart the mattress yourself and look for recycling centers for recyclable parts like foam padding, cotton, steel springs, and wooden frames. An easier option is to use a dedicated mattress recycling service.

It’s time we all started focusing more on our mattresses and asking more of them. Most of these health concerns can develop into long-term chronic problems if ignored, so a lumpy, old, dirty, or just plain low-quality mattress is simply never worth it.

If you feel like your mattress may not be doing you much good, then it’s time to recycle it and move on to a model that will make you feel amazing in the morning. Mattresses can seem expensive, but a high-quality mattress is an investment in your health and well-being, which will last you for years to come. More importantly, it will make you wake up every morning with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

I would like to thank Jason Lewis from www.strongwell.org for writing this guest article. He can be reached at info@strongwell.org.

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