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Below you will find helpful information, both for seniors and their loved ones.  Please feel free to download these brochures by clicking on the picture of the information you are interested in.

Healthcare Reform and How It Affects Seniors

Long-Term Care and How It Affects Seniors

Understanding Veterans Benefits: A Guide for Seniors

This guide was created in order to answer some of the most often-asked questions about the new healthcare reform bill, titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. Topics covered include:

• How will my Medicare benefits change?
• What happens to my Medicare Part D coverage?
• How are my income taxes affected?
• What new assistance is available for long-term care?
• How are seniors protected against abuse under health care reform?
• Is there a timeline for when all these take effect?
• Where can I go for more information?

About 70 percent of people over the age 65 require long-term care services to some extent, and the likelihood of needing care increases even more as you age. Yet the cost of long-term care often exceeds what the average person can pay from their income and other government programs. It is important for everyone, including seniors, their families and those professionals who work with them, to understand and plan ahead for long-term care. Information within includes:

• The importance of long-term care
• What options for services are available
• The costs associated with long-term care
• How to determine whether long-term care insurance is right for you
• Tools and guides to help you set up a plan

The Society of Certified Senior Advisors has created a new indispensable guide to help senior citizens and their families obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This user-friendly and comprehensive guide contains a wide breadth of practical tips and valuable resources to save you time in navigating the maze of veterans benefits. This guide also provides a wealth of references to appropriate agencies for more information on eligibility and the application process. Topics covered within include:

• A review of medical and health benefits
• The difference between compensation and pensions
• What’s available for geriatric and long-term care
• Little known benefits including re-employment and unemployment
• A list of resources for seniors and their families

The Consumers Guide to Home Safety for Seniors

The Consumers Guide to Senior Housing

State of the Senior Housing Industry Report

Remaining independent in your home often requires some adjustments or improvements so your home is a safe environment that allows you to function better and more comfortably. All of the possible precautions that can be taken in creating a safe environment for the senior should be considered and changed if necessary. Inside this guide, you will find the following useful information:

• An overview of senior-focused home improvements
• The top 11 home improvements that seniors have made to their homes
• What equipment is and is not covered by Medicare
• Tips for finding the right contractor to make improvements to your home
• And much more

Locating the best senior housing solution for your loved one encompasses factors from financial limitations, lifestyle goals, level of care needed and the amount of familial support. The Senior Housing Guide provides a detailed look at these factors and offers steps for putting together a senior housing plan that will give the individual the highest quality of life. Understand what is involved in making an informed and confident decision when faced with these often-times confusing issues.

• Planning ahead for how you or a loved one will live in future years.
• Determining goals and lifestyle preferences for the optimal senior housing environment.
• Evaluating cost vs. value for current and future housing options.
• Assessing an individual’s need for care that support safety and quality of life.
• Checklists for comparing in-home and facility care options
• Guides on questions to ask when evaluating care options
• And much more

As professionals in the senior housing industry plan for what the future looks like, the rules of the past may not apply to this new generation of seniors. We are now seeing the largest flood of people in history entering the senior citizen ranks. This generation has already shown signs of not following their predecessors in the products and services they desire. They will work longer, prefer to age-in-place and desire more active retirement scenarios. For professionals working in the senior market, it's vital to understand how this impacts the future of senior housing. This guide provides important information to help senior housing industry professionals understand the retirement goals of senior citizens and to forecast a solid plan for future company growth. Important information includes:

• New laws affecting senior housing
• Market statistics and highlights
• Survey report from senior home builders
• Industry statistics and trends by consumer viewpoint
• Sales and marketing research
• And much more

Robin L. O'Brien, CSA

•Contact us at 616-633-5717• Email robin@helpathomecares.com

In-home senior care serving clients in West Michigan and the Greater Grand Rapids area.