TAUNTON COUNCIL ON AGING, 30 OLNEY STREET, TAUNTON, MA
TELEPHONE: 508-821-1425
Long Term Care - Long Term Care is when a person requires someone else to help him/her with his/her physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time. This help may be required for many of the activities or needs that healthy, active people take for granted and may include such things as: walking, bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, helping with incontinence, managing pain, preventing unsafe behavior, preventing wandering, feeding, doing laundry, personal hygiene, administering medications and physical or occupational therapy.
The need for long-term care help might be due to a terminal condition, disability, illness, injury or the infirmity of old age. The need for long-term care may only last for a few weeks or months or it may go on for years. It is dependent on the underlying reasons for needing care.
LONG TERM CARE - PAYMENT OPTIONS
Long Term Care Insurance - Long- Term Care Insurance is a type of private health insurance that provides benefits to cover some of the costs of services you might need if you develop a chronic illness or cognitive impairment. Long-term care insurance can protect personal assets and inheritance for the family, provide greater choice in the selection of long term care settings (nursing and assisted living facilities) and generally provide for financial security.
Medicare - Medicare pays very little of all long-term care costs.
Skilled Nursing Facility Benefit: After you have been in a hospital for at least three days, Medicare may pay for your care while you recover in a certified skilled nursing facility. It will only pay for up to 100 days, and you are responsible for a daily co-payment for every day in the nursing home between the 21st and the 100th day. (These co-payments may be covered by your Medigap health insurance plan).
Home Health Benefit: If you are confined to your home, require skilled care for an injury or an illness and meet other specific criteria, Medicare can pay in full for services provided by a Medicare certified Home Health care agency. Your doctor must determine that you need home health care and set up a plan of care for you.
Long Term Care Mass Health - The Massachusetts Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, is administered by the state Division of Medical Assistance. MassHealth does pay for nursing home care and some home and community-based services for certain income-eligible people living in Massachusetts. To be eligible for MassHealth and receive long-term care services, you must meet state and federal eligibility rules.
Veteran's Benefits - If you are a Veteran, you may be eligible for some long-term care services in a Veterans Administration facility. To find out whether you would be eligible for assistance, contact your local Veteran's Services Department.
LONG TERM CARE
Information on Long Term Care Insurance - Additional information on Long Term Care Insurance can be obtained by calling the Massachusetts Division of Insurance at 617-521-7794. Also, Bristol Elder Services, Inc., our Area Agency on Aging and Aging Services Access Point, have individuals, on staff, that have been trained in long-term care information. The contact number for Bristol Elder Services is 508-675-2101.
Information on Medicare - Questions regarding general information about Medicare can be answered by calling 1-800-633-4227. Health insurance counselors are available, by appointment, at the Taunton Council on Aging to help Taunton seniors with any additional questions or concerns they may have regarding Medicare.
Information on Long Term Mass Health - The local MassHealth office is located on 15 Spring Street, Taunton, MA 02780 or you can call 1-800-841-2900 or 508-884-5300. Application assistance is available at the Taunton Council on Aging. Seniors are requested to call the office at 508-821-1425 to make an appointment with a SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) counselor.
Information on Veteran's Benefits - Taunton Senior Veteran's can contact the Veteran's Service Department, City Hall, 15 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780
Telephone: 508-821-1038
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