Helping Seniors Transition from Independence What is Senior Sabotage? Admiration for Their Strength The generation of people who are claiming LTC benefits today are strong, independent people. They’ve lived through hard times and pulled themselves up “by their boot-straps.” They do not complain, and they do not discuss weakness. Certainly, they do not easily admit when they need help. While their strength can be admired, this reluctance to discuss care needs can make gauging our parents’ health and well-being problematic. Many seniors don’t want to burden their loved ones. Often seniors will only discuss what is going well in their lives, without admitting the whole truth about their
medical or financial situations. Consequently, adult children are often caught totally unaware of how desperate their parents’ care needs are.
Difficulty Asking for Help This reluctance to ask for help is sometimes referred to as Senior Sabotage. It is easy to understand why it happens. Imagine how embarrassing and difficult it would be to sit in front of your children and admit you need help using the toilet, remembering appointments, or tying your own shoes. Now imagine what the process must be like for a frail or cognitively impaired senior.
How does Senior Sabotage Impact LTCI Claims? Senior Sabotage is a common problem families face when trying to claim benefits for their parents’ care. Many seniors disqualify themselves from much needed benefits or services by inaccurately representing their care needs to medical and financial professionals. As part of opening an LTC claim insurers frequently order assessments, conducted by third party nurses, to evaluate the caregiving needs of the individuals. Unfortunately, seniors frequently misrepresent their needs during an assessment. Whether seniors are reluctant to admit they need help, do not realize the consequence of answering a question inaccurately, or simply do not understand the questions being asked of them, the outcome is the same. A vulnerable senior often receives vastly inadequate care or is denied benefits entirely. The result is an unnecessary crisis for seniors and their families.
What is a Care Advocate? A care advocate is a powerful ally during an assessment. A care advocate is a professional geriatric social worker, called a Geriatric Care Manager, who is also familiar with the insurance industry. The care advocate works with seniors and their families during the assessment process. They explain the purpose and procedures of the assessment, clarify confusing questions, and help present a complete and accurate picture of the senior’s care needs to the assessor. Placing a care advocate in the room during the assessment can significantly reduce the risk of senior sabotage. Care Advocacy protects seniors, ensuring them a fair and accurate assessment. By putting a Care Advocate on the care team, seniors receive the benefits they need for their care, and families avoid an unnecessary crisis.
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