Planning for long-term care in Georgia is a sensitive matter, and may include making arrangements on behalf of a loved one in order to meet his or her personal needs. The financial outlay to receive long-term care may require as much as $300,000, an amount which does not include premiums for an insurance policy, as reported by the New York Times.
Not only is it important to think about a relative’s overall health and well-being, what family members should also consider is how to obtain the best return and results for the cost of the care. The high costs of expensive long-term elder health care may not accomplish much good if the recipient resides in a poorly run facility.
Senate report reveals Georgia has nine troubled nursing homes
A recent U.S. Senate report revealed that some nursing homes and assisted living facilities are failing to meet the requirements set by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. There are standards of care and protections that each nursing home in the nation must adhere to in order to qualify for financial assistance. As reported by Georgia Health News, nine nursing homes in the Peach State are listed as candidates for entry into the federal government’s “Special Focus Facility’’ program.
What the Special Focus Facility program does
A poorly run facility qualifying for the government’s SFF program must improve its operations and undergo frequent inspections. The majority of facilities in the SFF program bring their care up to the required level and correct problems before long. If not, the facility may be subject to fines or disqualified from receiving Medicaid and Medicare funding. In some cases, a facility may receive an extension of time to correct its care issues if the inspections demonstrate sufficient progress.
Due diligence aids in finding a suitable long-term care facility
Overall, it may be best to exercise due diligence in the selection of a long-term facility. Personal visits made at different times of the day can help provide a more realistic overview of the type of care provided. Consulting with the families of residents may also shed light on the quality of care. Planning ahead is important, and doing so may prevent unexpected pitfalls that could negatively affect the hoped-for quality of care.