Each year Genworth surveys nearly 15,000 long term care providers in 440 regions nationwide to determine the cost of long-term care in the United States. The resulting details can inform consumers regarding costs and help them plan to be able to receive long-term care in their preferred location and care setting.
This past week Genworth issued its survey report for 2014.
What is Long-Term Care
Long-term care refers to the types of assistance you may need if you have a prolonged physical illness, disability or severe cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer’s disease) that keeps you from living independently. These limitations may prevent you from carrying out basic self-care tasks, such as bathing, dressing or eating, called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). And you may need assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), including meal preparation, money management, house cleaning, medication management, and transportation.
About 70 percent of people age 65 or older will need long-term care services and supports at some point in their lifetime.
Unfortunately, the costs of long-term care services and supports are typically not covered by Medicare or other health insurance. It can easily bankrupt the recipient and destroy a family’s financial security. [Of course, the impacts when a family member needs long-term care extend far beyond dollars, affecting the careers, personal and emotional lives of caregivers. See the related Genworth Report: Beyond Dollars for more on these impacts.]
The Genworth survey and related resources provide locally based cost of care information that can help families understand, prepare for, and perhaps limit the potentially catastrophic impacts of long-term care.
Care Costs for Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Hazleton
Long-term care is provided in a variety of settings. Costs vary by setting and by location. The Genworth survey provides a list of costs incurred in various settings in each state. The methodology used is described here.
A separate cost of care resource can be used to dig down into costs on a local basis. The report lists costs of care for 18 separate local areas including State College Bloomsburg, Williamsport and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton. The median annual costs for various services in the Williamsport and the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton areas are as follows:
Homemaker Services
$43,472 Williamsport
$43,472 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Home Health Aide Services
$43,472 Â Williamsport
$45,760 Â Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Adult Day Health Care
$26,125 Williamsport
$16,900 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Assisted Living Facility
$35,280 Williamsport
$27,360 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Nursing Home (semi-private room)
$100,624 Williamsport
$96,725 Â Â Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Nursing Home (private room)
$108,624 Williamsport
$99,280Â Â Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton
Facility based costs continue to increase more rapidly than home care costs. This has been a long-term trend. But costs for both facility and home care are staggering.
Planning, preparation, and expert assistance are more important than ever. Pennsylvania residents can meet with an elder law attorney at Marshall, Parker and Weber to set up a plan that will help protect you and your family.
