You saw some newspaper ads. You got invited to a couple of events. They piqued your interest. So you did a little casual internet research in your free time. You only briefly searched terms like “benefits of LifeCare® communities” and “what’s the difference between senior living communities.”

And you’ve got thoughts and opinions.

You figure all senior living communities are the same. The benefits of a LifeCare® community are really no different than any other senior living community, you think. And while you didn’t click on and read many search results — OK, you didn’t read any results, until you came across this blog post — you don’t see what the big deal is about LifeCare®. 

Whoa. If you don’t see what the big deal is, then we have some serious explaining to do. 

Because understanding the benefits of LifeCare® is important. It’s so important that fully knowing all the advantages could make the difference in how you experience the rest of your life. 

So give this article 10 minutes of your time. We’ll explain four benefits of choosing a LifeCare® community. We’ll even share one possible drawback behind choosing a LifeCare community. And if we don’t fully explain why LifeCare® is the best option in senior living — and change your thoughts and opinions in the process — then we wholeheartedly invite you to contact us and tell us so.

Benefit #1: You’re Guaranteed Care for Life

LifeCare® isn’t a community; it’s a contract. And it’s considered the gold standard of all types of contracts you might come across. When you move in as an independent living resident, you’ll pay a higher entrance fee and a higher monthly service fee than other contracts usually require at other senior living communities. 

That may sound like a drawback right off the bat, but it’s really a benefit: if you need a higher level of care — assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing or rehabilitation —  you have unlimited lifetime access to that care. Your monthly fee won’t increase dramatically if you need a higher level of care, because you’re guaranteed to pay far less than market-rate costs. So not only will you always know where you’ll get care; you’ll know who’ll provide it to you and how much it will cost.

One more thing to note: Your entrance fee is 80% refundable to you or your estate. How’s that for estate preservation?

Benefit #2: You and Your Spouse Will Have Numerous Options and Remarkable Flexibility

Let’s say you and your spouse are both independent living residents. At some point down the road, your spouse needs a higher level of care, but you don’t. At a LifeCare® community like Pomperaug Woods, for example, you may opt for home assisted living. As Pomperaug Woods residents, you’re able to stay in your independent living apartment; your spouse receives assisted living services as needed, right in the comfort and privacy of your independent living residence. You both have the reassurance that round-the-clock personal assistance and medical care supervision are just outside your apartment door.

If your spouse needs more care than home assisted living can provide, your spouse can then move into memory care or skilled nursing, both right on campus at Pomperaug Woods. You remain in your independent living apartment. Depending on certain factors such as what you’re currently paying for your monthly service fee, the only added cost you may incur is for additional meals for your spouse. Your entrance fee is what helps to keep your costs predictable.

Benefit #3: There May Be Tax Advantages to a LifeCare® Contract

That’s right: The IRS has ruled that entrance fees and monthly service fees may be tax-deductible. Why? They’re considered medical expenses. According to tax experts, the justification for the medical expense deduction is based on the community’s obligation to provide care to its residents along with the cost for the community to provide that care. 

You might be able to receive a tax break for paying medical bills that exceed a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income, while your entrance fee may qualify as a prepaid long-term care cost. As with anything involving taxes, consult with your tax advisor to see if you’re eligible for such benefits.

Benefit #4: Even If You Run Out of Money, You Won’t Ever Have to Leave the Community

If you choose a nonprofit LifeCare® community like Pomperaug Woods, you have a place to live, for life, even if you outlive your financial resources. So basically, if you can’t pay your monthly service fee, you still have a home in the community and you’re still entitled to priority access to the community’s healthcare services for life. Your family won’t have to figure out how to pay your bills so you can keep your residency, which will certainly give you and your family significant peace of mind.

Now For That One Possible Drawback

Finding the right LifeCare® community that meets your and your spouse’s wants and needs today and for the rest of your lives can take time. You’ll spend time researching communities, and then visiting them to make sure they feel like the perfect fit. You’ll have to do a deeper dive in terms of your residence options, the services and amenities, common spaces and social opportunities, but also the quality and levels of healthcare you may need one day. It can seem a little like the prince trying to find the girl whose foot perfectly fits the glass slipper. 

Here’s why this may not really be a drawback: You can start with Pomperaug Woods.

It’s the only not-for-profit LifeCare® senior living community in Southbury, CT. It offers you independent living along with the full continuum of care. The community is managed by Life Care Services®, An LCS Company, which has been named #1 in customer satisfaction with senior living communities two years in a row by none other than J.D. Power and Associates.

Pomperaug Woods is so confident you’ll love living there that they have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re not satisfied and want to move out within one year of moving in, your entrance fee will be returned in full.So now, if we’ve assuaged your thoughts and swayed your opinions, may we cordially invite you to do one more thing? Contact us to learn more. We can answer any additional questions you may have or set up your personal tour of Pomperaug Woods.

Where should you go for short-term rehabilitation after a hospital discharge? The kind of care setting depends a great deal on the physical condition of the patient both before and after hospitalization, the nature of care that will be needed, and whether short-term or long-term care is more appropriate.  

If it’s your loved one who will be in hospital, find out how their condition will change and what activities they may need help with. If equipment such as a wheelchair, walker, commode or oxygen are required, these will need to be rented or purchased, and if someone needs to help with transportation, meals and chores, these will have to be arranged. Don’t leave it to the last minute to find out what may be needed. Talk to the doctor upon admittance to the hospital to allow plenty of time to make arrangements.

Planning a smooth transition.

Proper discharge planning plays an important role in a senior’s recovery. It helps family caregivers prepare to take over a loved one’s care and improves health outcomes for the person being discharged, whether they’re moving to a new care setting or going home. Proper after-care also decreases the chances of a person being readmitted to hospital.

Despite the importance of discharge planning, there’s a surprising lack of consistency in the process and quality of discharge planning in the healthcare system. Patients are released “quicker and sicker” than in the past. There may not always be a team approach, even for the most complicated health conditions. You might interact with a doctor and nurses in one setting, and a case manager or a social worker in another, all of whom are operating under different timelines and with different objectives.

While the situation isn’t always ideal, it’s important to stay proactive and fully apprised of what’s going on, so you can make the best choices for yourself or a loved one.

Here are some questions to ask:

• Who will do the evaluation for discharge or post-hospital care?
• Can the senior’s spouse or family member be present at the evaluation?
• What is the plan for the patient to go home or to be transferred to another care facility?
• What is the process for referrals if one is  needed?
• How long will the recovery process take?
• Are follow-up appointments or tests necessary? With whom and when?
• Does the family or other caregiver need special training to support the senior?
• What are symptoms or potential problems to watch for?
• What are the correct dosages and times to take the medication?
• Are there side effects to medication to be aware of?
• What needs to be done in case questions arise or in an emergency?
• What therapies will be needed to restore physical function?
• Does someone need to be in attendance 24/7?
• Will the senior need help with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and personal care)
• What services will Medicare or health insurance pay for?

Do These Three Things:

If you’re not able to get everything sorted out right away, at least ensure you:

1. Know whom to call — any time of the day or night — in case of an emergency.
2. Set a follow-up appointment before you leave the hospital.
3. Check pre-hospital and post-hospital medications to see that there are no errors, omissions or duplications.  

Getting Help at Home.

You have a choice of hiring an individual health professional directly or going through a home health agency. In either case, you must ensure the person who enters your home has cleared background checks and is a licensed medical professional. If you use a home health care agency, it’s more likely they’ll handle the paperwork for taxes, salary and so forth, or arrange a substitute if the worker is ill. 

Your home health care aide will carry out a specific task ordered by the doctor during their visit. This could be giving an injection, managing wound care, monitoring vitals, or administering therapy or taking you through an exercise program. If the therapist only comes a few times a week, you’d have to be self-motivated in continuing with rehabilitation activities when they’re not around. You’ll certainly feel more comfortable at home, but unless you regularly get visitors, you may be cut off from social interaction if you’re not able to get to your usual activities.

Inpatient Care at a Senior Rehabilitation Center.

Inpatient rehabilitation services for seniors can be found at stand-alone facilities, and in senior living communities with assisted living or skilled nursing facilities.  

A senior rehabilitation center provides skilled professional care designed to help those recovering after a serious injury, debilitating disease or major surgery. Seniors admitted for short-term rehabilitation are cared for by a team that may consist of a doctor, nursing staff and/or therapists. Their condition is evaluated, and their goals taken into account for a personalized plan of care. Treatment can reduce and manage pain, restore strength and mobility; intensive care may include physical, occupational or speech therapy, or a combination of all three. Care is delivered by licensed, professional therapists in the patient’s suite or in a therapy center on campus. For those needing assistance with activities of daily living, skilled nursing and medical care are available around the clock.

Long-term rehabilitation helps those with severe health conditions needing 24/7 care. For example, after a stroke, a person may need to stay several months in order to regain their strength or mobility, or adapt to changes in their speech or vision. They may need constant, round-the-clock care for several months. 

Inpatient care may include meals prepared to a person’s post-hospital dietary needs, along with easy access to therapeutic amenities such as pool or fitness center. Since the rehabilitation center is housed within a community, there’s opportunity to engage with residents and other patients in a social setting. 

Differences Between Home Care and Inpatient Rehabilitation.

According to the Genworth cost of care survey for Connecticut, the average median cost of a semiprivate room in a skilled nursing facility is $12,927, and the average monthly rate for a home health aide is $4,767. The costs speak for themselves, but there are other factors to consider when making a decision between home care and in-patient care. A study of 1.7 million Medicare hospitalizations confirmed that patients discharged to home health care paid less, but were readmitted to hospital at a higher rate than those who were discharged to a skilled nursing facility. The 24-hour care provided in skilled nursing facilities prevented complications that led to rehospitalization for the home care patients.

At a glance: The differences  

	Home Health Care	Senior Rehabilitation Center
Setting	Familiar and comfortable	Comfortable. Homelike  or institutional, depending on the community.
Cost	Lower	Higher
24-hour and emergency care	No	Yes
Adapted for disability	Modifications (ramps, stairlift etc.) may be needed in the home.	Environment is already adapted for patient needs.
Guests	Visits at any time	Scheduled visiting hours
Infection risk	Sanitation carried out by the homeowner or other family members.	Sanitation protocols carried out by staff members according to state/facility standards.
Access to therapy services	According to the therapist’s schedule. Substitution may not be available if the therapist cancels a session at the last minute.	Scheduled to suit patient’s needs and preferences. Team of therapists ensure that no sessions are missed.
Special equipment: wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen, etc.	Need to be rented or purchased	Provided for patient
Care plan	Personalized care plan. Patient needs self-motivation to continue therapy/exercises when therapist isn’t present.	Personalized care plan. The patient follows a set schedule of therapy with their therapist or nurse.
Socialization/activities	Limited by access to transportation	Easily accessible within the community
Insurance coverage	24/7 home care isn’t  covered by Medicare	Some rehabilitation services may be covered by Medicare.

You Don’t Need to Live Here 

The specialized senior rehabilitation and therapy services we offer at Pomperaug Woods will help you get back to your best self as quickly as possible. We’re happy to handle all aspects of discharge planning and senior care, and we’re proud to offer a high-presence model for subacute care, with licensed therapists and registered nurses on-site 7 days a week.

What’s more, you don’t need to be a resident to benefit from the skill of our senior rehabilitation team. We welcome all Southbury-area seniors recuperating from illness, injury or surgery as inpatients in our Health Center. Contact us to learn more about rehabilitation services at Pomperaug Woods.  

Occupational therapy is a type of rehabilitation program that helps seniors get back to a normal life and be as self-reliant as possible. It focuses on what the individual is able to do, rather than what they can’t do. It helps them overcome limitations or challenges as a result of illness, injury, disability or cognitive decline.

What defines occupational therapy.

While physical therapy focuses on restoring muscle strength and mobility, and speech therapy focuses on speaking and swallowing skills, occupational therapy centers on activities of daily living.

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are important to being able to live independently, and are the kinds of tasks we often take for granted:

• Hygiene: Bathing or showering, grooming, cutting one’s nails, brushing teeth
• Dressing: Choosing appropriate clothing, and physically dressing and undressing 
• Eating: Feeding oneself without assistance
• Continence: Using the restroom, including getting on and off the stool, and cleaning oneself.
• Mobility: Sitting, standing, and getting in and out of bed without assistance. Walking unsupported from one location to another.

Another category of daily activities is termed instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). IADLs are also a marker of independence, but we don’t necessarily do them every day. They’re just as noticeable when it comes to the loss of functioning. They include:

• Communication: Using a phone, computer or other means of communication.
• Transportation: Driving oneself, arranging a ride or taking public transportation.
• Dining: Planning, preparing and cooking a meal, and cleaning up afterward. Being able to safely use kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Shopping: Planning and making appropriate food, clothing and other purchases.
• Housekeeping: Keeping the home clean and tidy, doing laundry, washing dishes, etc.

Through meaningful activities that improve fine motor skills, strength and dexterity, an occupational therapist helps someone improve their ability to perform these tasks and participate more fully in everyday life.

What to expect during occupational therapy.

First, the therapist will evaluate a senior’s condition to determine which activities of daily living they’re able to do on their own and which ones they need help with. Once they understand a person’s goals, they’re able to develop a personalized plan of therapy, with the objective of keeping the individual as independent as possible at home, at work or in other settings.

During a therapy session, the occupational therapist will teach or retrain daily tasks through a combination of education, exercise and rehabilitation techniques. The patient may learn new ways of doing things, such as how to enter a shower safely without handrails. Or they may work on abilities that need boosting, such as putting on shoes,or using a can opener.

As treatment progresses, the occupational therapist will regularly reevaluate a patient’s care plan, observing which goals are being met and adjusting the plan in areas that need more work.

The therapist will also conduct an assessment of a person’s home to ensure it’s still safe for them. Areas such as slippery or otherwise unsafe stairs, floors and bathtubs can all pose a risk. They may recommend assistive devices or modifications to the environment. This may include:

• Shower chairs, handheld shower heads, washcloth mitts
• Grab bars in shower or tub
• Toilet seat risers
• Bed rails
• Pill organizers and medication dispensers
• Kitchen utensils with large handles, two-handled cups
• Button or zipper hooks, stocking aids, Velcro closures
• Walkers, frames or wheelchairs

If a family decides to install a medical alert system, an occupational therapist can also teach the senior how to use it if they fall. 

What are the benefits of occupational therapy for seniors?

The right course of therapy will help seniors overcome challenges caused as the result of illness, injury, surgery — even the early stages of memory loss and dementia. Improving  motor skills and body awareness, and modifying or removing potential hazards, can also reduce the risk of a fall at home.

When occupational therapy helps a senior regain independence, it positively influences their mental health. It has an empowering effect, giving them a more positive outlook on life. They can redesign how they live, with more control over their quality of life, longevity and health.

An occupational therapist can also take some of the pressure off family caregivers. A therapist’s insight into a loved one’s condition gives caregivers a better idea of their loved one’s daily needs and enables them to make more informed decisions about care.  

When you need the best:

At Pomperaug Woods, we’re committed to residents’ lasting independence. Our occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who know precisely what to do to help individuals stay active, safely continue their daily routines and pursue a healthy lifestyle. If you or someone you know could benefit from occupational therapy services, contact our Health Center today for an assessment.