The Margaret B. Moeller Fund for Alzheimer's Home Care Companions provides financial assistance to family members living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia who live in the Boyertown Area School District. These funds must be used for obtaining the services of in-home care companions, aides or other providers of respite care. The Berks County Community Foundation manages the fund. Applications from Berks County families outside of the Boyertown Area School District will be considered if no families within the district apply for assistance. The fund is designed to assist families who are not eligible for any other form of reimbursement for such services. Grants generally pay for several days of care for a specified period of time.
The fund was started by Margaret's husband, Bill, in gratitude for the support services his wife received from Chestnut Knoll At Home. Their caregivers’ experience with Alzheimer's disease and their compassioned care enabled Margaret to receive the care she required and allowed Bill the respite he needed.
Long-term care insurance typically covers the cost of:
The best time to buy a policy is in middle age while you're still healthy. Many people don't think about long-term care until they are in their 70s or 80s and their health begins to fail. At these ages, you may be too high a risk factor for an insurer to cover you, or if you do qualify the premiums may be astronomical.
It depends on your situation. Long-term care insurance is expensive. An individual who's 65 years old and in good health can expect to pay between $2,000 and $3,000 a year for a policy that covers nursing home care and home care with premiums adjusted for inflation. You will need to consider your current assets and income carefully. Discuss this with your financial advisor.
Coverage. Some policies pay only for nursing home care or home care. Some provide a mixture of care options that include nursing homes, assisted living communities and adult day cares. Some will pay for a family member or friend to care for you in your home.
Make sure your long-term policy:
This is a benefit paid to veterans or spouses of a veteran who require the "aid and attendance" of another person for activities of daily living (ADLs) or for those that are homebound. This benefit is awarded in addition to the veteran's basic monthly pension.
This Special Pension (part of the VA Improved Pension program) is available to individuals who reside in assisted living communities, residential care homes, skilled nursing facilities and those receiving personal in-home care.
The benefit is specifically for veterans who have served during wartime. A Veteran with 90 days of active duty with at least one day during active Wartime is eligible for this benefit. A surviving spouse of a War Veteran may be eligible if married at the time of death. The individual must qualify both medically and financially.
Most senior living communities can refer you to a professional who will assist you in the completion of the necessary documentation. You may also apply by contacting your Regional Veteran's Administration Office. To locate the closest regional office to you, visit the VA website.
On average, it can take between 10 - 12 months for benefits to be approved. The good news is that if approved, the benefit is awarded retroactively to the time of application.
Typically, no. If you have other questions about the Veteran's Aid and Attendance Benefit, please call us. If we can't answer your questions, we'll be sure to connect you to someone who can.
For more information about this benefit, please contact your local Veteran's Administration office.
Living … with a little assistance
