No matter what type of senior care you seek for your aging loved one, you will usually have to sign a senior home care contract. This senior home care contract will lay out the type of services offered, the amount of services (such as # of hours per day, how often, etc.), and the payment structure for those services. It will also include information about payment responsibility and what is charged when your loved one discontinues services, due to a move, change in services or death.
The Importance Of Carefully Reading A Senior Home Care Contract
Just as with any legal contract, you should never sign on the dotted line until you have carefully read the terms of the contract. The problem is that many people are often faced with signing a senior home care contract because their parent or loved one needs to move into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility or needs in-home care, and the process is very emotional.
Due to heightened emotions and difficult circumstances, many people don’t take the time to carefully read through the senior home care contract drawn up by the home or agency offering care, or even if they read it, they don’t pay much attention to what it says. Then, down the road, they may be very surprised to find out that their parent is not receiving the level of care they thought they contracted for him or her to receive, or they find themselves faced with hefty financial bills that they were not expecting.
What To Look For In A Senior Home Care Contract
There are two main components you need to make sure you read – and understand completely – before signing a senior home care contract. First, make sure you fully understand the level and type of care or services that are being offered. So, for example, if your parent is moving into an assisted living facility and you are expecting them to have someone on staff monitor their medication, you shouldn’t be surprised to find out that many assisted living facilities charge an extra fee for that service or don’t offer the option at all.
Then you need to carefully decipher all financial responsibilities, including the amount being charged for services, what services have extra fees, who is responsible for payment, what is covered or not covered by insurance (and who pays the rest) and what happens after a person discontinues services due to a move or a death.
As an example, if a resident of a nursing home dies, find out if you are responsible for paying for services for the remainder of that month (and if so, if your insurance company will cover those charges) because you may find yourself stuck with a hefty bill that you were not expecting and are not equipped to pay.
Have Someone Else Look Over The Contract
Even the most intelligent of people may have a difficult time truly comprehending all aspects of a senior home care contract due to the heightened emotional state they are in when they are reading or signing it. Therefore, it is best to have a second set of eyes, whether a lawyer or someone that is just not as emotionally connected, read over the contract and go over each point with you so that you fully understand what you are agreeing to when you sign the senior home care contract.
Pay Close Attention To What Is Offered In Assisted Living Care Contracts
Assisted living facilities can vary widely by the level of services that they offer residents and whether use of those services are included in the regular basic fee for care. Many facilities have a system of tiered rates, meaning that different residents pay different amounts based on the type of care that they require. Often things like medication administration are not included in basic rates because a nurse or contracted health aide needs to provide that service.
Some will charge extra fees for this service. Rates for meal plans may differ, depending on the number of meals requested. Fees may be charged for additional help needed for personal care. You need to spell out what you need and then read the fine print carefully in the senior home care contract to make sure you are getting the services you desire and so that you know what it will all cost in the end.
Understand Who Maintains Financial Responsibility
Aside from what services are included and what they cost, make sure you understand who is financially responsible for any charges, both while your parent is alive and if they die while under contract. Knowing this upfront will avoid any unpleasant surprises or legal battles down the road.
