Elderly home care is and will continue to be much more cost effective now and in the future. When considering the cost of elder home care versus assisted living costs, there are many factors to take into consideration. One consideration is to understand the trends of the health care industry, so that you can financially plan for your future. Many believe that Medicare will cover everything they need as they age. Although many realize that they need to financially prepare for the future, most do not investigate the cost and options of future care needs. Many do not feel that they can afford to invest in long term care insurance.In 2008, Prudential Insurance did a study on long term care. The results, which will be followed up every year, had some alarming information regarding the costs that will pay for care and services as we age. The information from this and other studies is important to assure successful planning for our future care needs.It was noted that elderly assisted living homes have seen the largest increase in costs over a 2 year period. The average daily cost of living in an elderly assisted living facility increased to almost $39,000 per year. This is an average rate of just over $100 per day.There was an astonishing average increase of a 15% in rates for the elderly assisted living facilities that provide care for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.Elderly home health care has had the smallest rate increase of all the providers. The rate of elderly home health care has had a 5% increase over the past two years and a 17% increase over the last 7 years.The costs to have a certified nursing assistant provide elder home care averages $21 per hour. A certified nursing assistant provides services such as: bathing and dressing. The services of elder home care are ordered by a physician and usually paid for by insurance. These services provided by elderly home health care are intermittent and are offered for a short period of time.Another study, also done in 2008 was preformed by the Genworth Financial Group. This study explored the cost of care that covers the non skilled side of elder home care. This is the largest growing portion of the elder home health care services. This growth, is due in part to many aging seniors desire to remain in their homes as long as possible.The average cost for homemaker services in the elder home care sector is $18 an hour. There has been a rate increase of 4% over the past year. A homemaker provides some housekeeping duties, companionship, and assistance with cooking, if needed. They may also run short errands when required.Elderly home care also provides home health aides. They provide basic assistance with bathing and dressing. A home health aide averages a rate $19 an hour. This shows an increase of 3% in just one year.Met Life Market surveyed adult day services in 2008. The results from this survey show the average daily cost for adult day care services is $64. This shows an increase of 5% in the past year.Adult day care services are a growing trend in the aging health care market. Adult day care is a cost effective way keep an aging senior at homeFor caregivers, utilizing adult day care services permits them to continue to work. Many caregivers take time to do things to they need to take care of and get a break from their care giving duties.The costs of elder home care services will continue to rise. Surveys show that the trends will continue. The largest increases will be in the assisted living and nursing home areas of elderly home health care services.The past five years has seen an increase in elderly assisted living rates jump by 41%. Over the past five years, there has been an increase in nursing homes rates of over 30%. Over half the surveyed facilities expect to increase their rates, again, over the next year. The good news is that one in four elder home care providers plan to increase their rates in the next year.Being aware of the cost of elderly home care and elderly assisted living can assist you in planning for your future needs. Educate yourself on the various options available and how you can utilize those services for future needs. It is important to be proactive and investigate avenues to pay for your future health care needs.

Students can pursue their interests in health and business by completing educational training in health care administration. Schools provide students with the skills needed to manage medical systems. Through this specialized understanding of the field students will have many health care administration career possibilities.Several main career fields exist in this industry and students can enter one with the correct education. The main focal point of each area is working to provide a smoothly ran medical office, which branches out to include many aspects of the health industry. Possible career options include:* Health Care AdministrationProfessionals work at a variety of management levels to oversee different components of health care. Managers are trained to properly handle the continually changing and expanding world of healthcare. The supervision of employees, analyzing charts, working with human resources, and monitoring finances are main job duties. Job responsibility will change depending on the facility professional’s work for.* Geriatric Care ManagementProviding help and counsel to elderly people at their home or inside a facility makes up the overall job description for this career field. Professionals coordinate all services provided by the government, insurance, home health care, or assisted living agencies. Professionals work with the business and human service side of this field to properly care for the geriatric community.* Health ManagementLeadership and organizational skills are used at a high level as professionals work to maximize the potential of facilities. This often includes staying current with new technologies, medical treatments, and providing positive health environments for patients and employees at a facility.* Hospital Unit CoordinatorCareers in this field have professionals working on non-clinical duties inside medical facilities. Coordinators answer phones, take messages, transfer discharges, and file paperwork for admissions. Professionals work with patients before and after their visit to obtain a complete medical history. The goal is to help make a hospital run smoothly.Within these main career fields students will be able to enter job opportunities at several levels. The broad spectrum of careers is a direct result of the schooling that students complete. Education is obtainable at every level allowing students to complete programs for specific careers. Undergraduate degrees typically prepare students for entry-level careers such as medical secretaries and health information managers. Graduate degree programs prepare students to become executive administrators, consultants, and directors.Through coursework students develop a strong skill set that helps them transition into careers with ease. Course topics examined will be determined by the degree level and area of concentration students enter. Some possible courses include:Health Care Finance
Global Health Issues
Record Keeping
Health Care PolicyCompleting a health care degree program is the best way for students to enter careers that match their interests. The health industry is complex, which requires students to have a formal education.Many colleges and universities offer programs that give students the needed knowledge for professional opportunities. Students will become professionals by working through specialized health care administration degree programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education ( http://www.cahme.org/ ).DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.Copyright 2010 – All rights reserved by PETAP.org.