Long Term Care in Montana

In other U.S. states, the cost of care is an ordeal all right but to the residents of Montana long term care costs are excruciating as they are increasing at a faster rate.

According to the Genworth Financial’s 2011 Cost of Care Survey the cost of nursing homes in Montana has increased 6.3 percent over the past six years making the median daily rate for a private nursing home room $191 or $71,083 annually.

Rates of assisted living facilities did not stay constant either, as it rose 6 percent over the same period of time and thus people residing in this type of long term care (LTC) facility are paying out $39,135 annually.

Montana’s in-home care cost is the most torturous of all and has, in fact, outpaced the national average already. The state’s median daily rate for a home health aide is $24 or $46,904 annually. Home health aides provide custodial care which is inclusive of assistance with the activities of daily living (ADL) such as eating, bathing, dressing, use of the toilet, continence, and transferring or ambulating among others.

If the individual receiving home care needs to go shopping or visit his or her doctor, a home health aide can also accompany her.

Most senior folks living alone in Montana usually require a combination of home health aide services and homemaker services with the latter comprised of all types of house chores such as meal preparation, housecleaning, laundering, and running errands among others.

Combining the annual rates of home health aide and homemaker services would give us a total of $92,503, which happens to be the actual yearly expenses of Montanans receiving in-home care. This, however, is only the state median cost for in-home care. If you go around Montana, you will realize the cost of care in other regions are higher.

Expensive Montana Long Term Care

Missoula, the second largest city in Montana, is a very expensive place for LTC. Montanans receiving in-home care in this region of the State of Montana have to fork out $96,096 yearly for home health aide and homemaker services.

On the other hand, the annual rate of a private nursing home room in this big city is $81,760. Good thing that the city’s annual rate for an assisted living facility at $35,484 is a bit lower than the state’s median.

Montana has a lot to offer in the area of LTC what with its numerous retirement communities situated amidst the state’s famous mountainous backdrop. You will need a good LTC plan, however, for you to be able to afford and enjoy the LTC services that are available here.

Senior Montanans over the age of 60 who have failed to secure a plan that will provide them with LTC coverage are advised to seek help from the state’s Area Agencies on Aging which aim to promote the wellbeing of all senior citizens.

Montana long term care costs are expected to rise four times more 20 years down the road. There is no better time than today to look at your options and discuss it with your family so that once the cost of care turns unbearable no one in your family has to suffer.