New Statewide Coalition Forms to Serve the Needs of Seniors
By Barry Zimmer on May 2nd, 2017 in Elder Law
An Ohio elder law attorney provides assistance both in planning for your golden years and in protecting yourself as a senior. As you get older, your life changes in profound ways. From giving up your job and living off a retirement nest egg to experiencing age-related illnesses and decline, you have to be ready to adjust to many shifts that will change your financial situation and your quality of life. Being prepared is key to making sure you can enjoy your senior years without money stress, and is key to make sure you make your senior years some of the best years.
Because seniors often have high needs due to age-related issues, advanced planning on the part of individuals and families is essential. Zimmer Law Firm can help. Communities also need to provide appropriate support and services to seniors living locally. Fortunately, efforts are being made in Ohio to do just that.
Ohio has a rapidly aging population. In fact, the state has the sixth largest population of older people, as compared with all of the states in the country. The population is only growing older too. Between 2016 and 2040, the overall growth of the population in Ohio is expected to be around two percent growth. This is a stable growth rate. However, during this same time period, the population of people who are considered seniors is expected to increase by 50 percent.
It is a problem when the population ages so rapidly, because seniors often develop physical and mental issues that necessitate the senior receive care. By 2050 in the state of Ohio, there will be just three potential family caregivers for every senior in the state. While this may seem like a sufficient number, there are currently close to seven potential family caregivers for every senior… and still some seniors are not actually getting the care that they require.
With too few caregivers available for Ohio seniors, more older people will end up in assisted living facilities and nursing home care centers. Ohio already spends 36 percent of the state’s total Medicaid budget on providing support and services for seniors, and this amount is going to grow exponentially if more seniors end up needing nursing home care. Medicaid is generally the only option for paying for nursing home care, unless the senior pays privately or needs skilled nursing care and can get Medicare to cover the costs of that care for a brief period of time.
The former director of the Ohio Department of Aging who started the new coalition indicates that the spending is unsustainable as more seniors seek care. The coalition will be working to help seniors stay out of nursing homes by providing services and aid that help them to continue to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Various local groups including the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging, as well as the AARP, are in support of the new coalition and will be part of efforts to rally seniors to take advantage of services and to let policymakers know of the importance of providing services to seniors.
Getting Help from An Ohio Elder Law Attorney
An Ohio elder law attorney can help you to understand what kinds of programs, benefits, and services may be available to you as you get older and as your needs increase and change due to aging. Our legal team will also work with you to make certain you are taking full advantage of the legal tools that are available to you to help you secure your future as you become a senior.
To find out more about planning to maintain a high quality of life as a senior, download our estate planning checklist. You can also give us a call at 513.721.1513 to speak with a member of our legal team for personalized advice and for compassionate and knowledgeable representation. Call Zimmer Law Firm now so we can start working towards making a plan for you to enjoy life during your golden years.