Family & Friends
Getting the Facts - Straight
Senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than death, according to a Clarity 2007 "Aging in Place" study. The study also found that among baby boomers, 82% fear their parents will be mistreated in a nursing home, and 89 percent worry their parents will be sad.
The goal is to help seniors live safely at home and feel protected and healthy while still maintaining their autonomy. For adult children, the goal is peace of mind. Therefore, many adult children, like you, get some peace of mind by moving their parent or senior family member into their own home.
Economically speaking, 30% of adult children in the United States contribute financially to their parents’ care. The National Center on Care Giving says that unpaid family caregivers will likely continue to be the largest source of long-term care services in the U.S. and are estimated to reach 37 million by 2050, an increase of 85% from 2000.
But in the face of longer life spans and chronic illness, the costs of an aging parent can mean financial peril for the rest of the family. So often, adult children end up ignoring their own savings and retirement accounts or, worse, go into debt, because they’re taking care of their parents. And if you jeopardize your own finances now, you risk putting your children in the same tough spot down the line.
Let VoCare help you with these tough decisions. The following market research and new information should help ease your fears and anxiety, as you lessen the load on your wallet.
- High Costs of People Care
- What Seniors Want
- Convenient Care and Round-the-Clock Safety
- A New Level of Care from Your Loved One's Physician
- Transforming Fear Into Freedom with a Safety Phone
- The Go-Anywhere Safety Button
- Benefits for YOU and Your Senior
- Your Financial Considerations
- Laws that Help Family Caregivers
High Costs of People Care
If you are considering in-home care as an option, you need to really think about costs. At $20.00 per hour or more, this option can get very expensive, very fast. Even care in an assisted living facility or a nursing home stretches most people’s budgets. Assisted living facilities can provide a watchful eye for an average monthly price tag of more than $2,000.00 per month, and nursing home fees are falling into the range of $5000.00 to $7,000.00 per month.
But why is senior health care so costly? The elderly use health care services at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the population. Persons over 65 use hospitals 2.8 times the rate of those under 65, and their hospital stays are nearly twice as long. People over the age of 65 visit their doctor an average of 4.5 times a year, whereas persons under 65 average 2.4 visits.
No question about it, elderly care is expensive! However, hope is on its way.
What Seniors Want
Nearly 9 in 10 seniors in an AARP survey said they would be willing to give up some privacy if it allowed them to remain in their own homes longer.
When elderly Americans choose to remain in their own communities, rather than an institution, it is often better for their health and peace of mind, and a more cost-effective option for society.
When asked about specific home safety and health care technologies, seniors often said they would be willing to use them, even if they weren't previously aware of the devices. So, the question is, "What home devices are best for the best price?"
Convenient Care with Round-the-Clock Safety
VoCare provides 24/7 "live" person support that is incorporated into three product options:
- The My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert is a location-based Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) pendant for Seniors worn around the neck or on the wrist, that offers enhanced personal protection, similar to LifeAlert® (the people that brought you "Help,I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!"), and OnStar® (the popular GM safety system). Best of all, there are no boundaries or limits, so protection and service are available everywhere your family member goes.
- The My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone is a simple-to-use, yet powerful cellular phone with helpful personal assistance (via our exclusive blue OnTrac™ Call Center button) and advanced security features designed specifically for your Senior and people of all ages in need of its advanced safety features, not available on any other mobile phone.
- The MyHealth Tablet™ is an easy-to-use, wireless, portable device that supports remote audio and video between your Senior and his/her doctor, as well as the capture and monitoring of personal biometrics, including pulse, weight, glucose & oxygen level, and blood pressure.
My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert
The Go-Anywhere Medical Alert System
The My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert, also known as a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System), offers maximum safety and security for a minimum investment, along with a number of advantages over other PERS and Medical Alert Systems:
- Works inside and OUTSIDE user’s home
- Local support from YOUR loved one’s doctor
- Integrated Location-Based Identifier
- Built-in AFDN - Automatic Fall Detection Notification
- Long-life battery – your Senior is not stuck without service
- User-friendly, yet very affordable for any family budget
- One-button 24/7 support anywhere your Senior goes
- Remote phone operation – answer phone from bed
Current third-party products work well, as long as the user is INSIDE his or her home. However, if he or she travels OUTSIDE the home, these devices no longer function. Since 45% of all falls by seniors happen OUTSIDE the home, this old third-party technology is not a senior citizen’s best, or most affordable choice.
Unlike older products, VoCare’s My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert works both INSIDE the user’s home, as well as OUTSIDE the home, when used with the My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone. Since half of all falls happen OUTSIDE the home, it only makes sense to use a product that works 100% of the time, not a mere 50%.
The My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert has a number of amazing features. For comfort purposes, it can be worn as a pendant or around the wrist, like a wristwatch. One outstanding safety feature is called a Location-Based Identifier, which can be used to track the user’s location - easily and quickly.
The My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert's Automatic Fall Detection is another anywhere/anytime feature. If a user falls, VoCare's OnTrac™ Call Center is immediately and automatically notified. If the user fails to respond to our call, then our OnTrac™ Call Center immediately notifies 9-1-1, so an ambulance can be dispatched. Instead of lying there for hours, the user is rescued in minutes by emergency assistance staff.
Most people don't realize the impact that falls have on seniors and their families. It’s a fact that, in any given year, more than one-third of all seniors will fall, which means that about 12 million seniors will fall this year and 45% will do it outside of their homes.
Even more alarming is the recent statistic released by the National Institute of Health, which says that 67% of the elderly who fall and are incapacitated to the point that they are unable to seek help for 72 hours or longer, will not survive! Alternatively and more important, IF help can be attained within ONE hour, only 12% of the fall victims die.
With accidents and falls so prevalent in our elderly citizen population, it’s nice to know that the My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert provides peace of mind with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week personal emergency support from real live people at the OnTrac™ Call Center. The My SafetyButton™ Medical Alert helps transform fear into freedom, as it offers seniors a new way to live longer in their own homes - safely and securely.
My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone
Transform Fear Into Freedom
Just one button can transform fear into freedom for millions of seniors and their caregivers. Comparable to an “OnStar® for individuals”, the VoCare My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone delivers a combination of PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) technology with the mobility of a cell phone - yet any user can operate easily.
Amazing Safety Benefits
The My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone was designed and built from the ground up by VoCare to serve anyone, particularly seniors, who needs an affordable mobile cell phone that emphasizes personal SAFETY and simplicity.
- Exclusive OnTrac™ Call Center Button – round-the-clock Personal Assistance
- 24/7 Emergency Support – anywhere the user goes, the support is there
- Built-In ACDN – Automatic Crash Detection Notification for use in a car
- Large Buttons & Screen – easy-to-see and easy-to-use
- Integrated Location-Based Identifier – to enable tracking of the user
- Convenient “Way Back” feature – helps when lost or cannot find the car
- Easy-to-Use Charging Cradle – no cords or cables to mess with
- Speaker Phone – activated via remote control on the PERS
- Long-Life Battery – and back-up battery for peace of mind
- User-Friendly – yet very affordable for any budget
As you can see, the My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone is very stylish with a simple design. Its sleek and contemporary lines make it a phone that users want to show off to their friends and family. However, its looks are not the reason to use it. Make no mistake about it. This phone is designed for superior personal safety and security.
Two key features of the My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone are its Location-Based Services and Automatic Crash Detection, both of which are similar to using OnStar®, the popular safety system used by GM owners. Here are some real life examples as to why these are so important.
- Your elderly father is driving home from visiting you one evening, when a dog runs out in front of his car. He swerves to avoid hitting it and ends up in the ditch, where he is knocked unconscious. The My SimpleOne™ Mobile Phone automatically recognizes the accident (via Automatic Crash Detection) and alerts VoCare’s 24/7 OnTrac™ Call Center regarding the accident and his exact location (via the Location-Based Identifier).
Within seconds, with this important information in hand, the VoCare OnTrac™ Call Center staff contacts 9-1-1, and an ambulance is dispatched to the exact location of the accident. He receive immediate medical assistance that minimizes his injuries by getting help FAST.
- Your wife is driving in an unfamiliar area, so she needs immediate directions. With a push of the blue OnTrac™ Call Center button, she can reach a VoCare Personal Advisor that pinpoints her location and then provides turn-by-turn directions to her intended destination. It’s simple and convenient! No need for GPS or clumsy road maps. She can even ask for points of interest, such as restaurants, gas stations or stores for shopping.
Having this "anytime, anywhere" access to a real, live person is perfect for anyone, particularly seniors, who want and need a little bit of extra security. And it's only from VoCare!
Benefits for YOU and Your Senior
Your Loved One is in Good Hands with VoCare
- Why? Because your Senior is now directly connected with his/her doctor, so the healthcare provider can take better care of your loved one.
- Why? Because your family is tied more closely to your Senior than ever before.
- Why? Because VoCare believes health and safety go hand-in-hand. Healthy and safe people live independently – longer. VoCare is the only company to offer affordable and easy-to-use health and safety tools to keep your loved one "in good hands".
Patients and Seniors (as well as Their Families) Enjoy Many Benefits
- Provides patients with independent living, as opposed to moving to assisted living or worse, a nursing home.
- Enhances confidence and safety, and reduces anxiety for seniors, patients and family members.
- Improves health outcomes and patients’ quality of life.
- Reduces major health risks by capturing biological data at patient’s home.
- Offers immediate access to care, especially for those patients living in rural areas.
- Links patient with his/her provider daily or as often as needed.
- Minimizes or eliminates travel to and long lines in doctor’s office.
- Provides early detection to reduce ER visits and hospitalizations.
- Promotes early-managed discharge from hospitalized care.
- Greatly enhances a patient's level of satisfaction with care and the care provider.
- By bundling these needed services together, seniors and their families pay less per month with one simple bill.
- Optimizes safety and security for seniors desiring to live independently.
- Helps seniors stay connected with their families and physicians for enhanced peace of mind.
- A single telephone number for both home and mobile phones makes life less complicated and save money for seniors as well as their family.
Financial Considerations
With the popular desire to remain at home comes great financial savings, because every month a person stays in their own home as opposed to a an assisted living facility, that person can save $3,000 to $6,000 per month. This leaves money available to invest in enabling technologies to keep seniors at home, safe and independent.
As the population ages, many Baby Boomers may be called upon to care for an aging parent. Even more significant is the fact that as Baby Boomers age, they will need some sort of care and assistance that doesn't totally consume their savings and investments. One of the biggest worries of those caring for an aging parent is how to pay for the care needed.
One fact to consider today is that you and your spouse may each currently give up to $12,000 annually to each parent without creating any tax consequences for them or yourselves. This $12,000 annual gift tax exclusion will be adjusted for future inflation. For details, please Check with your tax advisor.
If you provide more than half of a parent’s support, you may be able to claim your parent as your dependent, giving you a tax exemption for each parent so cared for and allowing you to write off much of the medical expenses. (Note: The dependent exemption phases out at higher income levels. Please check with your tax advisor.)
You may also be able to claim a federal tax credit that will enable you to deduct a portion of the cost of in-home care or day care. Finally, another option is the flexible spending account (FSA), which lets you pay for a certain amount of care each year with pretax dollars.
As you can see, caring for elderly loved ones can be quite a learning experience. VoCare takes this very seriously, so we do our best to educate possible customers. In addition, due to our connection with health delivery systems and physicians, we always recommend that you speak to your elderly loved one’s physician if questions on payment still remain. If your loved one is on Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, you should contact that company to discuss what is and what is not paid for. In the long run, this approach will provide you greater peace of mind.
LAWS that Help Family Caregivers
- S. 2743 - The Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2008, introduced by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) on March 12, 2008. The bill allows individuals and their families to create tax-exempt savings accounts similar to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 529 college savings accounts for the added expenses families will incur to care for a loved living with a disability. The tax-exempt savings could be used for education, medical and dental care, community support services, employment training and support, moving and assistive technology, housing and transportation. Contributions to these accounts are capped at $500,000. Under the proposal, the principle in the account would accrue tax-free during the life of the beneficiary. When distributions are made for qualified expenses, the distributions are excludable from the gross income of the beneficiary. In the House, H.R. 2370 has been introduced by Rep. Andrew Crenshaw (R-FL).
- H.R. 2370 - Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) on May 17, 2007. The measure permits families of people with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities to create savings accounts that accrue tax-free interest during the life of the beneficiary. The bill permits these funds to be used for a variety of purposes, including, medical care, community based-support services, education, employment training, support and assistive technology, housing, and transportation needs.
- S. 2267--Americans Giving Care To Elders (AGE) Act of 2007, introduced by Senators Any Klobuchar on October 31, 2007. The bill allows caregivers to receive a tax credit for up to $6,000 for qualified eldercare expenses incurred for their parents (or ancestors of such parents). The bill would also provide $12 million over four years for the establishment of a National Resource Center on Family Caregiving, which would identify and develop "best practices" information for services and programs to aid family caregivers. The bill also establishes a website for family caregivers on programs and services nationwide.
- H.R. 1911 -- Tax Relief for Working Caregivers Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) on April 18, 2007. The bill expands the dependent care tax credit (DCTC) to allow more families to receive tax relief for child and elder care expenses. H.R. 1911 extends the DCTC to cover 35 percent of qualified expenses for families earning up to $75,000, with the credit phasing down to 20 percent for families making $100,000 or more. The bill also allows families to claim the DCTC on qualified care expenses paid on behalf of aging parents who do not live with the family.
- H.R. 1807 -- Alzheimer's Family Assistance Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) on March 15, 2007. The bill allows a phased-in tax credit ($1,000 in 2007 increasing by $500 each year until allowing $3,000 in 2011) for family caregivers of spouses and dependents who have long-term care needs. The bill also allows a tax deduction for long-term care insurance premiums, and applies certain consumer protection standards to long-term care consumer contracts.
