Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions we respond to every day. Call us today so we can assess your individual needs in order to provide you with a personal answer that works best for you.

Planning (Financial & Legal)

Our mission is to look out for your best interest. Each member of our care management team has years of experience and is skilled at providing guidance and resources that are specific to your individual needs. They have first hand knowledge of services available to you and will match the appropriate resource to your specific need. This can range from in-home care services, financial guidance, guardianship services, help with community housing option and much more. This allows you to focus on healing and know that everything else is being handled for you.

A free consultation is a phone call away. Each situation is unique and different. We have professional experience with facilities and services in a wide range of price points. We can also assess your finances to determine your best options.

When safety is in jeopardy, it’s time to get assistance. The conversation should begin as soon as you start getting hints that your loved one isn’t safe. An assessment from one of our skilled medical professionals can help point you in the right direction, and arrange the assistance your loved one needs.

Although a family attorney can be a very valuable source of information, attorneys who specialize in elder law can sometimes assist in a more comprehensive way. Senior Care Network has relationships with many elder law attorneys and we would be happy to provide you with a recommendation that best meets your situation.

We work with professional guardianship companies that can provide medical and/or financial decision oversight.

Guardianship deals with all aspects of the person including medical and housing option decisions. Conservatorship deals with the financial issues including bill payment, bank accounts, investments, pensions, social security.

A Power of Attorney is written while someone is competent to make their own decisions. If they are unable to make those decisions, that’s when it goes to a Guardianship.

If it’s an emergency the process could be finalized within 72 hours, depending on the judge and his/her schedule. Otherwise most hearings are set for about 30 days out.

The hospital said they would help me find a place for my loved one, how will SNC help more than a case manager or social worker at the hospital?

Hospital based case managers and social workers have limited knowledge of the vast amount of resources that are available to you because they stay within the hospital. Our team has personally gone out into the communities that we recommend so they have first hand knowledge of what they look like, the care they are able to provide, how much they cost and so much more. In addition we will not only provide you with a list of housing option options but we will meet you at the communities to provide you with a private tour and answer any questions you have along the way. This allows you to have your personal expert there to walk you through the process and make it as smooth as possible.

Senior Woman and Caregiver
Senior Woman & Caregiver

Living Options

Payer sources differ between assisted living and nursing homes. In general, assisted living is private pay and nursing homes work with insurance (although there can be exceptions). Nursing homes also have the ability to provide more comprehensive medical care.

Many nursing homes do have a waiting list. Give us a call and we will try to help. We have many contacts and resources throughout southeast Michigan and we may many be able to come up with an option for your loved one.

No two facilities are alike. Nursing homes differ in services, prices, accepted insurances and aesthetics. Location is generally very important to families. Once we talk with you and complete an assessment with your loved one, we can help you find a nursing home that is a good fit.

Much of this will depend upon care and location. That’s why it’s important that you don’t waste your time going from place to place. At Senior Care Network we are able to narrow your choices down based on your priorities and needs, including care, location and finances.

It can be difficult to assess whether or not a community provides sufficient quality of care, especially during a short visit. Senior Care Network professionals regularly visit group homes and other facilities to assess their quality of care. If you’re making a visit here’s some advice from our experts…

  1. Read online reviews and be sure to notice if they are from a patient, their family member or a disgruntled employee who is just upset. You want to know what other patients liked and did not like about the community.
  2. Stop by the community without an appointment. It’s important  to see the day to day workings of a community when they are not expecting visitors.
  3. While there, pay attention to the smell and cleanliness of the floors, rooms, nurses station and common areas. Really pay attention to any odor that is constant throughout the whole community. Some of the communities will be more medical then others so keep that in mind when touring.
  4. Watch closely to see how the staff treats the current residents. Are there lots of call lights going off, are a lot of residents in the hallways alone, is the staff busy or sitting around, these all tell you a lot about how the care will be if you decide to move in.
  5. Ask questions. Lots of questions! You won’t get the answers that you need unless you ask. This is not a decision to take lightly.

At this time you would speak to your social worker within the facility and let them know you would like to APPEAL your discharge. They would submit this to your insurance company. If you win the appeal you generally receive 7 additional days. PLEASE NOTE: If you lose your appeal and you don’t get an answer before your discharge date, you are responsible to privately pay the facility for the days not covered by insurance.

Insurance & Benefits

If your loved one needs care that is not covered by insurance, there are still many options. Senior Care Network Care Managers can assist you in exploring all other options – VA Benefits, Long Term Care insurance, Medicaid, community programs and private pay. We can help explore different solutions within your budget.

Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65 or older or if you have a severe disability, no matter your income. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income.

Different parts of Medicare cover different services… Original Medicare is administered directly by the federal government, is the way most people get their Medicare, and has two parts:

Part A – (hospital insurance) covers most medically necessary hospital, skilled nursing facility, skilled home health and hospice care.

Part B (medical insurance) – Covers most medically necessary doctors services, preventative care, durable medical equipment, hospital outpatient services, laboratory test, x-rays, mental health care, and some home health and ambulance services. You pay a monthly premium for this coverage.

Medicaid is a program for low income individuals. To Qualify for Medicaid you must meet the low income criteria of having $2,000 or less in assets and an income of $2,199 a month or less. IF you are over assets please do not hesitate to contact us as we can help provide options of ways to spend down to the Medicaid eligibility limit. Under Medicaid there are additional programs that you may qualify for, call us today for additional information.

There are a multitude of services ranging from VA benefits to Chore Provider to Meals on Wheels. However, you may have to qualify for many free or low-cost benefits. We can help determine your needs and qualifications. And we can also assist with all the paperwork that is sometimes a barrier for seniors and their overwhelmed families.
Senior reviewing forms

Does Your Loved One Need Urgent Assistance or Care?

Our experienced Social Workers are happy to answer all of your questions.