Elder
Housing and Care Project
Quality of Life Housing Solution
June 15, 2006
Richmond,
Virginia Elder Housing and HealthCare
Collaboration Between
Wachovia Bank
Credit Suisse Bank
And
Elder LifeCare
Foundation
Quality of
Life Solutions
Reno, Nevada
775 624-6910
Contents
Background
and Philosophy - Housing and Quality of Life.
. Page 3
Elder
Housing Strategy
..
Page 6
Target
Population Sample
..
.
Page 9
Home
Design
..
Page 10
Builder
and Estimates
Page 19
Community
Plan View and Building Site Considerations
. Page 20
HealthCare
Grant.
. Page 22
HealthCare
Cost Estimates
.. Page 24
VCU
Medical Center Endorsement
..
. Page 25
Organizational
Considerations
.
Page 26
Appendix
(Resources).
. Page 27
This Project Description addresses the
following issues:
Ψ Reason for
Elder LifeCare Foundation Approach
Ψ Elder Housing
Strategy
Ψ Method of
Identifying Grantees
Ψ Housing Design
and Construction
Ψ Available Contractors
Ψ Site Criteria
Ψ HealthCare Grant, Costs and Validation
Ψ Organizational Structure
Ψ Resources with the Capacity to Perform
Background
and Philosophy: Housing and Quality of Life
The Elder LifeCare Foundation
The Elder LifeCare Foundation is the
vision of William R. Lenhard, II, Ph.D. He became aware early in adult life the
plight of the elderly in the United States. That insight was followed shortly
by the insight that the elderly around the world lived in highly undesirable
circumstances. As a result of this insight he enlisted the collaboration of a
friend and colleague, John G. Cull, Ph.D., a pioneer and founder of the
Rehabilitation Counseling programs at the Medical College of Virginia. At first
this awareness and insight led to a decision to change the system. Within a
year of this commitment it became patently clear the system was broken and
beyond repair. The solution lay not in systemic repair, but in a total systemic
revision or a paradigm shift. They chose a paradigm shift that led to the
foundation and development of the Elder LifeCare Foundation, a 501(c) 3
organization.
In this paradigm shift they have made
elemental changes throughout the field of elder housing that quite well may
have severely limiting or even fatal effects on the elder housing field. These
elemental changes transcend financial issues and the provision of treatment
issues in:
Long Term
Acute Care
Skilled
Nursing Care
Extended
Living
Hospice Care,
and
Assisted
Living.
Aging in Pain in America
Since
the 1930s, government programs have been developed to control the living
circumstances of elderly citizens. The original intent was to improve the
quality of life in later years. Social programs for aging people, built largely
on financial strategies, are beginning to receive a thorough review. For most
aging Americans, it is fair to state that these programs have not achieved
their goal and for most of the aging Americans they failed in the promises they
made.
Looking
back, we now know that government policies intended to relieve social problems
actually resulted in a loss of choice and control for working people. They were
harmed in many ways by this, but mostly in the area of their livelihood, their
mobility, their choices of affiliation in neighborhoods, and their sense of
security in times of great social and financial change. Government policies
simultaneously confiscated income while forcing families to delegate to others
the care of their children and, increasingly, their dependent elders. Given the
pre-determined and fixed financial outcomes of these programs, our elders have
lost the ability to control the circumstances of their own existence. In many
ways, they have become the custodians of their own misery, one that leads to an
empty vagrancy as well as social isolation, stress, anxiety and depression. In
fact, these policies and programs accelerate the process of dying.
Financial Impacts on Loss of Control
A
major contributor to unhappiness in later years is the financial consequence
associated with housing. Over a lifetime, many working people are able to build
and control value in only one major asset, their home. After retirement, with
each passing year, the house becomes a source of worry. Continued costs and the
physical challenges of upkeep continue to escalate. Sudden and inevitable
financial burdens or emergencies only serve to lessen the persons sense of
power and control. As time goes by, the house becomes increasingly unaffordable
but the prospect of moving has new financial challenges that often remove all
prospects of hope. More often than not, elders are recruited to planned housing
alternatives designed specifically to help them with increasingly difficult
support needs. Institutional housing decisions bear significant costs that
often can equal or exceed the profits realized from the sale of the home.
Compounding their financial difficulties, government policies are designed to
continue taxing elders as if they were still involved in the earning years of
their development. Even their social security benefits are taxable.
The
financial burdens of personal support expenses, taxes, and the loss of capital
from either maintaining the first home or moving leave our elders in a
dependent position with a diminished sense of personal control. Worse yet, as
many elders report, institutional living is not like home. Downsizing to a planned
elder community brings contrived socialization, sterile and empty aesthetics,
loss of many possessions, and new meaning to the word isolation.
The
decline in quality of life can be attributed to both overly zealous social
engineering as well as limited financial choices. Through its unique grant
funding approach, Elder LifeCare Foundation is able to offer solutions that
will dramatically affect the ability of elders to gain control over their lives
and enjoy the benefits of a quality life. This is achieved by rejecting many of
the financial and social engineering mechanisms put in place over the past 75
years in the United States. As always during the history of this country the
solutions to the Aging Problems in America lay in the private sector not the
governmental sector.
Pathway to a New Life
The
broad concept of an elder housing and care program, originally conceived at
Johns Hopkins University, was used to develop the philosophical and conceptual
base of the Elder LifeCare Foundation. The basic benefit gained by typical
elderly citizens is it enables them to overcome financial challenges.
Participants in the programs of the foundation regain a sense of choice and
control in their lives. Their array of life choices will be enhanced in many ways
by this, but mostly in the areas of their livelihood, their mobility, their
choices of affiliation in neighborhoods, and their sense of security in times
of great social and financial change. In addition, elders can access a wide
array of support services necessary through private sector advocacy initiatives
completely outside government regulatory environments. And all these services
are available to the elderly individual without cost for the remainder of his
life.
For
the first time ever, Elder LifeCare Foundation is able to use the power and
resources of the private sector to overcome the negative effects of
government-funded, institutional alternatives commonly known as long term care
residential facilities. Institutional living environments rob people of choice,
are burdened by financial agenda, and have enormous political and bureaucratic
costs.
The
foundations unique approach is designed specifically to provide outcomes that
restore control, bring the comforts of social compatibility, relieve financial
pressure, and encourage independence. We see our program as a highly desirable,
healthy alternative to the current consequences of living in a tightly
controlled, overly restricted, planned society.
Financial Freedom: Your own house and
support services
Through
a proprietary funding approach exclusively licensed to the foundation, Elder
LifeCare is able to provide lifetime housing as an insurable interest benefit.
Eligible elders will be offered a lifetime grant that will provide housing,
healthcare, social services, and other support services that will enable them
to live in harmony with like-minded friends, remain close to relatives, and
enjoy the freedom and power of remaining in control of their lives. The
Foundations grant will enable each elder to have access to a quality home in
an exclusive elder neighborhood designed and built by an experienced team that
includes architects, contractors and professionals in the area of aging
studies.
Residents
of the eldercare neighborhoods make their own decisions and as such they
maintain power and control. Since there are no closing costs and no mortgages
to face, cash from the sale of a present home remains the property of the
resident allowing for more choice and financial opportunities. Life Tenancy
Rights are absolute, without interference, and are subject to standards set by
the residents themselves. Residents enjoy all the benefits of home ownership
without the burden or costs of maintenance. Interior maintenance and amenities
are included. In addition, residents will have full access to a professional
building and will hire a dedicated physician fully paid under the grant to
provide health and restorative services in a convenient manner.
Residents
are encouraged to be captains of their own ships. Financial independence is
strengthened by the profitable sale of existing homes and elimination of costs
of home maintenance. New cars, a trip, dining out, a boat, or even owning
another home become affordable possibilities entirely under their control.
The Neighborhood
A
park like setting, tree lined walkways, well-lighted paved streets, and
inviting aesthetics will characterize the eldercare neighborhood. The design
will harmonize lifestyle with support needs while accommodating visits by family
and friends. It is a house in a neighborhood that, in a deliberate and planful
manner, acquires character of a community of people with shared social,
religious, or cultural backgrounds. While importing the values of its
residents, it will carry the message of dignity, freedom, and of a life always
dreamed.
The
Foundation discourages any outside efforts to prescribe social values or
formulas for community composition. Instead, great pains will be taken to
achieve preservation of shared values and preferences of community residents.
Elder Housing Strategy
The
primary goal of the Elder LifeCare Foundation is the development, design and
construction of new homes to maximize housing choices for elders in the United
States by promoting a wider range of housing options that are appropriately
accessible, well designed, affordable, and marketable.
Elders
consistently have told the Elder LifeCare Foundation they wish to live
independently in the community as long as they are able. Living in a home
adapted to one's needs and abilities, affordable to maintain and with ready
access to needed support services is an essential condition for independence.
The Elder LifeCare Foundation initiative came about in response to the growing
expectations of elders for a wider range of housing choices. The underlying
philosophy - maximizing choices - points the way to a future in which changing
lifestyles will necessarily result in a wide range of new options.
The
production of the plan was a complex undertaking, requiring much expert advice
and many meetings of a multivariate task force, facilitated by the Johns
Hopkins School of Senior Housing and Care and the Department of Rehabilitation
Medicine at VCU Medical Center and scores of consultants.
Elder Housing Needs May Be Different
In
Environment and Aging, Powell Lawton
said "although the most important generalization in gerontology may be
that older people are, on the whole, pretty much like the rest of us, there is
an important message: where older people do differ from the capabilities of
those of younger people, unique needs requiring unique satisfiers may result.
Hence, the suggestion that what is good for people in general will be good for
the elderly is only partly true.
Lawton's
statement reinforces the importance of maximizing housing choices for elders.
It gives us a framework within which to identify the unique needs of the
elderly, suggesting that we look for age-related differences in capabilities
that affect housing needs.
Functional
capability affects how we accomplish our daily activities in our environment.
This capability may be only loosely related to aging: a younger person may have
more or less functional capability than an older person. Planning for future
changes in functional capacity is an important part of housing design.
The
rate of change of all five senses varies widely among people in the same age
group; one person at a certain age may have much better use of specific senses
than another who is younger in chronological terms. Generally speaking,
however, older people as a group tend to experience sensory impairments or
reductions. Also possible are mobility limitations ranging from weakness
because of frailty or illness, through stiff joints and bad backs, tremors, and
loss of coordination, to situations requiring the use of a walking aid or
wheelchair.
Principles
of universal design can compensate for many of these losses. Wall and floor
surfaces that reduce reflected sound help those people with impaired hearing
carry on a conversation. Strong and well-diffused lighting can improve depth
perception and minimize shadows, helping a person see that next step more
clearly. Furniture arrangements should let people sit closely enough to see and
hear each other comfortably.
The
psychosocial aspects of aging have an impact on our housing needs as well. As
occupational and family roles change, different activity patterns result. More
time may be spent in the home, making its design more critical to the resident.
Changes in roles also affect the need for support from social support services.
Living environments should allow for the many qualities and lifestyles that
tend to distinguish elders from the population at large.
Given
that differences resulting from the aging process do exist, it is fair to
examine how well they are taken into account in housing design standards. Do
special needs that tend to be associated with aging require more, better, or
different treatment? Existing standards for housing may mention the special
needs of elderly people in passing, but they often fail to provide consistent
provisions to meet these needs. Designs for Elder LifeCare Foundations elder
housing initiatives are based on the standards developed by the Americans with
Disabilities Act, using a framework of universal design to accommodate the
functional limitations of a broad range of elders. At the core of the plan is
the concept of barrier-free design, but design which still allows for
customization to suit individual needs and preferences.
Barrier-free Design
Design
is said to be barrier-free when an environment contains no architectural,
communication, design, or psychological features that might prevent anyone,
able-bodied or impaired, from using the environment to the full extent of his
or her abilities. It is useful to examine the implications of this definition
from two points of view: existing environments, and those on the drawing board.
Most
of us have seen the ramps, lower drinking fountains, grab bars, wider parking
spaces, and amplifying telephones that are among the more obvious attempts to
make the environment more accessible to people with functional impairments.
Accessibility modifications to an existing home can range from buying a few
simple aids and devices for daily living to a full retrofit job with ramps and
lifts at changes of level and a remodeled kitchen and bathroom. The driving
considerations are the nature and degree of functional capability of the individual
resident, not to mention financial resources.
When
a building is in the planning stage, however, the opportunity exists to create
good, accessible design that minimizes or eliminates obvious barriers prior to
construction. There can be no excuse for designing a sunken living room, a tiny
bathroom or narrow doorways. Barrier-free design is founded on the principle of
promoting continuing utilization, and takes into account the possibility of
future changes in functional capacity. The Elder LifeCare Foundation design
approach reflects this by describing design criteria that will suit residents
with a range of functional ability, so that all individuals, regardless of
strength or mobility, will find the environment safe and negotiable at all
times. Simply put, design that takes into account the full range of physical
needs will respond to the needs of the greatest number of residents.
Conclusion
People
of all ages want to know that their basic life-supporting requirements are
taken care of; that their housing and immediate physical environment are
affordable, accessible and comfortable; that they are safe and secure from
intrusion, attack, or extremes of weather; and that they can work or engage in
a variety of activities and make and maintain social contacts. Privacy,
control, security, freedom of choice, independence, and self-sufficiency are
important to all of us.
Many
factors play a role in housing design for elders such as physical and sensory
changes, shifting social patterns and needs, and altered economic
circumstances. Maximizing housing choices that incorporate good design to
respond to these factors can improve the quality of life for elders.
Target Population Sample
Elder
LifeCare Foundation is interested in serving the quality of life needs of all
persons over the age of 70. Elder people thrive best living in circumstances
where they are close to people of like mind, similar values, and common
experiences. Many religious groups, clubs, occupational groups, academic, and
cultural associations have expressed interest in having their elder members
apply for grants from the Foundation.
The first collaborative agenda that the
Elder LifeCare Foundation is developing is between the Wachovia Bank, Credit
Suisse - Zurich, The Richmond Catholic Diocese, and the Foundation. This
collaborative agenda will be designed to produce an integrated Catholic
neighborhood inhabited with a combination of elderly Catholic parishioners,
retired priests, and other retired religious people from Central Virginia. This
neighborhood will be an informal, closely-knit group of like-minded persons;
while allowing the retirees to serve, volunteer, recreate, create, or rest in a
manner of their own choosing.
Presently,
the status of this first collaborative agenda has moved from successful
discussions with the Vicar General of the Richmond Diocese, Monsignor Thomas
Shreve, whose understanding is that the Churchs commitment is only to arrange
for introductions between the prospective residents and the Foundation. The Foundations role is to inform elder Church
members about its grant programs. The choice of whether or not to participate
is left entirely to the discretion of each parishioner. It also is understood,
that the community itself is empowered to make all decisions regarding the
involvement of the Church.
The
Foundation appreciates the need for community standards and, potentially,
covenants and tenets of the association. However, neither the Foundation nor
the Church will have any power or authority over the residents for imposing
rules of association or setting community agenda. The Foundations purpose is
to enable self-determination for elder residents of its housing communities,
not to set the rules of interpersonal engagement, conduct, or association.
From
elder persons who decide to participate in the Foundations grant programs,
permission will be sought that the Foundation be allowed to become the
applicant-owner-beneficiary of a life insurance policy designed to protect the
Foundations financial risk and to ensure that funds are available to serve the
needs of future generations of elders.
Home Design
In
the spirit of the quaint colonial villages of the South, home designs represent
a comfortable collection of private homes nestled in a charming countryside
gated community setting just minutes from the James River. Each of these unique
and luxurious homes is designed to transport its residents to another world a
place where scenery, sense of adventure, and timeless beauty all play together.
From a brook that winds its way just outside your windows to a rich tapestry of
towering trees and wildflowers just beyond your door, elder dream homes become
a reality. ADA compliant design, distinctive floor plans, and countless
options, creating that elder dream home in the Old Dominion never has been
easier.
Interior Design Elements
·
Fireplace Surround - Great Room - The fireplace surround begins with the
beautiful exterior stone flowing from the hearth up to the rich, wood mantle.
The overall look gives the feeling of a cozy retreat.
·
Master Bedroom Abundant space, ample storage and private bath
·
Kitchen Solid surface countertops - Thick, curved moldings edge the
countertops in the kitchen and master bath.
·
Architectural Millwork & Interior Trim - The doors and windows will appear
as having been set into true plastered walls. Here, a thin edge reveals a frame
that surrounds and holds the door in place. The plaster wall turns gently into
this frame as a bullnose edge completes this detail.
·
A simple base with clean lines will finish off the walls in this home. This
baseboard will be painted to contrast slightly with the wall color.
·
Beautiful crown moldings in specified room locations - this molding will have a
simple, cove design which is painted with light hues to accent the room
·
Window sills in this home will have a Craftsmen style look and a painted finish
to follow along with the overall style of the home.
·
Cabinets - Throughout the home, built-in, semi-customized cabinetry will
feature colonial styling in beautiful hard woods. The utility/laundry room will
have built-in cabinetry in a white Decoform finish for functionality.
·
Door Hardware - As a beautiful way to finish off the doors in this home, they
will have old world colonial style levers with brass finish.
·
Interior Walls - Walls will be finished in a two-tone paint with beautifully
stained doors.
·
Choice of Flooring Choice of either wood or wall to wall carpeting or a
combination.
·
Plumbing The homes feature a beautiful Kohler plumbing package that is
functional and stylish. The finishes in this package are upgraded to complement
the style of the home.
·
Appliances - This home offers an appliance package with finishes that are
considered to be upper-end in the industry.
.
·
Air-Conditioning - Summertime will be comfortable as air-conditioning comes
standard.
·
Interior Designer Ten hours of interior designer assistance is available in
making selections.
Exterior Design Elements
·
Mail Boxes - designed per the Elder LifeCare Foundation Elder Housing
Association specifications
·
Address Numbers - black wrought iron to match the style of the home
·
Walkways & Driveways - will be formed with standard size pavers for safety
and attractiveness
·
Landscaping - In order for homes to maintain a consistent landscape theme,
Artistic Gardens will provide custom-designed landscaping for the yard.
·
Roofing Low maintenance, long life, and high quality designed to conform to
and compliment the house styling.
·
Rain Gutters - Drainage of rain water is led away from doorways with custom
copper gutters. The copper will age over time.
·
Windows - These are metal clad, wood, colonial style windows with crossed
frames and windowpanes. Finish color varies from house to house.
· Front Door - There are three door
selections to choose from in a colonial style that will be stained to
complement the house.
·
Exterior Walls - The visual look is orchestrated to achieve a traditional
appearance.
Community
Development Considerations
10+
acre development close to Richmond, Virginia
30
Houses @ 2000 square feet.
Construction
Cost Wholesale for Eastern Region - $112.86 Sq. Ft.*
3000
Sq. Ft. Professional Services Building
Age
range of new occupants: 70 84
30
couples or 60 occupants total
ADA
Compliant
Amenities
Gated
Community
Paved
Streets
Lighted
walkways
A
park
Bench
seating throughout neighborhood
Abundant
landscaping
Pool
*Figures
supplied by National Builders Associations. This cost does not include the
value of the house in a completed neighborhood with Community/ Professional
Services building, swimming pool, etc. The book value of a home in such a
neighborhood is approximately $450,000.
Sample House Plan #001
Functional
split floor plan layout. This home offers many of the features consistent with
a Central Virginia style design, including an expansive master suite with his
and her walk-in closets, jet-tub, and walk-in shower. Large sunroom and
breakfast area for those lazy weekend mornings. Large great room with built-in
cabinets and gas log fireplace. Plenty of storage space. Large utility room.
Home office space with optional half-bath.
Rear Elevation
Square
Foot (2019 Heated Sq. Ft.)
In
a completed neighborhood including the Community Professional Services
Building, swimming pool, the price of land, common area landscaping, individual
home landscaping, the deck, porch, septic tank/sewage system, water, any other
utility hook-ups, and driveway the book value of this home is between
$684,000 and $912,000.
Sample House Plan #002
This
elegant country porch style home is both classic and contemporary. From the
inviting front porch to the screened porch and deck, this home provides
dramatic spaces, luxurious appointments, and true flexibility. Its innovative
design provides an abundance of living area, flexible multi-purpose rooms, and
exciting features, all in an affordable 1992 square feet.
Rear Elevation
Square
Foot (1992 Heated Sq. Ft.)
In
a completed neighborhood including the Community Professional Services
Building, swimming pool, the price of land, common area landscaping, individual
home landscaping, the deck, porch, septic tank/sewage system, water, any other
utility hook-ups, and driveway the book value of this home is between
$684,000 and $912,000.
Sample House Plan #003
This
plan offers a great layout with a variety of innovative features that serve to
make this house a great value. An expansive master bedroom with raised ceiling
and plenty of storage space in the two walk-in closets. Master bath features
oversized jet tub and separate shower. Large, open great room with trayed
ceiling and gas log fireplace. Covered front and rear porches for those evening
sunsets with your family. Plenty of storage space. This house even includes a
large space that can be used as an office / dining / computer room.
Rear Elevation
Square
Foot (2019 Heated Sq. Ft.)
In
a completed neighborhood including the Community Professional Services
Building, swimming pool, the price of land, common area landscaping, individual
home landscaping, the deck, porch, septic tank/sewage system, water, any other
utility hook-ups, and driveway the book value of this home is between
$684,000 and $912,000.
Builder and Estimates
Preferred Builder: Kjellstrom and Lee, 1607 Ownby
Lane, Richmond, VA 23220-1318. (804)
288-0082.
Over the years Kjellstrom and Lee, Inc.
has put in place over $1.30 billion in construction work. While most of this
work has been in the commercial (office), health care, assisted
living/continuing care, retail, and industrial markets, we have also completed
hotels and educational and special use facilities. Founded by N. David
Kjellstrom and Harry G. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, Kjellstrom and Lee, Inc. has
maintained a continuous presence since 1961, providing preconstruction and
construction services for clients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Since its establishment, the company has put in place over $1.3 billion in
construction. From their first
construction project in Richmond, Kjellstrom and Lee has become known
throughout the state as a contractor who can consistently be counted on to
deliver a quality project while striving to meet each client's unique
requirements. This approach has forged ongoing relationships with clients such
SunTrust Bank, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, St. Mary's Hospital, and
Westminster Canterbury, to name only a few. Even more unique to Kjellstrom and
Lee is the fact that the principals are the senior management of the company,
actively involved on a daily basis. This underscores the foundation of K&L
- our commitment to our employees and clients. Each of these individuals
maintains a daily hands-on role in K&L's work to make sure we maintain and
improve our commitment to our clients.
Estimate
of Work
Housing
Development Benefit 30 Houses
|
Total
Development Value |
|
|
Adjusted
Value |
|
|
Land |
$1,000,000 |
|
Housing |
$9,000,000 |
|
Professional
Building |
$564,825 |
|
Amenities |
$329,400 |
|
|
|
|
Total
Development |
$10,894,225 |
Community Plan View and Building Site
Considerations
Example
10 Acre Plan View
Color
Code
Streets ---------
Gated Wall ---
Average
Available Site Costs. Henrico County. Sample Property #1
13.58
Acres - $975,000
Per
Acre Cost - $71,000
Utilities present: Electric service at
street, Telephone service available, Henrico,
VA 23231 MLS ID#: 2607865
Sample
Property #2 (Waterfront)
26.7
Acres - $1,000,000
Per
Acre Cost - $37,000
Utilities present: Electric service at
street, Telephone service available
Henrico,
VA 23231 MLS ID#: 2604675
Property Acquisition Advisor
Architect/Broker - Glenn P. Thomason
Realty Design Group, LLC
1456 Hermitage Road
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia 23103
804-784-4840
HealthCare Grant
HealthCare
Issues
Besides
housing, the Elder LifeCare Foundation is dedicated to filling the gap between
existing healthcare benefits provided by Medicare and the circumstances where
sources of payment are unavailable due to co-payments, deductibles, or the
nature of the service required (such as assistive technology) to support a
meaningful quality of life. Managed care and utilization review personnel
sometimes make decisions that are not always in the best interests of elders.
Such organizations are profit driven and often incapable of making an effective
response to human pain and suffering.
As
people age, their physical and mental functioning support needs become more
important. Too frequently, health care has been placed in the hands of
personnel with insufficient experience, training, substandard pay,
communication difficulties, lack of compassion, lack of job commitment,
absenteeism, histories of abuse and neglect, and poor judgment. In the
tripartite long-term care model, everyone loses. Residents and workers are
equally angry, depressed and lonely.
The social engineers and the long-term care industry have evolved a
model where one at-risk group is placed in charge of another at-risk group. The
results have been disastrous.
Finally,
physicians who serve the elderly find their practice compromised by a system
more focused on paper rules than healthcare delivery. Many private physician
practices reach a caseload of 2500 patients or more. In such a warehouse system
of service delivery, the patient becomes lost, the physician is over-stressed,
and quality healthcare is compromised as a result.
Foundation
Response
Elder
LifeCare Foundation believes that all elder people deserve respect and courtesy
as reflected by the best available healthcare services. The Foundation offers a
solution that allows the control over healthcare decisions to be made by the
resident, not the system. The Foundations HealthCare Grant provides for the
following benefits:
Ψ Selected by residents in the community, a fully
qualified physician is hired by the community to provide full time primary
medical care to sixty residents. The physicians role will extend to project
manager with authority to hire and oversee home-caregivers and other healthcare
workers as needed to provide for the needs of current residents. The mix of
impairments and service needs will change from time to time, and from community
to community, and the physician is able to alter the skill mix of personnel
accordingly.
Ψ On the authority and request of a resident, spouse,
close relative or the community physician, caregiver services, whether
part-time or full-time, will be paid by the Foundation on a supplemental basis
up to a fixed amount.
Ψ Whenever a resident is unable to secure necessary
healthcare services recommended by the residents private physician or
community physician, the Foundation will contribute to the cost of those
services. Providers may also be paid by the Foundation in circumstances where
the timely delivery of services is delayed by schedules, billing snafus, or
other conflicts that would seriously impair the health or quality of life for
the resident.
This
level of support by the Foundation will be achieved by two methods at the
election and with the permission of the residents. The Foundation will be
allowed private healthcare insurance coverage to supplement Medicare and the
Foundation will set aside a monthly reimbursement account for each resident
that will accumulate in value if unused.
HealthCare Cost Estimates
Schedule
of Likely Services (Covered by Grant)
|
Service |
Daily |
Monthly |
Annual |
|
Home Care |
|
|
|
|
Hours - 8 |
$176 |