If you’re considering a continuing care at home (CCaH) program like Sun Health at Home, you’ve probably noticed there is a health screening requirement to join.
A CCaH program evaluates prospective members’ health at the time of application, so it can effectively evaluate potential members’ likelihood of living independently in their own home without the need for advanced care, while balancing the cost of providing that care when the time comes.
In general, continuing care at home (CCaH) programs are appropriate for reasonably healthy individuals who are independent and do not have current needs related to activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, walking or preparing meals.
Let’s do a deeper dive into what it’s all about and why it’s beneficial to you.
Why does my health history and current condition matter?
Evaluating your health status prior to joining the program helps the CCaH program maintain its focus on successful aging through independence, health and wellbeing by admitting members able to take advantage of the various menu of services to support successful aging in place.
At least two years of medical records will be reviewed, including primary care physicians, specialists, lab work and other details, but the CCaH provider may need to go even further back into your medical records if a health condition is longstanding, or if you have experienced significant changes to your health in recent years. Â
Independent living is required
To join a CCaH program, members must be able to live independently with minimal assistance and manage normal tasks of daily living on their own. Members may or may not be driving themselves, but they need to be able to arrange transportation and have little to no mobility issues. Whether they are 62 or 102, they must be able to live independently when they enter the program.
A CCaH program may provide health care services for Alzheimer’s disease, assisted living, skilled nursing care and other services if it becomes necessary down the road, but it’s intended to help members remain independent and healthy.
CCaH Exclusions
Does the applicant’s health need to be perfect? No, but there are a few pre-existing conditions that can prevent someone from becoming approved. They typically include:
- Neurological or cognitive impairment diagnoses, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Chronic kidney disease that requires dialysis
- Metastatic cancer
- Any other medical condition or disease that indicates a potential need for significant levels of care or a loss of independence in the near future
What’s included in a CCaH health screening?
Along with the detailed review of past medical records, most CCaH providers will include a host of cognitive screening tests, and evaluations that include nutrition, depression and functional independence as part of the initial health evaluation.
All of these are intended to determine what level of care the applicant may require, and should be relevant to the care and services the community offers. Specific details about the health screening and its requirements may vary by provider, so it’s important to ask detailed questions. Understanding details about your state’s insurance laws can be important, too, if the CCaH plan includes a Life Care provision.
If you’d like to learn more about Sun Health at Home, continuing care at home and Life Care, reserve your spot now at our free, no-obligation discovery seminar, or call (623) 227- HOME (4663).Â
