senior care
Senior Loneliness Is a Health Crisis
This Mental Health Awareness Month, Let’s Treat It Like One. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a good time to talk about something many older adults are quietly struggling with: senior loneliness. Loneliness might sound like just a feeling. It’s actually a serious health risk for seniors. It can hurt the brain, the heart,…
Read MoreState-by-State Long-Term Care Costs
A Reference Guide for Families Planning Senior Care Understanding Long-Term Care Costs Long-term care costs vary dramatically by state and care setting. Use this guide to understand what families in your area typically pay for different levels of care. Remember: these are averages. Actual costs depend on the specific facility, location within the state, level…
Read MoreUnderstanding Long-Term Care
A Complete Guide to Your Options When a parent starts struggling at home, missing medications, falling, or just seeming less like themselves, families often find themselves thrust into a world they know little about. What is long-term care? What’s the difference between assisted living and a nursing home? Will Medicare pay for any of this?…
Read MoreMeet Amanda DiGiovanni, OTD, BCPA
Amanda DiGiovanni, OTD, BCPA, is a patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with more than 25 years of experience. She is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and holds an Executive Certification in Home Modifications, so she can set up a home to work for someone with disabilities…
Read MoreReal Help for Caregivers: Guide to state and federal programs
If you are a caregiver for your mom, dad, spouse or elderly loved one you are probably exhausted. You love your mom (or dad, or spouse). You want to take care of them. But it is a lot of work and you are drained and approaching burn out. Maybe you have kids or a job…
Read MorePatient Advocate Profile: Victoria de la Cruz, BSHA
Victoria de la Cruz is a patient advocate with more than 25 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical care, healthcare administration, and senior care coordination. As an Umbra advocate, she helps individuals and families of all ages navigate care transitions, coordinate services across providers, and make complex healthcare decisions with clarity and support. Victoria began…
Read MoreHow Do I Get Paid to Take Care of Mom?
Are you caring for an aging parent while also working full time, raising kids and running your own household? Perhaps you have wondered “how can I get paid to take care of mom, dad, or an elderly loved one?” You are not alone. More than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member.…
Read MoreMeet Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA
Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA, is a registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She has more than 25 years of nursing experience across hospitals, long-term care, home health, hospice, and case management. Barbara supports patients and families as they navigate the healthcare system and make confident, informed decisions. She is also a…
Read MoreState Guide to Medicaid Caregiver Payment Programs
Looking for Medicaid caregiver programs that pay family members to care for elderly loved ones? Every state has Medicaid programs that can pay you to provide care. Use the table below to find out what is available in your state. How to Get Paid by the State for Taking Care of a Family Member Most…
Read MoreMedicaid Eligibility Guide by State for Long Term Care
If you or a loved one needs nursing home care or help at home, Medicaid may be able to cover the costs. Medicaid eligibility is not simple. Every state has different rules about how much money you can earn and how much you can own. The table below shows the 2026 eligibility requirements for all…
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