Dispelling Myths of Raising Funds for Long Term Care | HBH ...

It?s been our privilege to work with many fine health care organizations.

Raising funds for long-term care presents special challenges for reaching beyond the families whose loved ones are residents in a long term care facility. The general public has many misconceptions about the topic. We?re experiencing this on a personal level in my family now.

Gladys, our 94-year-old, remembers the ?home? in the small town where she grew up as a place where people went to die.? We?re gradually dispelling this myth with tours of some contemporary residences, where she is fed excellent food in welcoming surroundings and meets other elders in similar circumstances.

Other myths are that the ?home? or the ?State? will take the family home and leave the remaining spouse homeless and bankrupt.? Not true.? However, Long Term Care Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Elderly Waiver and all the financial arrangements are a mystery to most people.? And Elder Care is becoming more expensive as memory problems becomes an issue for many.

Ideally, nonprofit facilities make up the difference between reimbursement (which in Minnesota is regulated by the state) and actual costs through philanthropy that provides the extras like 42-inch beds instead of 36-inch beds ? which, to me, look like a child?s bed.

However, it takes a lot of coaxing to gain community interest in philanthropy for long term care. It?s best to start with families who are pleased with their loved one?s care.? Beyond that, community relations and educational activities are key for both marketing and future philanthropy. They bring family, friends and the community into the building and in contact with the elders who live there and plant seeds for volunteerism and philanthropy. ?Special events (?friend-raisers? and fundraisers) are key to introducing new people to a type of charity that has been a well-kept secret.

It takes quite a long time to dispel a misperception, but just last weekend, Gladys spoke warmly of the nice place she visited with us last spring.? If someday she decides she wants to move from her house, she knows what she can expect. And I know that philanthropy makes it possible.

-Dianne

?

photo credit: Felizberto ? Emmanuel Avetta via photopin cc

?

?

?

Tags: caring for elder, elders, Fundraising, fundraising for eldercare, fundraising for healthcare, giving, long term care, memory care, myths of long term care, nursing homes, philanthropy, philanthropy for long term care

This entry was posted on Monday, December 17th, 2012 at 8:01 am and is filed under Fundraising. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.hbhconsultants.com/dispelling-myths-of-raising-funds-for-long-term-care/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dispelling-myths-of-raising-funds-for-long-term-care

st louis weather guinea bissau google stock google stock china gdp dont trust the b in apartment 23 johnny damon