Understanding Home Care Agency Options
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Home Family -> subcategory Elderly Care.
Understanding Home Care Agency Options
As people age, the desire to stay in their homes, surrounded by family, friends, and familiar environments, becomes stronger. However, maintaining complete independence can become challenging. Many Americans spend part or all their day caring for loved ones who need support to remain at home. Often, professional assistance is required to supplement this care due to other responsibilities like work or childcare. Currently, Americans spend over $40 billion each year on home care services, enabling loved ones to "age in place."
If you're considering home care for a relative, here’s some guidance to simplify the process:
Assessing Care Needs
Start by determining the specific care requirements. Is hands-on assistance needed for tasks like bathing, dressing, and toileting? Are there cognitive concerns that demand specialized care? It's crucial to consider financial constraints and whether the individual is open to receiving help. Document your answers and estimate the needed care schedule. This information will be invaluable when contacting home care agencies. If you need help assessing these needs, local senior centers often have social workers or can refer you to a geriatric care manager. These professionals specialize in long-term care arrangements, conducting in-home assessments, and developing care plans.
Understanding Types of Care
Custodial or Supportive Care: Provided by paraprofessionals such as home health aides and nursing assistants, this care includes help with daily activities, transportation, and light housekeeping.
Skilled Care: Offered by healthcare professionals like registered nurses or therapists, skilled care usually follows hospitalization due to illness or injury. Coordination of these services is often managed by discharge planners and social workers.
Contacting an Agency
Home care agencies are licensed and regulated at the state level, leading to variations in requirements across states. Medicare-certified agencies also adhere to federal regulations. If Medicare coverage is necessary, ensure the agency is Medicare-certified.
Paying for Care
Many people expect Medicare to cover home care, but it only does so for skilled needs under specific criteria. Medicare does not cover ongoing long-term custodial care, which typically requires payment from personal resources. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to explore available programs and services for which the individual might qualify.
For additional guidance, consider the free booklet "Understanding Home Care Agency Options" from the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Part of the "Since You Care" series, it offers valuable advice, resources, and checklists in collaboration with the National Alliance for Caregiving.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Understanding Home Care Agency Options.
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