What exactly is Home Care?
Home Care is the broad term used to describe many types of services that are provided to assist a person with activities of daily living. The activities could require hands-on care or other types of household assistance. If someone needs helps bathing, dressing, eating, transferring or ambulating they may need home care from a skilled agency or non-medical aid with training to ensure the safety of the person in need. In other cases, a person may need assistance with common household chores or transportation to doctor’s appointments or simply companionship. A variety of home care services, agencies and self-employed individuals may fit your needs. How do you determine the right type, amount, and expense suited for your needs?
01
Be realistic
Should someone be home while you are bathing, or should someone be in the bathroom to assist you in and out of the tub? Do you want someone to take you to the store and walk beside you, or do you just need a ride? The more detail you can give a reputable home care agency about your needs, the better chance they will pair you with the right level of staff. Non-medical agencies cannot change wound dressing or administer medication, but could be an excellent solution for cleaning, companionship and limited hands-on assistance. Skilled agencies have nursing oversight and can perform some healthcare services but will be more costly.
02
Investigate
Does your loved one have memory or cognition problems? If so, investigate the dementia training for any staff you might engage. Ask about the aide’s prior experience with dementia patients and what type of supervision the aide receives.
03
Benefit
Would your loved one benefit from Adult Day Center Care, which provides a safe, supervised setting offering health, social, and recreational activities for adults needing daytime assistance. Adult Day Centers serve as a “home away from home”.
04
Safety
Is safety a concern? Many home care agencies, geriatric care managers and assistive technology providers offer in-home assessments to prevent falls, add grab bars, and identify other risks within the home. There are also emergency response systems that can detect falls or call for help when an emergency happens.
05
Needs
Finding the right home care agency for your needs will take work. You can start by checking the list in regional directories, like 2-1-1, or you can call the Area Agency on Aging for recommendations at 800-994-9422. SWCAA remains unbiased and will provide three agencies that align with your needs. You should interview them all and decide based on your impression of the agency and staff. Family members and loved ones should be prepared to check in on home care services to ensure the care is provided as intended and to assess the satisfaction of the service, especially if the client is unable to communicate their thoughts on their own.
Paying for Home Care Services
Medicare only pays for home care after an acute injury or illness, for a short duration to projected recovery or baseline and ordered by a doctor. Medicare does not pay for help with activities of daily living- dressing, bathing, eating, transferring, and ambulating unless it is part of the physician’s order following an injury or illness. Ongoing help for everyday activities is not covered under Medicare although some Medicare advantage plans may offer limited support under certain conditions.
A study by Genworth states that 44 hours of in-home care per week costs $77,000 annually. This does not include specialized nursing care or overnight care. Depending on the amount of care you or your loved one needs, the expenses can be daunting.
There are some programs that may help with home care expenses. SWCAA has limited short-term funds from the Older Americans Act and State funding that can provide temporary respite for caregivers caring for older individuals. Call 800-994-9422 to learn more.
Veterans may be eligible for certain homecare services through their VA benefits. Veterans should check with their nurse care manager at the VA for more information.
Some disease specific associations, Parkinsons Association and the Alzheimer’s Association may have stipends to support clients. Check their website and call the Association.
Medicaid pays the bulk of long-term care. There are strict guidelines for those who may be eligible for long term care. The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders provides an alternative to nursing home care for adults age 60 and older when they meet both financial and functional criteria.