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Caretaking services that come to your door
Caring for a senior or a sick loved one can be overwhelming and usually requires round-the-clock care., Most people, however, can't fulfill the responsibilities of a full-time caretaker, and must make alternative plans. To many, the idea of sending their loved one to a nursing home or long-term rehab center is worrisome or simply out of the question. Fortunately for these individuals, a variety of care services can offer the best of both worlds: superior medical care within the comfort of one's own home.
Home health care refers to a range of medical services that can be given in the convenience of one's own home. These services are typically used to transition patients after a stint in a hospital or rehab facility.
"Home care nurses work with patients to establish a routine and healthy lifestyle for optimum health and wellness," says Christopher MacInnis, Senior Vice President of Hospice and Home Health at PruittHealth. "This includes teaching patients about their condition, showing them modifications to move around their home, helping keep track of and administering medications and ensuring nutritional needs are met."
Other tasks of in-home nurses may include:
- Tending to pressure sores or surgical wounds
- Administering intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Administering injections
- Checking blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing
- Assessing pain and helping to alleviate symptoms
- Coordinating care between healthcare professionals outside of home care services
- Providing physical therapy
Though the primary goal of most home health services is to help patients recover from illness and regain independence, some in-home services are much more involved. For seniors or chronically ill patients, such as those with mobility issues or dementia, that require assistance with day-to-day tasks, home care services may be the right choice. Unlike home health services, which usually involve only a few visits a week for a limited amount of time, home care services are more permanent. Though some long-term home care providers can assist with medical conditions, many people choose home care for nonmedical reasons. Likewise, home health services usually need to a doctor's referral before proceeding, but home care services can be accessed without a medical professional's consent.
Personal Home Care can assist with the following:
- Meal preparation
- Helping dressing, bathing and grooming
- Transportation
- Medication
- Companionship
- Bill pay
- Running errands
Paying for in-home care services
"Most types of insurance, including private, Medicare or Veteran Affairs (VA), will cover short-term care visits after hospitalization or injury," says Chris MacInnis of PruittHealth.
Coverage usually only lasts until your loved one's condition is stable and no longer requires immediate medical attention. Individuals with long-term care insurance (LTC) can use their benefits to purchase home care services, nonmedical or otherwise. However, if your loved one doesn't have LTC, regular insurance typically won't pay for long-term medical or non-medical in-home care services.
If you or your loved one's insurer doesn't cover home care services, don't despair. You have options. Many states have in-home assistance programs for low-income seniors. These programs are intended to help seniors delay or prevent living in nursing home facilities. Additionally, there are plenty of low-cost home care programs that offer quality services at a fraction of the cost.
Finding an affordable home care option can be confusing, so you may want to enlist the help of a Public Benefits Counselor or Eldercare Resource Planner to help you find the most wallet-friendly option.
Whether or not your loved one requires home care, it's never too early to start planning for the future. A little preparation can save you time, money and a big headache when it comes time to enlist the help of a professional.
