Private home care is an invaluable service for those who require assistance with daily tasks. It can be especially beneficial to those aging, recovering from surgery or living with disabilities.
Private home care services often coexist with home health care for clients who require both types of assistance. At Visiting Nurse Health System, we offer both types of care and work closely with families to meet all individual requirements.
Costs
Private home care costs vary significantly based on agency and service. They can range from several short visits a week to round-the-clock coverage.
Healthy, independent seniors who require assistance with household tasks or errands but don’t require skilled medical attention may benefit from having a few short visits each week. It may also be beneficial for someone recovering from an illness or surgery.
A caregiver or aide who comes to your loved one’s home part-time, full-time or even live-in can offer assistance with tasks such as meal preparation and cleaning, companionship and transportation. According to Genworth’s most recent Cost of Care survey, this kind of care costs roughly half as much as a private room in a nursing home.
Availability
Home care is an excellent way to keep a loved one secure and healthy in the comfort of their own home. Additionally, it provides a sense of purpose for caregivers who have earned their experience over time.
Private home care is on the rise, as many larger traditional home health agencies are now adding non-skilled services to their rosters. This means more senior citizens can access the necessary level of home care they require without having to make a life altering decision about whether to move into nursing homes, retirement communities or remain in their own homes.
A well-thought out and implemented home care program can make a dramatic improvement to an aging parent’s quality of life. But before making your choice, be sure to weigh all your options thoroughly. By asking the right questions and consulting with family members, you are sure to find a solution that works best for both of you.
Qualifications
Home care aides offer companionship and assistance with daily living tasks such as personal grooming, meal preparation and light housekeeping. They may also offer respite care to give family members some time off to run errands or take vacations.
Licensed healthcare aides and nurses can offer clinical services in the home setting. They may work as home health aides, private duty nurses or therapists.
If you want to become a home health care aide, the initial step is obtaining licensure and an business license in your state. Additionally, you may complete a training course to gain experience before joining an agency that provides this service.
Insurance & Private Pay
Most seniors and their families worry about how they will pay for home care if it becomes necessary. They may be eligible to use government programs like Medicare or Medicaid or other public benefits like pensions.
If Medicare or Medicaid aren’t an option, seniors can turn to private pay or long-term care insurance to help cover costs. They may even use their own assets and savings as payment for in-home care services.
Some home health services are covered by Medicare, such as intermittent skilled nursing care and physical/occupational therapy; speech-language and medical social work. It’s important to note that Medicare does not cover non-skilled services like personal care or help with activities of daily living (ADLs).