Senior Home Care might seem like a daunting subject when you have an aging loved one. Many seniors wish to age in place at home but that can be challenging. You may find you need added support to make that goal possible. But what are the options?
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Senior Home Care Types & Costs
What’s the Difference? An Overview Of The Types & Cost Of Senior Home Care
There are a lot of affordable ways to make adaptions in your senior loved one’s home. This will make aging in place safer. For example you can utilize an automatic pill reminder box, adjustable grab bars, and a fall alert with GPS.
At some point you also may need to bring in Senior Home care. The costs can differ across the spectrum- from in home health care, non medical home care and hospice.
Home Health Care is the umbrella term for all types of in home care services available to seniors. Most often when people heart this term they think of medical home care. This includes services such as Nursing, Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy.
Skilled home health requires a physician’s order. Often this is following a hospitalization.
Medicare and most other insurances will cover Skilled Home Health Care. The patient generally incurs no out of pocket cost to receive these services, however they are intermittent and temporary.
Non Medical Home Care
Non-medical senior home care is supportive day to day care. Sometimes this type of care is referred to as Private Duty. Non medical Senior home care companies employ caregivers who go to the client’s home. The caregivers can provide help with personal needs such as hygiene care, bathing and dressing. They can also assist with household tasks such as laundry, light housekeeping and meal preparation. This type of help enables the individual to continue to live in the comfort of home as they get older.
Stringent requirements are put on licensed non medical senior home care companies. The screening process for the caregivers they employ may include reference checks, background checks and drug testing. They must also provide ongoing training. Perhaps most importantly, the company also must carry malpractice and worker’s compensation insurance. This is very important because it protects both the client and the employee. Another safety tip is to use a camera or monitor to give you access and oversight to the care being provided.
The price range for non medical senior home care varies widely depending on various factors. Factors such as the type of services requested, the number of hours services are needed for, geographical location, and the qualifications of the caregiver. National averages range from $21-$36/hour.
There are some public payors for non medical senior home care. For example medicaid and veteran’s association in some places will pay for senior home care.
Hospice
Hospice care focuses to support individuals with a terminal illness during the final phases of life, enabling patients to be comfortable and enjoy a better quality of life. It also focuses on the emotional needs and spiritual well-being. Patients can utilize Hospice care in their own home, which is most common. However there are also residential care facilities where patients can go to receive hospice services. The patient’s family can also benefit from ongoing bereavement services and support even after the patient has passed away.
Most hospice patients have their costs covered by Medicare part A, Medicaid, or other insurance so generally there are no out of pocket costs to the patient. Most hospices also offer charity services and do not turn down people without insurance.
Summary
Adults desiring to age in place may use all of the above services can be utilized to do so. Most people (close to 80% according to national studies) will need some form of supportive care in their elder years, and prefer to receive care in their home.
Many will need a combination of the above services. It is a good idea to enlist a family member or support person to do research and locate the services in your area that will be a good match for you and your individual situation. A geriatric care manager can also be a great resource to help you locate the appropriate type of senior home care needed within the individual’s budget.
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