This guest article will also help families know more about the typical cost of a home-care agency, which can vary somewhat depending on where you live, as well as the level of care the patient needs. Below is the helpful post from Illuminated Hearts.
What Does It Mean to Receive In-Home Care?
From Illuminated Hearts
We all want to maintain our independence. However, several underlying factors may hinder this. It gets even more complex when you need a great deal of care, and you rely on your relatives to get things done for you, since most family members may already be very busy with their own daily activities. This is where in-home care workers come in, because they can provide assistance whenever the family is unable to.
In-home care refers to skilled home health care services which are delivered directly to a client in the
comfort of their homes. The specific services offered depend on the client’s
needs. The clientele for these services include:
● Disabled people
● Chronically ill patients
● People recovering from surgery or illness
● Aging adults, including those who are frail or experiencing dementia
Benefits of In-Home Care Services
You can reap many
benefits by hiring someone from an in-home care service. These benefits range from:
● Personalized care at home with a broad range
of services
● Affordability - typically less expensive than skilled nursing home care
● Retaining your independence
● Staying close to your friends and family
● Faster recovery from illness or injury
The Cost of In-Home Care Services
The first step in setting up an in-home care plan is knowing the costs involved. The
prices vary due to different factors such as:
● Geographical location
● Client’s health
● Amount of time required to care for the patient - from a few hours a day to 24-hour a day care in extreme situations
● Level of care required
According to Genworth’s
survey, in the US the average cost of in-home care ranges from $4,290 to $4481
per month. The survey was based on an 8-hour day care schedule, which is equated
to approximately $19 per hour and $149 per day. Your cost may be lower if you only need assistance part of the day, depending on the amount of care the patient needs. Typically, the home-aide companies require a four-hour daily minimum. Even a few hours a day may be sufficient for the caregiver to help your loved one with personal care, make sure their meals are prepared, do a little light housekeeping, and set up their medications for the day. This could take a tremendous burden off family members.
Types of In-Home Care Services
Each in-home care
service is unique and is based on the client’s preferences and needs, as well as the individual caregiver’s ability and training. Professionals who offer home care
services in Philadelphia will always
ensure that you hire the right caregiver or medical aide who is capable of matching the patient's specific needs.
1.
Personal Caregiver
This is perhaps the most common type of in-home care service provided. It is also known as non-medical care, and it is meant to help the elderly or someone with a disability participate in their normal daily activities.
Non-medical care does not need to be recommended by a doctor. However, if your loved one requires a long-term service which runs in shifts of up to 24 hours, throughout the week, you may require a live-in type of service.
Duties Performed by Non-Medical Caregivers
● Close supervision of patients suffering from
memory-loss conditions
● Personal self-care: bathing, dressing, using
the toilet, and helping the client take their medications on time
● Companionship at home, and transportation to and from doctor
appointments
● Engaging clients in hobbies and other activities
to keep them active
● House-keeping activities such as buying groceries, meal
preparation, laundry, light housekeeping and running small errands
● Mobility assistance including transfer between a
wheelchair and bed
● Enhanced home safety, including prevention from falls
2.
Private Nurse Care
This kind of service requires a registered nurse who can work either in or outside of a hospital setting. It is also known as home-based skilled nursing, and it is intended for clients who have a chronic illness, injury, or who have undergone surgery.
A doctor must recommend a private nurse. Nursing care is sometimes needed long-term, and may run in shifts of up to 24 hours throughout the week.
Duties Involved
● Post-treatment care and monitoring of chronic
conditions such as spinal injury or traumatic brain injury
● Post-surgery care or gastrostomy care
● Administering medications, including injections or
IV therapy
● Maintaining feeding tubes, oxygen tubes, a catheter, and other medical devices
3. Home Health Care - Medic Certified Therapists
This kind of service requires a licensed health practitioner such as a physical, occupational or speech therapist. It is also known as medic-certified home health care, and is meant to provide skilled medical care for patients recovering from an illness, injury, or after a hospital admission.
These types of therapies must also must be recommended by a doctor. This type of care is also short-term. The health practitioner makes visits to the home, which typically last up to one hour. These visits will continue until individual expectations and goals are met.
Duties Involved
● Physical therapy: help with strength building exercises and doing stretches meant
to ease muscle pain
● Occupational therapy: help patients maintain the skills needed to go back to their daily activities
● Speech-language therapy: help improve speech or
communication disorders
● Medical social work: provide the required necessary counseling for patients
Choosing the Best In-Home Care Service
1.
Get References From Your Physician
Most physicians know the
best caregivers in their area, and they can advise you accordingly on the in-home
care agency or agencies to use.
2.
Have a Budget and an Affordable Payment Plan
It is essential to know
how much you can afford and explore all possible options if you need a
caregiving service. Also, ensure that you thoroughly discuss your payment plan
to avoid unexpected additional charges which may come up in the future. If the patient has long-term care insurance, you can use that. If they have a very low income and few assets, their care may be covered by Medicaid. Some types of temporary care, such as physical therapy or short-time care after surgery, may be covered by Medicare or their health insurance. Explore all your options with your insurance company and with the caregiving agency. They may be able to help you guide you and assist you in completing the necessary forms.
3.
Clearly Define the
Responsibilities
Ensure that the
caregiver you choose knows everything that is involved and is comfortable
handling the necessary care, as stated.
4.
Conduct a Background Check
This has become easier because of the online resources which are available. You may use a company which specializes in conducting
background checks. This will help you know more about the agency and caregivers you will be dealing
with.
5.
Know the Caregivers’
Qualifications
This information includes learning about the the training and certifications the caregiver has. Basic First Aid skills are essential for all caregivers, in the event of a health emergency or minor accidents in the home.
It may take some research before you trust
a stranger in your home. Although an in-home caregiver is an excellent option for most patients, be sure to do your homework and hire the best in-home care
service to assist your loved one.
About Our Company
Illuminated Hearts is an agency that provides
affordable home
care services in Philadelphia. We are a home care agency in
Philadelphia which accepts Medicaid, allowing us to provide affordable home care
for seniors, the disabled, and the intellectually disabled. Schedule your free
assessment today by calling 215-921-6624.
You may also learn more about what to expect from a home care aide by reading "Providing Home Care: A Textbook for Home Health Aides." (Ad)
You can find gifts for retirees and others at my Etsy Store, DeborahDianGifts: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeborahDianGifts
Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission to support this blog, at no extra cost to you.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
Photo credit: Pixabay
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for leaving a comment. Your thoughts and insights about retirement are always appreciated. However, comments that include links to other sites will usually not be published.