The majority of older adults will need some level of help with daily tasks to maintain their independence. Home care services are an important part of supporting aging at home, but choosing the right provider can be difficult. Do you need nursing care, home health aides, or rehabilitation therapy? How much assistance do they need and how often? This post goes through all of that and more.
Home care for elderly in their own homes
For many people, long-term care is out of reach financially, and many have no other option but to remain at home, even when it becomes difficult to take care of themselves or live on their own. If you or your loved one are facing this challenge, here are some tips for navigating this situation.
What type of at-home care do they need?
The first step is figuring out what type of assistance they need and how much. Home care services can include personal care, medical assistance, companionship, and so on. The next step is determining how often that help is needed. Will they need care daily, twice a week, or only a few hours once a month? Knowing what they need helps narrow down your options and target the providers who best suit your loved one’s needs.
How do you find the best home care services for them?
There are multiple options for home care for elderly in their own homes. How do you know what’s the best fit? Both Medicare and Medicaid cover home care, and there are private insurers as well. In addition to Medicare, you can find home care for seniors through Medi-Cal, the state-run health care program for low-income residents. Use this Medicare Finder tool to check eligibility. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t generally cover long-term services or rehab programs.
Home care can also be provided privately. Options include private duty nurses, home health aides, and personal care assistants (PCAs). Many seniors choose to hire a private in-home caregiver through a temp agency. For many caregivers, an agency provides the best environment for finding and keeping clients.
Individual home care agencies may be more or less expensive than their counterparts. In some regions, PCA therapy is hard to find and can be an extremely expensive option. Other regions may be able to provide more affordable care.
What are the benefits of at-home care?
While home care for seniors in their own homes is a way to stay in one’s own home, there are a number of benefits to back it up and weigh it against other options. What are those benefits?
Home care can be very convenient. Many seniors prefer to remain at home because they enjoy their independence and know that they can continue living on their own terms. Home care services can help them maintain that independence by helping them do things like pay the bills, cook meals, and clean their homes.
Home care can be very cost-effective. While private in-home caregivers can be more expensive than caregivers provided through a home health care agency, they are generally much more affordable than assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Even if you consider long-term costs, in many cases home care is still cheaper over time.
Home care is a great option for families. Most people would prefer to stay at home with their loved ones if they can, and it’s no wonder considering the benefits of staying in your own home. If you need help caring for your elderly mom or dad, home care services can be a lifesaver.
What are the risks of at-home care?
While many people love their independence, it can also be costly and challenging to take care of elderly loved ones. It’s important to understand what problems can arise from relying on home care services.
In some cases, seniors may be unable to continue taking care of themselves at home. If your loved one has dementia or another condition that makes it hard for them to get around, they may start feeling anxious and uncomfortable if they have to leave the house. They may feel like they have no choice but to go to a nursing home, which can mean selling their home, moving in with family, or some other major change.
If your loved one is having trouble taking care of themselves and you aren’t able to stay at home with them to take over, they could end up feeling isolated and depressed. This can quickly begin a cycle of social isolation that makes it harder and harder for them to evaluate whether or not they need help living on their own.
Why is home care so important?
Home care can be a very effective and sometimes the only option when you have a loved one who needs some assistance. That said, there are a lot of challenges involved in taking care of a loved one who is elderly in their own home. The most important reason to consider home health services for someone who’s elderly in their own home is that it can be more affordable than other options. The cost of home care services is much lower than assisted living facilities or nursing homes.