There are many senior home care options available so it is important that when you are deciding which route to take that you are well informed and in this article we will be giving you a guide to the best in home senior-care options that are out there.
The first step in deciding which route of in home care you need is to determine what your needs are. There are basically two different forms of senior home care: home care and home health care.
Senior home care can be a perfect option for seniors that don’t need too much supervision and care when it comes to health. At-home care providers can often help with normal things around the house such as cleaning, cooking and normal house duties that may prove to be a difficult task for most seniors.
If you are looking for some extra help around the house and normal cleaning tasks are too hard to handle anymore, at-home care providers are a perfect option, especially with transportation if you can no longer drive.
Home Health Care
Home health care is another form of at-home care but this is a better option for seniors that need medicine and actual health care. This form of health care will give you a certified nurse that is able to take care of all your medical needs.
This option is best for medical needs that require a higher level skill than your average at-home health care professional. Home health care professionals can assist in things like measuring medicine, using medical equipment, and administering medicine properly.
Another form of at-home care is Alzheimer’s care, this form of care giving can be pretty expensive because Alzheimer’s is a disease that requires a lot of attention and time from the caregiver. There are both medical at-home care specialists and non medical caregivers for Alzheimer’s care as well.
How Much For In-Home Care?
The price of in-home care varies on a few factors, such as:
- How many hours
- Type of care given (Medical/Non medical)
- If you are insured
With all of the above things in mind, the national average price for non medical care giving in recent years is about $20.50 per hour, although this price can vary depending on the care that you need as well as what state you live in.
Full time care is a whole other beast. This option is often more expensive and you normally have to pay this caregiver a salary rather than hourly pay. This is the best option for seniors that need a lot of attention and care, this is great because they will have someone to be there every day out of the week.
Veteran Senior Home Care
There are also care options available for veterans and those disabled from war. These care options may be pretty inexpensive depending on a few factors:
- The branch of military you served
- The position you held while in duty
- If you were injured in battle
These are all key factors that could determine how much you have to spend on at-home care if you are a veteran. Its important that you get in touch with your local VA office to see what options are out there for in-home care.
Choosing The Best Senior Home Care Agency
Luckily, seniors are offered numerous options when choosing such health care options. However, home care does not conform to a one size fits all approach. Making the most appropriate choice requires careful research and adherence to specific tips.
Determining The Type Of Care One Needs
There are several specific types of care. It is important for prospective candidates to realize that not every agency offers all possible benefits. We can break the services performed by these health care entities down into certain notable categories.
Personal Care And Companionship
This service best serves seniors requiring assistance executing tasks, such as cooking, dressing, bathing, cleaning, and other household tasks. In most instances, seniors with significant physical mobility issues favor this type of care. It does not require a physician’s prescription.
Nursing Care
Nursing care is most suited for individuals needing long-term in-home medical assistance to address serious, chronic maladies. Specific illnesses include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, neuro-muscular disorders, major breathing difficulties, or persons using feeding tubes or catheters. Nursing assistance mandates a doctor’s prescription.
Full-Time Senior Home Care
Subjects requiring such services typically do so for briefer periods when recovering from some type of illness, injury, or longstanding hospital stay. Commonly employed forms of assistance could be physical and occupational therapy, nursing services, and speech pathology. A physician’s prescription is required to receive these benefits.
After establishing the specific type of assistance needed, prospective candidates are then urged to obtain referrals. Suggestions could come from any trusted source, such as neighbors, friends, healthcare providers, and elder care industry professionals.
Perform Due Diligence
When considering specific agencies, potential patients and their families are implored to perform extensive research. Information gathered should cover topics, such as how long the agency in question has been offering their services, if they hold proper licenses and certifications, and the experience and skill of their employees.
Investigate The Agency’s History
After narrowing the choice down to a handful of candidates, would-be patients are urged to investigate the agency’s history. Questions to ask include if the establishment enjoys a favorable community record and has an outside party has audited the agency?
Reputable agencies will receive quality scores from watchdog entities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also abbreviated as the CMS, closely monitors home health care establishments. Investigators should look for institutions with scores of three and higher.
Patient Satisfaction
The CMS also chronicles patient opinions. Establishments with favorable views may be worth further investigation.
Above all, prospective patients and their families should be comfortable working with a given home care agency. Representatives and employees of said institutions should be always be responsive to a patient’s needs and concerns. Additionally, said establishments should clearly document their services and be completely transparent regarding costs.