Home care services provide essential assistance that can make a real difference to lives of individuals. However, not all types of home care are created equal.
Private home care primarily provides nonmedical support, service and companionship and is typically administered by either a registered nurse or certified healthcare aide.
Nurse Next Door, for instance, matches their clients with caregivers that meet all their criteria to provide continuity of care and ensure customer satisfaction – often more cost-effective than Medicare or Medicaid plans.
Costs
Home care costs vary based on the services needed by your loved one, with sleeping visits typically running approximately $12,200 a month and non-sleeping visits costing an additional $17,000 monthly.
Most families pay for home care services out of their savings and assets, though it’s wise to check with your insurer as some policies may cover some or all aspects of home care services.
Private home care agencies accepting private payments provide flexible scheduling and can provide quality caregivers at a more than reasonable rate. Furthermore, these agencies typically hold accreditation and insurance. Be sure to inquire as to the credentials of staff as well as whether or not they have experience dealing with medical conditions similar to your loved one’s.
Benefits
An expertly trained private caregiver can assist seniors to maximize the joys of life. If their hobbies no longer suit them, a home health aide could introduce new ones; additionally, this person would ensure medications are taken as per schedule.
Families can save time and energy by choosing an agency with prescreened workers with relevant experience who offer backup care should one of the primary caregivers be sick or is no longer available. Plus, these agencies take care of payroll taxes, worker’s comp insurance premiums and more!
Not servicing Medicare/Medicaid does not displace private home care agencies from the home care market; on the contrary, it may even prove beneficial as they can charge premium prices for more premium services.
Flexibility
Private pay home care offers more flexibility to meet the individual needs and lifestyle requirements of families than government-financed options, making it an excellent solution.
Home care systems requiring flexibility require daily decisions about time, tasks, schedules, roles and social ties that impact service decisions around time, tasks, schedules, roles and connections between service members. This flexibility is formed through interlinked structural features which require relationally embedded knowledge as well as prompting, client assertion and professional exception-making to maintain operationally.
One participant shared how a CC successfully proposed and negotiated a policy change allowing her client to keep their pet cats inside during visits, an example of the flexibility afforded by having an understanding of her client’s circumstances and realities.
Insurance
Home care services may be paid for through various sources. Medicare Parts A and B may cover some home health services if ordered by your physician and delivered through an agency meeting the program’s quality standards.
Private long-term care insurance and some Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for home care services; however, their individual policies vary considerably in benefits offered.
If you require more home care services than your insurance coverage allows for, it is wise to plan and save up for these extra services in advance. Another alternative may be applying for Medicaid home and community-based services waivers in your state; these programs provide financial aid for seniors living on fixed incomes with disabilities who require help performing daily tasks at home.
References
Home care agencies that want to attract referrals need to build personal connections with their clients on an intimate level, creating meaningful relationships and showing customers they value their business. Consider offering them a discount if they refer a friend.
Home care agencies rely heavily on referrals from hospitals, doctors’ offices, and social workers; however, these are usually only known through acquaintances rather than personal connections. Building these relationships could prove far more lucrative than an ordinary hospital referral.
Family members often worry about theft from loved ones living in home care services. However, such incidents are extremely unlikely; full service home care agencies conduct preemployment background checks on caregivers (criminal background and DMV checks), provide training and oversight of these workers as well as monitoring services to keep an eye on things.