You might find yourself in need of in-home care following an injury, fall, or heart attack that happens unexpectedly, or this may have been an event you've been planning for several months. Home health care is designed to provide services and equipment for those who are experiencing a variety of conditions. Several different levels of care can be used to meet your needs. Personal care assistants, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, skilled nursing providers, and registered nurses are all potential providers you may consider as you evaluate your needs.
Who Pays for In-Home Care?
There are pros and cons to using an agency or hiring someone independently. For the most part, to enjoy insurance reimbursement, you'll likely need to go through an agency where you'll have access to professionals who have been pre-screened and for whom you have a backup if your caregiver gets sick. Costs often vary from state-to-state, and sometimes between cities. Your home care agency can help you become familiar with the regulations where you live and the care that can be provided. Agencies will charge a different amount depending upon the type of care that's needed and the level of expertise your caregiver has. In other words, several hours from a personal care assistant will cost less than several hours from a registered nurse.
Do You Qualify for In-Home Care?
If you are paying privately, you do not have to qualify for in-home care. However, if your loved one requires in-home care to stay home, you may be able to receive help through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or local support services for seniors. To qualify for in-home health care through Medicare, your loved one must be considered homebound based on their criteria and under the care of a physician who completes documentation for the agency. Although Medicare does not cover non-skilled personal care, which includes activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and eating, Medicaid will sometimes cover these services. Some states also offer homemaker services and custodial care programs for older adults to allow them to age at home.
How do I Find the Right Person to Bring into My Home?
Finding the right person to care for your loved one may be a challenge. Your first step should be to write down the needs and limitations you and your loved one feel are an accurate representation of their abilities. You should also include your expectations and your physician's recommendations. You can use these items to help interview your caregiver. You have the option of going through an agency, a registry or finding someone through friends.
When you hire someone through an agency like Harmony, we can quickly upgrade the level of care your loved one receives when a diagnosis changes, you have no paperwork to submit to the insurance company, as we take care of that, and our liability protection covers your caregiver. This means that if a caregiver is injured on the job, in your home, the agency covers the cost. Going through a registry or hiring privately will mean you must schedule your caregivers and cover any emergencies for your caregiver. You'll need to investigate and do background checks, complete paperwork and protect yourself against liability for an on-the-job accident.
Harmony Can Help!
As you and your family walk this journey together, it’s important to have someone who has been there before. We can answer your questions and help you make the decision that is best for you and your loved one. Contact us today - we are ready to help.