By Jackie Dover
I Need Help, What Do I Do?
Many times, at Aging Matters we get calls from seniors or their families asking about help at home. The help needed can range from cleaning, bathing or wound care and more. Different needs determine what kind of care is needed and what payor sources cover that care.
First off, Home Health Care is medical or skilled care, it is intermittent or part-time and must be done by a medical professional. This kind of care can include therapy, wound care, IV therapy/injections. You need an order from a medical professional that has seen you in person. Medicare Part A covers medically necessary Home Health Care, if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other insurance, you need to check with them to see what is covered.
The next kind of care, probably the most frequently asked about, is In-home Care, this is Non-Medical/Personal care. This help assists with activities of daily living, such as cleaning, bathing and meal preparation. You do not need an order from a doctor for this kind of help. The most common payor sources for in-home care are Medicaid, VA and self-pay. Medicaid is insurance for those with limited income and assets.
For each of the above services you will have to be evaluated for need and a care plan that describes the type of help and how many hours you are allotted is developed. None of the above help with 24-hour care. If you need more help than can be provided in the home, you may need to look at a Long-Term Care Facility. Facilities can help those with different levels of need.
Assisted Living Facilities take those who need some help with their care but not 24-hour nursing care, you live in a private or sometimes shared room in an apartment-like setting. Assisted facilities can help with personal care, meals and medication management. They also provide activities and recreational programs to keep residents healthy and active. Some have devoted Memory Care Units for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Assisted Living is mostly self-pay but there can be other resources like VA or Long-Term Care Insurance, if applicable.
Skilled Nursing Facilities provide the highest level of care. Skilled facilities provide 24-hour monitoring and supervision by medical professionals and support staff. They can assist with all activities of daily living, social activities and therapy services. VA, Long-term Care Insurance, Medicaid and self -pay are the common sources of payment for Skilled facilities.
Hospice Care is specialized care for those with a terminal illness, usually a diagnosis a disease or illness is expected to end in death within 6 months, if the illness or disease takes its natural course. Hospice provides comfort and support to the patient and their family. Most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid cover Hospice Care.
This is not an all-encompassing list of resources available but is the most requested. I would advise anyone interested or who has questions to reach out and discuss your needs, so you get the most accurate and personalized information for your situation. As always, you can call Aging Matters, 1-800-392-8771 if you have any questions or concerns. Because, Aging Matters.