“I Don’t Need home Care”
Home Care is not the first thing to be considered. People often deny the need for help until their situation becomes a crisis. This is unfortunate, as many crisis situations can be prevented with some degree of assistance earlier. Risks of falling are real for anyone over the age of 65. One in three is likely to fall and a third of them will have their life altered by the fall or complications involved. Sixty percent of family caregivers will pass on before the person they are caring for. Folks with moderate to severe memory loss and impaired cognition or judgment are not in the best condition to be making important decisions. These three instances show that a person may believe they don’t need in home care help but that is likely denial and anxiety speaking, rather than rational thought.
Loss of Independence
Since most older adults wish to remain in their own home, accepting some help with either personal care and household tasks – shopping, laundry, driving (increasing safety), actually makes remaining in your own home possible. A little help means greater independence which to a large degree involves making one’s own decisions, plans and managing one’s own affairs anyhow. A bad fall with problems or the need for 24-hour nursing care due to worsening disease is what causes most people to leave their home. Independent or Assisted Living moves are made more out of personal choice. Hiring an aide or assistant for in-home care quickly improves hygiene, nutrition, safety, confidence and gives peace of mind to family members which all combine for continued independence.
Only the Ill or Elderly use Home Care
Not so at all. People of all ages can experience an accident, surgery or manage a disease which causes them to use some amount of help in the home as they recover or maintain their routine. Older adults who have had an operation/hospital stay or are in need of some medical care can receive skilled visits by a nurse or therapist through Medicare. For folks who can use an extra pair of hands, a companion or driver, private duty home care can be what makes the positive difference in their progress and day to day. Home care helps children, adults, and seniors.
Home Care is Too Expensive
There is no getting around that in-home care or assistance is costly. Many people have Long Term Care Insurance but many more do not. In Home Care is less expensive than Assisted Living or Nursing Home Care, Schedules can be tailor made to individual needs and “live-in” care is more affordable than hourly 24-hour care – if that is what is needed. Usually, care is needed for a short time as in after a hospital or Rehab stay, so it is not a long term commitment. Some companies have just two-hour minimums rather than the typical 4 hours or more. It is recommended for seniors to share their concerns with adult sons and daughters who may prefer to help subsidize some in-home help rather than constantly worry about their parent’s safety and well-being. Prices vary around the country and between companies so some research is required. There are also some government benefits which can pay for or offset home care expenditures. The Veteran’s Administration has a few programs for Veteran’s/ Medicaid or PACE programs may be able to provide care/coverage if the person qualifies. There also local and religious organizations which can help with care and costs. In Home Care may be expensive but it is less than going through the medical system for preventable falls or accidents.
Choices for In-home Care
Private duty, in home care or assistance is quite fluid and can meet the needs of many people in various situations. You, the client are the captain of your own ship. You, the client will set the hours and schedules and whether the company has made a good match or not. You will not be stuck with any company or aide you do not like. It is up to you whether you go with an agency which has higher overhead costs which they pass onto the customer or a Nurse Registry which like an agency is licensed by the State entity but introduces Independent Contractors rather than employees. A good Nurse Registry, which is typically more affordable than an Agency will require all Aides carry their own Liability Insurance, issues the 1099 forms to the caregivers and the company themselves are bonded and carry Liability Insurance. The aide’s should be signing a form stating they hold the client harmless should the aide injure themselves on the job. As per their
A good Nurse Registry, which is typically more affordable than an Agency will require all Aides carry their own Liability Insurance, issues the 1099 forms to the caregivers and the company themselves are bonded and carry Liability Insurance. The aide’s should be signing a form stating they hold the client harmless should the aide injure themselves on the job. As per their
The aide’s should be signing a form stating they hold the client harmless should the aide injure themselves on the job. As per their license, both business models are required to have all caregivers undergo a background check with fingerprints, have legal documents as part of each caregiver’s file.
There aren’t two pools of caregivers – one for agency and the other for Nurse Registry, it can be the same aide employed by an agency and registered with a Nurse Registry because there just isn’t enough 40 hour a week jobs to go around. Just like the client cherishes flexibility, so do many caregivers. They may wish to or need to work evenings and weekends or with multiple families. It is truly recommended that you to through a licensed company rather than hiring a true freelancer who is not connected to a licensed entity. When you hire on your own, all employer laws apply and you have no backup or transparency
