Senior home care is a means of providing services at home to the elderly, whether they live alone or with someone else. Many short-term medical needs and activities of daily living become harder to manage as we age, and senior home care can help bridge the gaps, allowing people to remain comfortable in familiar surroundings while receiving specialized care and support.
Types
According to SeniorMag, senior home care includes two types of services. Home healthcare is provided by medical professionals after a hospital procedure to allow the patient to go home sooner, saving hospital costs and permitting recuperation in a familiar environment. The Department of Health and Human Services identifies wound inspection and dressing changes, checking vital signs and providing assistance with special feeding or bathing needs as post-hospital type care.
Another type of home care service involves help with the functions of daily living, including bathing, dressing, eating, taking medication, shopping or providing transportation.
Providers
Helpguide.org says that you can hire senior home care from a variety of sources. Full service agencies offer a full suite of services from providers whose backgrounds have been screened. Health care agencies are useful if you require constant care, because a replacement provider can be supplied on short notice if your regular provider calls in sick.
Carers use a registry to list the services they provide, and this can be a good starting point for identifying potential home care candidates. Individual providers often advertise in newspapers or on hospital bulletin boards. You will need to perform background checks and interview each applicant if you source through a registry or contact individuals.
Cost
Costs vary widely, depending upon the service provided. Your insurance company or Medicare might cover some costs, particularly after surgery or if home care is prescribed by your doctor. The cost of home healthcare will be lower than if you received the same type of care in a hospital.
Helpguide.org notes that agency supplied staff are generally more expensive because the agency takes care of background checks, employment taxes and ensures their staff are current on training and certifications. If you hire an individual, you can negotiate an hourly or daily rate. Check with others who have used home care services similar to the type you need to determine a reasonable rate for your area.
Benefits
The Senior's Choice states that senior home care is beneficial because it helps families stay together and allows seniors to live independently as long as possible. Also, recovering from hospital treatment at home is less stressful and care is personalized to the individual. She can eat food prepared in her kitchen and and be comfortable using her own bath facilities.
Warnings
Check with your accountant about the tax consequences of hiring someone to provide senior home care. The payments you make might be deductible as an itemized medical expense. You might also be responsible for paying social security tax if the individual who works for you is considered your employee.
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