Providing home health care to aging parents or relatives is a growing trend in many American families, especially those striving to budget and deal with rising health care costs. Nursing home and long-term care facilities can be expensive, and many families are joining forces to provide secure environments for elderly parents, grandparents and other extended family members. Home health care enables the elderly or disabled to remain in a family home environment, receiving a variety of services from visiting health care providers according to need. Knowing where to look for information regarding care, services and costs provides children of aging parents with the resources to make educated and informed decisions.
National PACE Assocation
The National PACE Association (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) offers information regarding care at home offered by specific organizations. Their website at www.natlpaceassn.org offers area agencies or they may be reached at (703) 535-1566.
Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locater is controlled by the U.S. Administration on Aging and offers information and contact information on area locations and agencies that provide services for the elderly in towns and cities across the U.S. They may be accessed by calling (800) 677-1116 or by visiting their website at www.eldercare.gov.
Family Caregiver Alliance
The Family Caregiver Alliance provides support, resources and information for families providing care for elderly parents and other loved ones. They also run the national Center on Caregiving and can be reached at (800) 445-8106 or through their website at www.caregiver.org.
National Association for Home Care and Hospice
The Association for Home Care and Hospice offers information on home health care organizations across the country and offer tips for choosing home health care agencies and help. They may be contacted by calling (202) 547-7414 or through their website at www.nahc.org.
Visiting Nurse Associations of America
Visiting nurse associations offer professional health care providers to serve the needs of individuals requiring therapy, medication supervision, skilled nursing care and hospice care. They can be reached by calling (800) 426-2547 or through their website www.vnaa.org.
References
- How to Care for Aging Parents, Morris, Virginia, 2004, Workman Publishing, NY,
