“What is in-home care?” and “How do I know it’s time to transition to assisted living?” are questions that many children, grandchildren, and other loved ones must face for their aging family members. It can be challenging to conceptualize allowing someone to enter your home or a family member’s home. How do you help someone maintain their independence while ensuring they remain safe and comfortable? How do you care for someone for the bulk of the day while still providing personal space, privacy, and downtime? What if the personalities of the client and provider aren’t compatible? These are all valid concerns and are important to consider before proceeding.
How to Know When It’s Time
Most home care requests are planned, and families typically take the time to research and evaluate many options. However, it isn’t uncommon for families and clients to need a faster response in situations as a result of an emergency. Home care was created to assist a wide range of seniors and their families. People frequently choose home care when they’re ill, need assistance with daily activities as a result of the aging process or are recovering from surgery.
- Some seniors need homemaking assistance with tasks like cleaning and cooking
- Other seniors need medical assistance with post-op care, bathing, and more
- Another type of client to receive home care is those affected by memory loss /difficulties, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Memory care typically requires 24-hour assistance to keep the client safe and content.
Why In-Home Care Instead of Moving to a Facility?
Many seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, as their home is their safe, familiar space where they feel they have autonomy. Some seniors find that moving to an assisted living community or nursing home means starting over with foreign people, places, and an interrupted schedule. With in-home care, independence is assured and is associated with higher confidence levels and happiness. For example, if you have hip replacement surgery, and you go back home to a physical therapist who helps your recovery, you can sleep in your own bed, eat your own food, and rest well in a familiar place. Home care workers also offer rest for the person’s spouse or other caregivers.
Types of In-Home Care
Not all in-home care is the same. Some are more intensive than others.
Licensed Medical Professional Care
For activities and tasks like paying bills, getting to appointments, and staying on schedule with any deadlines, without the need for any medical care, a licensed medical professional can be helpful. These professionals include physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and home health aides who work alongside physicians.
Today’s seniors receive a wide range of support through in-home care, from medical services to daily living assistance. According to recent home healthcare industry data, the most commonly utilized services include visits from home-health nurses, followed closely by physical and occupational therapists for rehabilitation and mobility support. In some cases, seniors also receive visits from physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or even primary care physicians when appropriate. The clinical layer of care is often paired with non-medical services, ensuring seniors receive both health monitoring and help with everyday activities.
Non-Medical Paraprofessionals Care
Non-medical paraprofessionals include home health aides, personal care attendants, homemakers, and companions. Home health aides provide hands-on care and assistance with daily living tasks like cooking, shopping, and laundry at home. Homemakers or companions provide services such as housekeeping, transportation, and companionship. This is a common option for clients with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Defining Activities of Daily Living
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Feeding
- Toileting
- Grooming
- Oral Care
- Walking or using a wheelchair
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Change linens
- General shopping
- Transportation
- Meal preparations
- Managing money
- Medication management
Financing In-Home Care
There are a variety of options for paying for in-home care, including both private and public funds:
- Private pay
- Paid Family Leave
- Grants
- Long-term care insurance
- Medicare / Medicaid
- Veterans Administration
Abacus Life Settlements functions as a leader in the secondary market for life insurance. Our primary mission: Work to help you understand your financial options. If you decide that selling all or a portion of your policy is right for you, we can offer to purchase it from you at fair market value. We will provide all the numbers and details to show you how we determined its value and our offer, and if you decide to accept our offer, we will provide you a lump sum amount and then take on all future obligations for the policy, including premium payments. Call 800-561-4148 and visit our Learning Center to learn more.
