Most seniors want to remain in their homes for as long as they can. They don’t want to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home if they can avoid it. However, there can be medical needs that require extra help for a person to continue to live a good quality of life. If these needs can’t be met at home, the patient will need to live elsewhere. In-home health care is something that is helping many people stay in the comfort of their own homes. When around-the-clock care isn’t required, a nurse can stop in each day to provide assistance with medications, wound care, meal preparation, bathing and so on. There is a lot of information regarding in-home care that seniors might not understand, and this could be keeping them from making the best decisions regarding their care.
The Costs
The cost of in-home health care can vary from plan to plan. A lot of seniors are utilizing Medicare for their medical needs. This coverage provides assistance with costs relating to in-home care. In most cases, it’s more affordable for a senior to stay in their home, especially when they only need a few hours of care each day.
What Can Be Done In-Home
A few years ago, in-home care was limited as far as what could be done for people who were interested in staying home. Today, there are many different services and medical devices that you can utilize from in-home nursing care. In-home respiratory therapy is rapidly growing in popularity in both rural and urban environments. There are aides who will come over to specifically address personal care needs. Health insurance companies and even pharmacies are using these professionals to help seniors better manage their medication needs as well.
Resources
If you are interested in finding out more about in-home care, there are a number of local resources you can use. Depending on where you are located in the country, Catholic Charities can be a good place to start. Medicare or the insurance company providing coverage can also help. Many major cities have a local agency that provides useful aging information.
Safety
Many seniors are concerned about having someone come to their home who they don’t know. It’s unfortunate, but there have been many crimes against seniors who were home alone. Finding in-home care from a reputable agency in the area will ensure that a person is getting the proper care. Many agencies will arrange for a senior to meet with a few potential caregivers before setting up a final schedule. This ensures that the patient will be able to get along with the person who is helping them. It’s ideal to take a little bit of time to find the right person.
In-home care is a wonderful development in the health care industry. So many seniors were being forced to move from their homes into a facility that they didn’t care for. It isn’t necessary for a senior to give up everything that makes them feel secure and happy just for a little bit of assistance. In-home aides and caregivers provide valuable services and can make an enormous difference in a person’s quality of life.
Finding the right Medicare plan can be a challenge. Knowing your options can help in choosing the plan fitting your lifestyle. Get in touch today!
