Section: In Home Health Care/Senior Care
Q:
How is the in home care provided by a company like "Senior Helpers" different from that of a home health agency?
A:
This is an excellent question as many people don’t understand the different Levels of “Home Health Care.” There are two main types of home health care agencies , “Medical” & “Non-Medical” care. Senior Helpers is a Non-Medical homecare agency. Most people don’t need to go directly into “Medical” homecare, unless it is a very medical intensive case requiring an RN or LPN to administer the care.
“Non-Medical” care meets most of the needs for individuals. Here at Senior Helpers we have two levels of care, Companion & Personal Care. For “Companion Care”, we have our professional caregivers come out and help with all the activities of daily living. These include things like light housekeeping and helping with the laundry and changing the linens; help with meal planning and preparation; running errands to places like the pharmacy and grocery store; transportation for things like doctor’s appointments and shopping. Basically, companion care is for helping people to remain as independent as possible, and stay in their own homes as long as possible. One of the greatest benefits of companion care is just that, Companionship. We have some customers who, before starting our service would go days without seeing or speaking with anyone, and our caregivers become something like a saving grace. For many, having a caregiver come over is something our clients look forward too. It’s almost as if the caregiver becomes a part of the family.
“Personal Care” has all the same benefits of companion care, but is where we send a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A) to assist with clients who need more attention. They help with things like Bathing, Dressing, Grooming Assistance/ Monitoring, Walking Assistance, Incontinence Care, and helping with Transfers.
Companies such as Senior Helpers are designed to complement “Medical” services. In some cases people have used both to help save money and have more coverage. Senior Helpers specializes in Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Respite Care. We can customize the services and the schedule to meet physical and emotional needs.
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Section: In Home Health Care/Senior Care
Q:
Will Social Security help with Home Health care? If not, is there a system in place that I can use to start preparing now in the event that someone in my family needs Home Health Care?
A:
What a Great Question! How to pay for In-Home Care is a concern many people have considering most of us don’t want to end up at the “House on the Hill,” if you know what I mean. Unfortunately Social Security does not pay for “In-Home” health care. SSI is designed more for basic income for seniors and the disabled. The good news is there are several good options and I will do my best to describe some, so bear with me.
If you’re in the planning phase, and it sounds like you are, what you want to look into is a good Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance Policy. At Senior Helpers we have several clients whose services are paid for through their LTC provider. I answered in a previous question that there are three questions that you want to ask when looking into a LTC policy: "What is the Waiting Period for the policy? What is the Monthly Benefit Payout? And finally, How Long will the policy payout?" *****Check out my posting on “Long Term Care Insurance” for more info. If you’re already at the point where you need care you also have several good options: Medicaid & Local Programs- Depending on what state you’re in, your local Dept. on Aging may have different programs you can qualify for to have Medicaid pay for your in home care. Here in Gainesville, Legacy Link is the Dept. on Aging. They have a Medicaid waiver program which will allow you to stay in your own home rather than a nursing home. The Medicaid waiver program is called “Community Care Services Program (CCSP).” Here is a link to a website with more information: http://www.legacylink.org/ccsp.htm . To find out if you qualify for CCSP contact Legacy Link here in Gainesville or your local Dept. on Aging, their info can be found at their Website http://www.legacylink.org/ For Veterans- The Veterans Aid and Attendance program is an under publicized program designed to assist eligible veterans and their spouses who require some level of care outside of a VA hospital and will help to pay for In-Home Care. For Couples the VA will allot up to just over $1500, for single veterans just over $1200, and for surviving spouses just under $1000. You may contact the VA, but the approval process is very tricky, on average takes 2-6months and you have to already have started services. Give us a call here at Senior Helpers, as we have done hundreds of applications and have a 92%-96% approval ratio, if you decide to start service with us, we can help you file the claim just right. Reverse Mortgages- This is becoming more and more popular with senior’s, and is a good option if you own your home and have a good amount of equity in it. A reverse mortgage is against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there. With a reverse mortgage, you can turn the value of your home into cash without having to move or to repay the loan each month. The cash you get from a reverse mortgage can be paid to you in several ways: All at once, in a single lump sum of cash; as a regular monthly cash advance; as a “credit line” account that lets you decide when and how much of your available cash is paid to you; or as a combination of these payment methods. No matter how this loan is paid out to you, you typically don’t have to pay anything back until you die, sell your home, or permanently move out of your home. To be eligible for most reverse mortgages, you must own your home and be 62 years of age or older. Here is a website for more info on reverse mortgages: http://www.aarp.org/money/revmort/ Private Pay- Of course there is the good old fashion way, private pay. This is where you or some family members will pay for the service directly. You may also want to check with your place of worship, as many churches have funds set aside to help those who need in-home health care. You may consider starting a savings account where you and some other family members contribute each month, and that money will be used to help mom/dad/specific family member when the time comes. Hopefully this has helped; these are some of the most common ways people pay for their services. If you were in need of care right away and hoping SSI would cover it, contact Legacy Link or your local Dept. on Aging and ask them about their CCSP program, that maybe your best option.
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Section: In Home Health Care/Senior Care
Q:
My mom is 87 and lives alone in her own home. She is fiercely independent, but her health has deteriorated to the point where I am concerned for her safety. I have suggested she talk with Senior Helpers, but she refuses. What can I do?
A:
If you believe it is unsafe for your mom to be home alone, you may have to apply some “tough love”. If your mom’s primary care physician agrees with your assessment, he/she may be more successful at convincing her of the need to get some extra help.
You want to stress to your mother, Independence! This is a great way for her to remain independent, stay in her own home and have someone just to help with everyday tasks like running the vaccume, or changing the linens, driving her to doctors appointments, taking her shopping. Show her the benefit, and letting her see the risks may help as well. Ask her what would she do if she fell and couldnt reach the phone; or that its safer for her to be with someone out shopping, rather than alone, as senior's unfortunately are prime targets for thieves.
Assistance from Senior Helpers may enable her to remain independent in her own home. Remember to stress her indpendence. Another option may be, touring local senior living communities as this may also help her to consider other options.
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Section: In Home Health Care/Senior Care
Q:
My elderly mother fell recently and broke her hip. She will be discharged from a rehabilitation center soon and wants to go home. She is still fairly weak and will be getting a few hours of nursing care, but I am very concerned about her being home alone. Any suggestions?
A:
It is important to look at your mom’s recovery in phases. At this point, your mom would benefit greatly from having someone help with meals, laundry, grocery shopping and other household chores. Senior Helpers can provide that help with an experienced caregiver. As your mom recovers, you can scale back the hours and ultimately suspend service once she gets back to full strength.
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Section: In Home Health Care/Senior Care
Q:
I don’t want to be one of those kids who never visit their elderly parents, but each time I go I face a very long “to-do list that makes me dread going. I love them, but I can’t do it all?
A:
The “to-do” list is a sign that your parents may need some extra help in order to maintain the quality of life they desire at home. If you engage a company like Senior Helpers to assist your parents with some of their daily needs, your visits with them will be more enjoyable and less stressful for you and them. This can change the entire nature of the visits and make them something you both look forward to.
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