Elder Care Connect

How to Choose the Best Home Health Care Agency

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by admin.

As people grow older, they have a strong desire to remain in familiar surroundings, with their family and friends nearby. But with age can come the loss of independence, and often it becomes difficult for the elderly to remain at home alone.

To make it possible for them to stay in their home environment, millions of people throughout the U.S. work as caregivers to help the elderly with day-to-day routines and health needs. But this type of care often must be supplemented with paid outside assistance, as the caregivers have other family and work obligations and can’t provide help 24/7. At present, Americans spent more than $40 billion per year on home health care, to give the elderly the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity at home.

If finding a home health care agency has become necessary for you or someone you know, here are some suggestions that may make your search easier.

First, determine exactly what the elderly person’s care requirements are or will be. Will hands-on care be required, for example, help with bathing, dressing, and using the toilet? Does the elderly person have cognitive issues that will necessitate a specialized form of care?

Second, check the financial aspect of the services required. Are there adequate finances to pay for the help? Is the elderly person willing to let an outsider help him or her? Think carefully about these questions and then write down the answers, together with the amount of time (days and hours) will be needed from the caregiver.

Third, list down all the information needed and have it ready when you contact a home health care agency. If you aren’t sure how to answer some of these questions, contact a senior center in your area for assistance. Most often these agencies employ social workers who can evaluate the elderly; if not, they have a network of professionals who can assist you, such as geriatric care managers. This is a professional familiar with the requirements for making long-term care arrangements for older people. This type of specialist can come to the home to evaluate the elderly person, create a care plan, and oversee all help and services.

The type of care that the elderly person requires must be identified by a qualified professional.

Custodial care is often done by home health aides, home care aides, and nursing assistants, who are trained to help people manage daily routines in their own homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The duties of a custodial care helper include assisting with bathing, dressing, and getting around, along with transporting the elderly person outside the living area, general housekeeping, and other similar tasks.

Skilled care is conducted under the supervision of a doctor and provided by health care professionals such as registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses or therapists. This type of care can be necessary for someone who was hospitalized for a various medical condition and is now back at home. These services are coordinated by discharge planners and social workers and may call for help from certified nursing assistants if the skilled care plan requires it.

Getting in touch with the appropriate agency.

The licensing and regulation of home health care systems are authorized by each state. Due to this, different states have different licensure rules. The only federally regulated agencies are those that are Medicare-certified. If Medicare will be providing coverage for the health care needs of an elderly person, a Medicare-certified agency must provide it.

Financing the care plan.

Many older people depend on Medicare to cover their home health care needs, but in truth Medicare only pays for skilled care needs of an individual who meets certain Medicare criteria. Medicare does not pay for long-term care assistance. People who are seeking custodial care should be aware that it won’t be covered by Medicare or most forms of health insurance. If you want custodial care, you must use your own resources to pay for it. You can check with your local Agency on Aging to see if there are programs or services available for the elderly person in your life who needs home care.

The MetLife Mature Market Institute has published a free booklet titled “Understanding Home Care Agency Options. Developed together with the National Alliance for Caregiving, it is part of a guidebook series called “Since You Care.” It contains suggestions, resource guides, and comprehensive checklists.

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