Types of In-Home Senior Care Options
What is Senior Care at Home?
It can be challenging for a family caregiver to provide the right kind of caregiving assistance, especially when it comes to balancing work and home. Studies show that most older adults prefer staying at their homes as long as possible rather than moving into senior living communities which gives them an opportunity to stay in close proximity with friends or other loved ones nearby.
With this option gaining popularity among aging parents, we're seeing more demand from families who are looking for help caring for elderly relatives while they continue pursuing careers outside of the house without having to worry about becoming too overburdened themselves since there's always someone available around-the-clock if needed.
If you're caring for a loved one from afar, in-home care providers can be another set of eyes and ears to help take the load off when your aging loved one needs some extra support. With high-quality home care providers on hand, they'll have someone who will keep them active and healthy for many years.
Home Care Services for Seniors Who Just Need a Little Help Around the House.
Do you want home-cooked meals, help around the house and rides to the store? This most basic type of senior home care service generally includes light housekeeping, companionship, meal preparation.
You can hire someone to come on a regular weekly schedule or only as needed. Hourly home care costs about $15-$40/hour depending on where you live.
The Family Guide to Home Care: Top Considerations When Hiring In-Home Care for Your Aging Loved-One
When aging parents reach a time that they need care, keeping them at home is one of the best and most preferred options. To do this, you will need to research hiring in-home care providers.
While you may feel that you can do all the caregiving yourself, the fact is…you will probably need help.
Caring for an aging loved-one requires much time and effort and can easily lead to burn-out without the help of a reputable, loving in-home care provider.
Hiring a senior caregiver for your loved-one is important for their health and your peace of mind. Knowing that your aging parent is being cared for by a professional will ease your own responsibilities and allow you to give your loved-one the best quality of life.
Home Care Services for Senior Who Require More Personal Care and Help
In-Home Caregivers are often needed to help with tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, and eating. These highly-trained in-home care providers can also be great for things like errands-running or light housekeeping. You should expect to pay anywhere from $15-$40/hour--or upwards of $120-$300 per day if they are a live-in home care provider.
Medical Home Health Care for Seniors at Home
For medical assistance like changing dressings, providing post-surgery rehab, overseeing medications, aiding with physical therapy, or helping you with walkers, canes and wheelchairs - for all of these things and more you'll want to have the help provided by a caregiver who has gone through training for medically necessary home health care. It's important that your caregivers are supervised by Registered Nurses, as regulations vary from state to state; ask lots of questions about their qualifications.
Medicare and other health insurances should cover all or part of this type of care. This type of care is also temporary (just enough to get you better) and the visits are short. This is not a form of long-term care.
Medical Home Health Care for Seniors Who Need Extra Care at Home
If your loved one needs medical care that requires is ordered by a physician and carried out by a licensed professional, you'll need a home health agency to find a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or advanced practical nurse (APN).
Nurses have the skills necessary to change catheters, give post-surgical care, give IV antibiotics and other IV medications, treat wounds or bedsores, and oversee medical equipment. If your loved one is recovering from surgery or an accident, a home health care nurse may be covered by Medicare or other insurance.
Hospice Care is End-of-Life Care
Hospice care and end-of-life services exist for you or your loved one at home.
Hospices provide a range of services, including companionship; emotional support; pain management advice from expert doctors; nutritional counseling from registered dietitians who specialize in cancer patients' needs, and more!
Life Care Managers Provide Organization and Peace of Mind
Life Care Managers (formerly called Geriatric Care Managers) are usually social workers, psychologists, nurses, gerontologists or others with training and experience in various aspects of eldercare.
Care managers are the link between seniors and their local community. They not only assess a senior’s needs but care for them through crises such as an emergency hospitalization or help place the person in residential living facilities when necessary.
This allows family members to focus on managing other aspects of life without disruptions from caring for loved ones with special needs which can be emotionally exhausting work!
Senior Care by State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Mississippi
Missouri
District Of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming