A Win-Win Situation
Home Health Care is generally a more cost-effective alternative to assisted living or institutional care facilities, and allows the individual to live in his/her home while care is being received.
Home Care Aide (HCA) Agencies / Home Health Agencies
Home Health Aides will provide day-to-day care for elders requiring assistance at home. They provide your loved ones with bathing, dressing, cooking, light housekeeping, incontinence care, and companionship, depending on the level of care needed. Most agencies provide full and complete 24-hour/live-in care. Prices for these services vary, depending on the level of need of the individual.
How does it work?
- Contact several local home care agencies in your area to compare services and prices and find the Home Health Agency that best fits your needs. You may want to check for licensing. Most agencies will provide 24-hour live-in care for your loved one.
- some agencies will provide 2 aides that will alternate schedules (For example: one aide will provide care Monday-Thursday, and the other Thursday-Monday). Some agencies will provide one aide who will stay with your loved one on a continual basis. They will take periodic vacations (in which the agency will provide an alternate aide).
- Live-in caregivers will need a bed in which to sleep and are required to have 8 hours of sleep each night.
This may sometimes be a problem if an elder tends to wander during the night due to Alzheimer's Disease. If you are worried about your loved one getting into trouble during this time, one option could be to install a key-lock on the elder's bedroom door to keep them safe while the caregiver sleeps.
- Most home health agencies ask that you pay the home health aide directly each week or bi-weekly. A second payment will usually be mailed directly to the home health agency (generally this will be a smaller fee). Prices vary depending on the agency chosen and level of care needed.
To find out more detailed information on home care options, please visit the National Association for Home Care.
Home Health Agency
Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
Find and Compare Home Health Agencies
Listing of "home care agencies" servicing your local area - comprehensive list provided by Medicare.
Hiring An Independent Aide
When independently hiring an aide to provide care, it is always essential to personally double check all references so that you are comfortable with the individual providing care.
Information on Hiring a Caregiver
Assessing your homecare needs, a checklist, and information to help in the hiring of a home caregiver provided by Family Caregiver Alliance.
Find an Independent Caregiver
Care.com is the world's largest online destination for care. They connect families with caregivers and caring companies to help you be there for the ones you love.
You can also contact your local agency for the aging to find home health agencies or home care aide agencies servicing your area.
Precautionary Note:
- As with any service, make sure that the agency you are dealing with is licensed (some states do not require licensing) and has done full background checks on its employees.
- Do not leave valuable items out and accessible.
Most homemaker and HCA agencies recruit, train, and supervise their personnel and thus are responsible for the care rendered.
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