Is your loved one recovering from a surgery or chronic illness, but wishes to receive care from the comfort of home?
Home health care, provided by home health care agencies can help your loved one recover and stay as independent as possible. They also play a vital role in ensuring that the elderly and disabled adults receive the long-term care and services they need while preserving their rights and dignity.
How do you find the best agency near you and what options are available to pay for care? Keep reading to learn more about home health care, and how to get started.
Home health care is medical care or skilled care services provided at home to treat a chronic condition, or help an individual recover from a surgery or an injury.
The goal of home health care is to keep you out of the hospital or skilled nursing homes, and safe at home. Care is provided by licensed professionals ls such as registered nurses, therapists, and aides.
Home health care services are intermittent (short-term), and are usually tailored to specialized care services such as:
If home health care is ordered by a doctor, federal and state health insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid may cover some of the cost.
Often, both terms are confused and used interchangeably, but there is a key difference between them.
Home care has to do with non-medical services that allow older adults to age safely and independently at home. Home care is also referred to as personal care, custodial care, or homemaker services. Professional caregivers provide these unskilled services.
Home care services include:
Home health care has to do with skilled medical care provided at home by licensed caregivers such as registered nurses or aides.
In some cases, home care services can be included in home health care, but there are other focuses than that.
The hallmark benefit of home health care is that it can be delivered directly to the senior’s residence — private home, assisted living home, or memory care home — eliminating the need for expensive hospital bills.
Other benefits of home health care include:
Home health care is for older individuals who require short-term skilled care to recover from an injury, surgery, or a chronic condition.
It could also be right for your loved one if they are “homebound” and require the help of a person, a walker, or a wheelchair to leave home. You could also be ‘homebound” if your doctor requires you to stay home as leaving home could make your condition worse.
Home health care may also be right for you if you:
Typically, home health care is prescribed by your loved one’s doctor after they meet eligibility requirements for home health.
There are a couple of ways you can pay for care provided by home health care agencies other than out of pocket. They include:
If you’re an eligible medicare beneficiary, Medicare can cover the cost of home health care. However, you may have to meet some requirements to qualify.
Requirements such as:
Medicare will cover home health care services such as nursing and therapy services, but will not cover personal services such as housekeeping and meal preparation.
Learn more about home health care Medicare.
Medicaid can pay for home health care costs and other non-medical care including personal care. Medicaid benefits vary from state to state, so the services and extent of coverage may differ.
It’s best to speak with your state’s Medicaid Office to learn more about Medicaid eligibility requirements, and how your loved one can apply.
Private long-term care insurance typically covers care provided by home health care companies. If your loved one has private insurance, contact the provider to learn more about coverage, and how your loved one can use their insurance to pay for home health costs.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has programs that can aid eligible veterans in paying for home health care. If your loved one is a veteran, contact their local office or a VA social worker to learn more about what coverage entails.
If you have a doctor’s order for home health care, here are 5 ways you can find home health care facilities, and choose the best one for your beloved senior.
You can get your loved one’s doctor’s recommendation for agencies for home health care near you. They may be able to give you a list of agencies that serve your area. Medicare.gov emphasizes that they must tell you whether their agency has a financial interest in any agency they provide you.
The Care Compare search engine provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is a great tool for finding home healthcare agencies near you.
All you have to do is enter your location, and it will show you a comprehensive list of Medicare and Medicaid-certified home health care agencies in your area.
You can click on an agency to view the services they offer, and their quality and patient survey rating. These ratings help you establish if an agency is doing above average.
Additionally, you can compare at least 3 agencies simultaneously using the website.
The Care Compare tool helps you narrow down your options quickly before an in-person visit or interview with your top likely agencies.
Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family can quicken your search for the best home health care agency near you. Don’t hesitate to ask friends and families for referrals, then be sure to look up the home health care website, learn about their services, ask questions, and schedule a visit or interview.
You can use the internet to find the best home health company near you.
You can start by using search engines like Google or Bing to search with keywords such as “best home health care agencies near me” or “top-rated home health care services in [Your City].”
This will give you a list of agencies with their ratings and reviews, which are crucial for assessing their reputation. Websites like Yelp or Healthgrades can also offer reviews and testimonials from other clients.
Additionally, you should check out local forums or community groups on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter where you might find recommendations and personal experiences shared by members.
Local hospitals and rehabilitation centers can be invaluable resources when searching for home health care agencies. They frequently collaborate with a range of home health providers and can offer recommendations based on their firsthand experiences with the quality of care provided.
Additionally, they understand the importance of a smooth transition from hospital to home care and often have case managers or social workers who maintain lists of reputable agencies.
These professionals can match your loved one’s specific health care needs with agencies that specialize in those areas, ensuring a personalized and tailored approach to your home health care.
Choosing the best home health care agency requires thoughtful consideration to ensure your loved one receives high-quality care. Here are some factors to keep in mind.
Taking the time to evaluate these factors can help you choose a home health care agency that will provide the best possible care for you or your loved one.
In 2023, many agencies are continuing to expand their service offerings to accommodate the growing demand for in-home care.
If you’re looking for the best-fit home-health care agency in Carson City, Reno, and the surrounding areas, you can stop your search here.
Amy’s Eden has over a decade of experience providing specialized medical care to improve the quality of life of older adults, with services ranging from post-operative care to chronic condition management, wound care, diabetes, and palliative/end-of-life care. We also offer home care or personal care.
We provide a caring and supportive environment for those in need. Our commitment to accessibility is evident in our dedication to providing quality care, a testament to our mission as we help those in their pursuit of better health and well-being.
Our leadership team diligently works to ensure compliance with government regulations, offering a program that meets the highest standards of care and non-discrimination.
We provide personal care and specialized care services in the homes of our clients, or our luxury assisted living homes.
Contact us today to learn about how we can help you or your loved one thrive in your twilight years.
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