As your loved ones age, you’re confronted with an important question—how can you help them enjoy their remaining years? How can you help make their lives comfortable? This is a common concern for adult family members who take on the role of family caregivers.

If you’re in the same boat, home health care may have crossed your mind as an option to provide for their needs. But what exactly does home health care mean, what does it include, and why do families turn to it?

What Is Home Health Care?

Home health care is a broad term covering various services provided to people within their homes. It’s designed to meet a senior’s different health demands and preferences, whether medical, personal, or a combination of both.

Home health care offers a way for a loved one who needs assistance with daily activities or therapy to remain at home while receiving much-needed care. It helps promote independence and increases autonomy for the care recipient, and it provides peace of mind for the family.

This type of care supports various people with different levels of care needs, including seniors, people living with disabilities, and those injured who want to receive therapy at home.

Home health care brings high-quality care support directly to seniors in a place they feel most at ease, which is their own home. Studies show that 70% of seniors prefer to stay home with support, rather than relocate to a retirement or nursing facility.

Why Is Home Health Care Important for Seniors?

Home health care is crucial for older people for various reasons. One is aging. Advancing years come with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. As your loved one starts facing health issues that make daily tasks harder, the comfort and security of home matter even more.

Moving to a new environment is a trivial matter for most younger people, but not for older adults who rely on routines for their day-to-day living.

For example, you may not have a problem sleeping at a hotel, but your senior parents may find it challenging to do so. That’s because changes in living situations or routines often cause anxiety. A new home with a different floor plan can make their daily activities harder. They may want to stay where they feel most like themselves, surrounded by familiar things and memories.

Home health care promotes independence since they get the support they need at a place they consider home. As a result, they respond more positively to treatment, are less lonely, and are more emotionally connected with the other family members.

Why Is It Important for Families?

It’s not just seniors who benefit from home health care. It brings relief for families, too. As a family caregiver, you can’t always be there for your senior mom or dad. You have other responsibilities that require your presence, like your career, kids, and wife duties.

Home health care gives you peace of mind that your loved one is taken care of while you’re at work or live separately from them. Whether they need skilled nursing because they’re too weak or physical therapy to restore their mobility, hiring a caregiver to visit them at home helps take some responsibilities off your plate.

A caregiver can help prevent burnout. Additionally, the care services they provide aren’t just practical. They help your loved one stay active, reduce isolation and loneliness, and provide emotional support.

Each service is tailored to your loved one’s unique needs, allowing caregivers to provide the right type of services. How will you know what your senior parents need? There are multiple types of home healthcare services. By learning about them and collaborating with your doctor, you can better assess the level of their care needs.

Types of Home Health Care Services

 

Gone are the times of a one-size-fits-all care approach. To better address health issues, providers leverage a personalized approach to care. After all, every senior has unique needs.

Some need assistance recovering from an illness. Others require support in managing a chronic condition whereas many simply need help with daily routines. Home health care services cover a broad range of services, from skilled nursing to home care assistance, each designed to provide just the right level of care without taking your loved one’s independence.

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of services available and see how each one can enhance your loved one’s quality of life at home.

Medical Services

Medical or skilled services support your loved one’s medical health needs without the hassle of traveling to and fro the hospital or clinic. Some examples include:

• Routine check-ups
• Specialist consultations, like cardiologists if your loved one has heart disease
• Laboratory tests
• Vaccinations and health screenings

Typically, medical services are delivered at hospitals or clinics. However, some services can be performed at home. For instance, when a nurse needs to collect specimens like blood or urine to help diagnose a problem or a cardiologist performing an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) test to check the electrical signals in the heart. This exam helps determine your loved one’s risk for heart conditions.

In some cases where a doctor uses advanced equipment, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to capture images of the internal structure of the body, your loved one will have to go to the hospital. Selected services can be done at home.

Personal Care Services

Personal care services focus on helping older people with day-to-day activities that can become challenging when they reach 80 or 90 years old. Some scenarios include getting dressed, preparing meals, or moving from the bed to the wheelchair.

A caregiver will visit your senior mom daily to prepare nutritious meals and accompany her on morning walks with the pup. These services can help keep your loved one’s routine intact, which can be immensely comforting.

Skilled Nursing Care

Skilled nursing is intensive and usually includes services like medication administration, wound care, managing IVs, or monitoring complex medical conditions. People who often require skilled nursing support have the following care profile:

• Seniors with chronic conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and diabetes
• People recovering from a major surgery and need physical therapy or wound care at home
• Stroke survivors who need speech or occupational therapy to regain their lost abilities
• Seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• People with serious injuries that result in severe physical traumas

In such cases, a registered nurse or therapist will come directly to your home to provide care services. This arrangement helps seniors manage long-term debilitating conditions or recover from illnesses and injuries without the stress of traveling to a care facility.

Memory Care

Memory care is a specialized area of home health care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other progressive cognitive issues. Caregivers providing this type of care often complete specialized dementia care training, which equips them with the ability to better understand the disease’s trajectory and manage difficult symptoms.

They understand memory, physical, and behavioral challenges, allowing them to customize care in various ways. With memory care, caregivers can bring comfort and security to seniors with moderate to severe memory loss.

Other Specialized Services

Doctors may also sometimes recommend specialized care services like palliative or hospice care as part of your loved one’s treatment plan. Caregivers trained to provide care for seniors with terminal illnesses or who have less than six months to live can tremendously minimize the stress of family caregiving.

Having this kind of support at home can alleviate your loved one’s pain and provide as much comfort as possible before their end of life.

Understanding Home Health Care

Have you ever wondered how home health care works? How do you set up care? This section delves into everything you need to know about how it works.

How Home Health Care Works

Typically, home health care starts with an assessment where a healthcare provider evaluates your loved one’s needs and creates a care plan. This plan outlines the frequency and type of visits, whether a weekly nurse check-in or daily support from a personal aide.

Each plan is tailored to individual needs and preferences, which means that services can range from short-term assistance for post-surgery recovery to long-term care for chronic conditions.

Setting Up Home Health Care for the Elderly

The process of setting up care for a loved one is straightforward and designed to put their needs first. While the details may differ depending on the provider, here’s a general outline of how it typically works:

1. Choosing the Right Provider

Family caregivers start by researching and choosing a provider with adequate skills to meet their loved ones’ demands, whether specialized medical care, assistance with activities of daily living, or companionship. Many providers offer consultations to discuss services and answer your most pressing questions.

2. Initial Assessment

Once you’ve chosen a provider, they’ll arrange a home visit to get to know your loved one and their care needs. During this visit, the team will ask about your parent’s preferences. They may want someone who speaks their native tongue, like Spanish or Chinese or prefer a woman caregiver of color. In addition, the provider will discuss your loved one’s health goals and any routines they like to maintain. This assessment helps create a tailored care plan.

3. Setting Schedules and Planning Care

After the initial assessment, the provider will work with you to set up a schedule that aligns with your loved one’s needs. If your senior mom needs minor assistance, they may suggest support for only certain times of the day, like when you’re out and at work. This arrangement provides support while still giving your loved one control of their daily activities.

4. Promoting Safety at Home

The provider may suggest modifications to keep the home senior-friendly. These things can include adding grab bars in the bathroom or installing mobility ramps to increase accessibility for those living with a disability.

Sometimes, the change can be as simple as adding non-slip mats or painting certain doors with bright colors that people with mild dementia can easily recognize. Color coding at home can help prevent confusion and anxiety for those with memory loss. These changes, although can sometimes be expensive, make a big difference in preventing accidents and keeping daily activities safe.

5. Coordinating with Family Members

The home health care provider will work closely with family caregivers, updating them on the progress or decline in their loved one’s health. Sit down for a daily or weekly touch-up with your caregiver to know how your senior mom is faring. Use the information you get to make changes to the treatment plan, along with your provider.

6. Ongoing Check-Ins

Besides the caregiver, you must also regularly keep in touch with your loved one’s primary doctor. They will let you know how effective the current treatment plan is, if it needs to be adjusted, or if your loved one’s needs have increased or decreased. These frequent check-ins ensure the support your loved one receives continues to be relevant based on their health situation.

Note that each step may vary depending on your chosen provider and your loved one’s unique needs. This general outline guides you on what steps to take next when setting up health care for an older family relative, especially if it’s your first time doing so.

Benefits of Home Health Care

Home health care supports aging in place, which is the goal of many seniors. It also promotes independence for older adults living alone. They can manage their own lives while still receiving care on the sidelines for tasks they find challenging to do. Explore the various ways this type of care can make life easier for seniors, their families, and caregivers.

1. Promotes Aging in Place

With home health care, seniors can remain in their homes, surrounded by their loved ones, which can feel reassuring. Simple things like sitting in their favorite chair if they get tired or brewing their favorite tea in the morning in the comfort of their own kitchen preserve familiarity and comfort. It also fosters better mental health since a familiar environment can maintain their sense of self-worth and independence.

2. Provides Personalized Care

Home health caregivers provide support tailored to your loved one’s needs and preferences. Whether managing medication, preparing meals, or companionship, the care plan is customized to fit their daily life and routines.

3. Supports Family Members

Home health care helps adult children juggle multiple responsibilities without overtaxing themselves. Anytime you need a backup to look after your loved one to focus on self-care, you can always hire a caregiver. With this option, it’s easier to manage care responsibilities with other obligations.

4. Makes the Treatment Plan Flexible

The care plan can be adjusted to meet your loved one’s evolving needs. It’s important for seniors who want to avoid relocating to a community. A treatment plan that can adapt to their needs at every disease stage can support aging in place for as long as possible.

5. Gives Peace of Mind

If you constantly worry about your loved one’s health, home health care can bring a sense of mental calm and ease your anxiety. Older family relatives get the support they need from a trained caregiver, while family members are reassured that their loved one is safe and well cared for.

Services Offered by Home Health Care Agencies

Learn the types of care available and how to customize them for your loved one.

Examples of Services Provided

Home health care agencies offer various types of services, promoting comfort while getting the support your loved one needs right in their homes. They can include

• Wound care
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Medication management assistance
• Companionship

For example, if your mom is recovering from hip surgery, you can hire a physical therapist to help her regain strength with easy exercises. While recuperating, you can also enlist a caregiver to assist her with housekeeping tasks until she can do them on her own.

Types of Care

The type of care your loved one needs can range from short-term help while they recover to ongoing long-term support for managing chronic conditions. Some care agencies focus on one type of care like hospice care, offering comfort to people facing their end of life. Meanwhile, others specialize in post-surgery care, assisting those who need to rebuild their strength after a medical procedure.

Care Plans and Customization

One significant upside of home health care is the customizable care plans. They’re designed to fit your loved one’s distinct needs and can be adjusted when those needs increase or decrease. For instance, if your dad’s mobility declines, the care plan can be updated to include more physical therapy visits to regain his lost mobility and help him stay active.

Cost of Home Health Care Services

Home healthcare prices vary widely, depending on the level of care required. Home care can range from $20 to $30 per hour while medical care can set you back from $35 to $45 per hour. However, this figure can go up or down based on location, cost of living and other pricing factors.

Total home healthcare expenses in 2021 in the United States hit $125.2 billion, with projections showing annual increases of 6%-8% through 2031. These costs reflect the expanding use of care services, driven by the growing aging population and a shift toward value-based care models to reduce hospital readmissions.

Balancing quality care with affordability can be challenging for families, especially with the soaring per-hour costs of services. Don’t hesitate to discuss price concerns with your chosen care agency. You may also explore financing options, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, to help you sustain home healthcare for the long term.

Insurance Coverage for Home Health Care

Insurance options, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, may cover parts of home healthcare costs, depending on the service type and whether a doctor’s recommendation is required.

Medicare often pays for medical services like skilled nursing, while Medicaid may help pay for personal care. Check with both your insurance provider and the home health agency to clarify coverage details and help you plan your finances effectively.

Choosing the Right Home Health Care Provider

Many seniors have experienced physical and verbal abuse from their caregivers. That’s why it’s crucial to find the right care provider who has a heart for service and genuinely cares for your loved one. Explore what to consider when choosing a care provider, questions to ask, and tips to help you make the best choice that will give you peace of mind.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Provider

Here are key factors to consider as you make this important choice:

• Years of experience: Look for caregivers with years of experience in managing your loved one’s specific health needs, like dementia or diabetes.
• Delivers patient-centered care: Choose a provider who can adjust care levels based on your loved one’s changing needs, making them the focus of the treatment.
• Allows caregiver consistency: It’s easier to build trust and lasting relationships by hiring the same caregiver all the time. Additionally, it improves the quality of care as the caregiver gets to know more about your loved one’s medical history, habits and preferences.
• Has the right training and credentials: By default, it’s the home healthcare agency’s responsibility to conduct background checks on caregivers and check their qualifications for the job. However, it’s a different story if you hire an independent contractor. Ensure the carers you onboard have the right certifications to care for your loved ones.
• Maintains clear communication: Look for an agency that provides regular updates about your senior parent’s health circumstances, whether through a call, a message or email.
• Has a good reputation: Check online reviews and testimonials to gauge the provider’s reliability and service quality.

Questions to Ask Potential Home Health Care Agencies

Asking the right questions will give you the correct answers. This same principle applies when choosing a provider that truly meets your loved one’s needs. Here are key questions to guide your decision and increase the confidence of your choice.

1. What experience do you have with my loved one’s specific health conditions?

This question guarantees the caregiver is well-prepared to provide for and manage your loved one’s distinct care demands, especially if they have dementia or diabetes.

2. How do you ensure consistency with caregivers? Will the same caregiver visit regularly?

Seeing a familiar face each visit can promote comfort and stability in your loved one’s daily routine.

3. What type of training do your caregivers receive? Are they certified for specific services?

Understanding these things will give you an idea of how skillful and capable the caregivers are.

4. How often can we adjust the care plan if my loved one’s needs change?

Flexibility is crucial, especially for a progressive health condition. A good provider should be open to scaling care up or down as needed.

5. How will you communicate with me about my loved one’s progress or concerns?

Regular updates help you stay involved and help you make informed decisions about your loved one’s health.

6. What steps do you take to ensure my loved one’s comfort and dignity?

This question shows the provider what you prioritize — in this case, a respectful, compassionate approach to care. It allows you to evaluate how much they emphasize empathy in their care.

7. Do you offer any additional support for family caregivers?

Some providers offer resources like caregiver training, support groups, or respite services, which can be a valuable addition if you’re a primary caregiver.

8. What is your policy if we’re not satisfied with the caregiver assigned?

It’s essential to know if the agency will accommodate requests to switch caregivers if the fit isn’t right.

9. What insurance options do you accept, and are there any additional costs we should be aware of?

Being fully aware of the upfront fees and insurance compatibility helps prevent cost surprises down the road and ensures the service fits your budget.

Understanding Medicare-certified Agencies

Medicare-certified agencies follow federal guidelines for care, staffing, and safety. It can feel reassured that your loved one is in reliable hands when you employ a caregiver from these companies.

There are several benefits to hiring a caregiver from Medicare-certified organizations. One is professional care. These companies are required to only hire qualified and licensed professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists. Therefore, the chances of you hiring a bad caregiver are slim.

If your loved one is eligible for Medicare benefits, they can get reimbursed for their care expenses. Seniors who require home health services must only receive them from a certified agency. You can check for Medicare-certified home health agencies in your area to start comparing prices.

Benefits of Receiving Care at Home

Home health care provides benefits that go beyond basic physical needs. For older people, it’s a way to maintain their independence. Meanwhile, it reduces burnout for family caregivers. Here are considerable upsides of receiving care at your own residence.

• Independence and control: Seniors can maintain their routines and run their households as usual, giving them a sense of control over their lives.
• Comfort of familiar surroundings: Being at home means being surrounded by their pet, favorite belongings, photos, and familiar spaces, which positively impacts the treatment plan.
• Reduced anxiety: For those who feel uneasy in new environments, at-home care provides stability and a sense of safety, minimizing mental worries.
• Personalized care: Care plans are suited to match your loved one’s needs and preferences without the rigidity of a facility schedule.
• Convenience and mobility: Seniors with mobility challenges can avoid the stress of traveling to receive support.
• Improved quality of life: Staying at home can enhance emotional well-being and overall happiness, fostering a better quality of life.

Supporting Your Loved One to Age in Place

They say home is where the heart is — and it’s true for older people who want to spend their golden years in a place where they’ve made many memories. A familiar environment fosters a sense of connection, safety, and comfort. Isn’t it way better if your 70- or 90-year-old mom or dad receives support at home and in the most convenient way?

If your loved one wants to receive non-medical home health care at home, our trained and vetted caregivers can provide compassionate care. Contact us to learn more about howe we can help.

While home is the best place to age in place, it can sometimes become unsafe, especially if your loved one has a progressive disease like dementia. The best option is to relocate to a second home equipped with all the safety measures to protect your family. Whether they require minor or high-level specialized care, Amy’s Eden Senior Care can help.

We have cozy and welcoming homes around Nevada to cater to each individual’s care needs. Our spaces are designed to be senior-friendly, from lighting to furniture choices and the natural textures of the living room and bedroom. Every corner is filled with elements that make every tea or mealtime more meaningful and joyful. Plus, a 24-hour caregiver is on standby to assist you whenever, wherever. Take a virtual tour of homes and get a feel for what it feels like to live in it for the rest of your life.