Selecting the ideal home care for you or a loved one is an important decision. Before making your selection, be sure to thoroughly understand all your options and what each will entail.
Private home care is a type of non-medical, personal assistance for seniors and disabled adults in their homes. This can be funded through insurance, Medicaid or long-term care plans.
Costs
Home care costs can vary significantly based on location, service level and accessibility of qualified professionals. Typically, charges for in-home care are charged per hour.
On average, non-medical home care costs in the United States average around $22 per hour; however, in certain states they can range from as low as $16 an hour up to $30 an hour.
Many families pay for private home care out of pocket, using a combination of income and savings or seeking other forms of financial assistance. Long-term care insurance may also be an option; however, be sure to verify its coverage prior to enrolling.
Families facing the cost of home care should carefully weigh all available financing options before making a final decision. Some sources include health insurance, long-term care insurance, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), pensions, investments, annuities, real estate investments and Social Security benefits; although these cannot replace professional home care services as seniors age and require extra care these safety nets can provide invaluable peace of mind.
Benefits
Private home care provides a range of services to help people live safely and comfortably at home. These can range from encouraging seniors to stay active through engaging in leisure activities to preparing meals and transporting them to appointments.
Private home caregivers offer assistance with grocery shopping and meal preparation, medication management, running errands, cleaning the house and more – an invaluable way to provide assistance for older adults who may have difficulty with daily tasks due to aging or limited mobility. It is an invaluable way to make life easier for seniors who may require extra support with everyday tasks.
Private home caregivers can assist you or a loved one in living more independently in your own home, giving you back that sense of freedom and independence. This can be especially important if you’ve given up participating in favorite activities due to lack of time or energy to do them.
Getting Started
If you plan to offer medical or non-medical home care, there are a few legal requirements that must be fulfilled before beginning operations. These include creating an entity, obtaining an employer identification number (EIN), and registering with the IRS for taxes.
Your business requires a website and marketing materials. Make sure they are user-friendly, informative, and up to date.
Create your website using one of the many free hosting options available. Be sure to register your agency with Google so potential clients can easily locate you when looking for a home healthcare agency.
Another effective way to expand your clientele is through referrals from local professionals. Examples include senior centers, gyms, physicians, churches and rehabilitation facilities.
Security
Your budget and aging parent’s schedule may dictate that you seek home care assistance for your senior loved one. Fortunately, there is a wide range of services to choose from; the hardest decision will be finding which is suitable for both of you. To learn more about your options, speak with an agent in your area who can connect you to local caregivers and answer any questions about what works best for each party.