As your loved ones get older, their care requirements and specific needs keep growing. To meet those specific needs, home care services are a good option because they provide care services in the comfort of your own home, with many additional benefits. Learn about the eligibility criteria for home care services and the benefits of home care services for your aging loved ones in this article. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you enhance your golden years.
Eligibility
To meet the eligibility criteria for home care services, you must meet the following requirements:
- Being 60 years of age or older
- Having a functional limitation that requires the assistance of another person for at least
- One daily life activity, such as bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility
- Two instrumental activities of daily life, such as housework/cleaning, shopping, laundry, use of transportation, preparing and cooking meals, using the telephone, and self-administering medication
- Have unmet needs for assistance with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) and IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)
- To live safely in the home if support is provided
- Ineligible for housekeeping or home attendant, or home health aide services under any other government program
- Have no other resources to receive assistance
- If they don’t have any alternative services that they are currently getting
Eligible clients get authorization from the Case Management Agency (CMA) for a specific number of weekly hours of home care.
Consumer information
Home care is a health service given in a patient’s home to promote, maintain, restore health, or lessen the effects of illness and disability. These services include nursing care, speech, physical, and occupational therapies, home health aide services, and personal care services.
It is advised by the New York State Public Health Law that an organization is licensed or certified as a home care agency by the New York State Department of Health to provide or arrange for home care services in New York State.
Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) offer part-time, intermittent health care and support services to people who need intermediate and skilled health care. Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) provide home care services to people who pay from their own pockets or have private insurance coverage. To check for information on specific Certified Home Health Agencies and Licensed Home Care Service Agencies, including available quality measures, please visit the Home Health and Hospice Profiles.
The Home Care Registry offers limited information on individual Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides that have completed state-approved training programs. To see the Home Care registry, look for New York State Home Care Registry. Managed long-term care (MLTC) is a system that delivers long-term services to people who are chronically ill or disabled and wish to stay in their homes and communities.
Types of Home Care
When choosing home care services, you can have many options based on your specific needs and preferences. Most home care aides and agencies often charge based on the hour, minimum contracted hours per day or week, or may offer weekly or monthly care contracts. The cost of home care services can vary based on factors like the level of training required and the frequency of care provided.
In-home care services focus on personal and healthcare services delivered in the comfort of one’s home, making it a popular choice among older adults who wish to age gracefully in their current residences and communities. This ensures the right support and adhering to home safety guidelines, which many seniors need for their independence, and prevents their need for institutional long-term care facilities like assisted living or nursing homes.
Estimates reveal that around 70% of adults aged 65 and older may need long-term care services like assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and skilled nursing care. This highlights the value of home care services in supporting the aging population and taking care of their specific care needs. Looking for different home care services available and understanding the benefits they offer allows seniors to make informed decisions regarding their care preferences. Whether it involves companionship, personal assistance, or specialized care, home care services play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for elderly people and promoting overall well-being.
Benefits
Home care services offer numerous benefits for your loved ones. The most common ones are:
- Comfort and Familiarity:
Home care services allow older adults to remain in their own homes rather than live in a residential nursing facility or retirement home. Having access to their bed and bathroom provides a level of privacy and dignity that is missing in shared living environments. Additionally, being in a familiar environment can lower stress, promote emotional well-being, and support cognitive function, which is important for seniors who may be facing early forms of dementia.
- Personalized home care plan:
Unlike a residential care facility or retirement home, which typically provides standardized accommodation to many residents at once, at-home care offers one-on-one attention. This means seniors get support on schedule, whether with eating meals, engaging in hobbies, or following specific routines that bring them comfort.
- Maintain Independence:
Home care services ensure that seniors maintain independence in ways that nursing facilities cannot offer. For example, older adults can keep up with their household tasks like sorting mail or tidying up personal items with just a little help when needed. They also get to decide how they want to organize and manage their space, giving them a sense of control and ownership over their home.
- Reduce the risk of infection:
With home care, seniors don’t have to worry about contracting contagious illnesses that are often possible in a nursing facility. If one person gets sick in shared spaces, the infection can spread quickly, leading to lockdowns, where residents need to stay in their rooms. On the other hand, in their own home, aging adults can stay healthier and enjoy their normal routines without worrying about getting exposed to outbreaks or being confined unnecessarily.
- Emotional support:
Loneliness and isolation are common struggles for many seniors, especially those who live alone or have limited social connections. With home care, they can receive companionship from a trusted caregiver who forms a genuine relationship. A caregiver can become someone you confide in, share stories with, or simply enjoy your quality time with. This emotional connection can brighten your day, significantly boost your overall well-being, and provide peace of mind for family and friends who worry about you.
- Cost-Effective Solution:
Home care is a more affordable choice than living in a care facility, as you have to pay for the specific services you need, avoiding all-inclusive costs usually linked with residential nursing facilities.
- Medication reminders and management:
Missing a medication dose or accidentally taking too much can cause serious health issues, especially if your loved one is managing multiple prescriptions. That’s where caregivers can provide helpful reminders that ensure every medicine is taken on time and in the right doses. Additionally, they provide light medical monitoring to watch for side effects or health changes that may need attention. It adds a layer of support that provides you and your loved one peace of mind, ensuring that medications are managed safely and consistently.
Home care agencies play a vital role in supporting aging loved ones with home care services by taking care of their specific needs and requirements while taking care of their overall health in the comfort of their home. Home care services offer many benefits that your loved ones can enjoy, so just check the eligibility and apply for them to give the best quality care for your loved ones.
For more information, call us to get a consultation from our home care service!!!!! Consult with our home care services to get a reliable companion care provider for your loved one, who ensures they get the best quality of care and companionship to live a peaceful, happy life. If you want to know more about adult day care services, the professionals at HouseCalls Home Care offer excellent resources for learning more about how to care for your aging loved ones. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you enhance your golden years. Feel free to call HouseCalls Home Care at 718-922-9200 if you or a loved one requires compassionate and competent in-home care services. Our goal is to assist you in locating the best support for your needs. You can also send an email to us at info@housecallshc.org for more information.
