Home Care is provided by paid caregivers, family or friends, as well as volunteer organizations. It is a growing trend as many families have full-time jobs and live hundreds of miles away from their loved one, making it difficult to provide hands-on home care. Home care can also be a way to avoid institutionalized facilities, such as nursing homes, when it becomes necessary for someone to live in their own home.
Licensed home care services agencies, which offer attendants for hire, are available in most urban and suburban areas. They are usually Medicare-certified and offer a variety of services, such as providing freshly cooked meals and running errands, cleaning the home, bathing, etc.
Other options for care are home health aides, who generally do not have a license and are often volunteers. They can be very helpful and affordable, but their quality varies significantly.
If you are considering hiring either type of care, be sure to get as much information as possible before making a choice. Ask doctors, your local Area Agency on Aging, and friends or relatives who have used home care for their recommendations. Also, check for complaints filed against a company with state and local agencies that regulate home care services.
If the care receiver is low income, he or she may qualify for free home help through Medicaid’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS). Other programs such as respite care and caregiver relief are sometimes offered by local communities through specialized funding. Your local Area Agency on Aging or faith community should have a list of providers that offer lower cost home care and can give you referrals to pre-screened attendants. Private Carers available in our area