Right at Home

What is In-Home Care?

In-home care services for seniors generally consist of non-medical assistance and caregiving to help aging adults with a variety of tasks. The extent of care and nature of services are usually tailored to the senior’s needs to ensure that they can comfortably live at home. This way, you can rest well, knowing that your loved one is getting the right and appropriate care and assistance.

For companion care, a home aide will help out with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This is ideal for seniors who are still living independently and doing things on their own, but may need assistance with home maintenance, chores, and reminders. The home aide may also act as a companion, hence the term companion care, to spend time with the elder and keep them busy. Companion care may also be suitable for seniors who are experiencing some memory impairment.

Personal care services, on the other hand, are more extensive and personalized. They include assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs), thus being suitable for seniors who need additional help with daily tasks like toileting, eating, and help getting around. Caregivers can keep your loved one safe and comfortable, but like companion care aides, they are not licensed to administer medicine and can only help with managing this.

Paying for In-Home Care

The hourly rate for a health aide can range from anywhere between $20 to $40 per hour, with $26 being the median in 2023. This pay structure is common for most agencies and is ideal for seniors who are generally still living independently and just need their caretaker a few hours per day or week. Home care agencies may sometimes designate a minimum number of hours per day, usually two to four, so make sure to look into this before hiring anyone.

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the costs of caregivers who assist with IADLs and ADLs if this is the only care service you need. If it comes as part of in-home medical care due to a hospitalization or other qualifying medical care treatment then some part of it may be covered if it is provided by the Home Health agency and deemed necesssary for healing.

Most Long-term care insurance poicies will cover in-home care.If your loved one has a long-term insurance policy in place, you can check to see if it covers in-home care.