Home health care may be the answer if you have a parent who is recovering from an illness or injury or needs help managing a medical condition. This care involves licensed medical professionals who provide skilled care to patients wherever they live. Nurses, therapists, and aides can all be a part of the care team.
Many people are unsure where to start regarding this type of care assistance. At Aleca, we’re here to help guide you through the process so that you can find the appropriate care for your loved one. We will look at who qualifies for home health care and tell you how to start the process for your parent. As we explore these topics, you’ll also learn more about how to find this type of elder care and how paying for these types of services works.
Who Qualifies for Home Health Care for the Elderly?
You must have a physician’s order to qualify for home health care. This will explain what types of services your loved one needs and why. As we’ll explain briefly, a doctor’s order is needed if you are trying to get Medicare to pay for the care.
Once the doctor’s orders are in place, there will be an initial consultation to assess the patient’s needs and develop a treatment plan. If there are family members present, they are encouraged to be part of the process to ensure consistent care.
The frequency of home health care visits by the medical staff will vary on the patient’s needs. Some patients only need care weekly, while others will need someone to come in a few times a week. The doctor’s orders will help to determine how many visits and what type of care is needed.
Benefits of Home Health Care
Many patients and family members like home health care because it is delivered right to the patient’s residence. Whether they are at home, in an assisted living facility, or somewhere else, they don’t have to leave their space to get care.
The benefits of home health care include:
- Faster recuperation and recovery
- Slowing the decline of a serious condition
- Better symptom management
- Improving or maintaining the current function level
Home health care for seniors also provides personalized care – caregivers get to know their patients’ needs and form relationships to help them thrive.
How to Find Services
If a doctor recommends home health care services for your loved one, they may refer you to an agency that can specifically accommodate their needs. Often these are places that the doctor has worked with previously and has a positive relationship with.
It is also a good idea to go off of the doctor’s recommendations if Medicare is involved because they can work with the agency and determine what services will be covered. Your doctor and home health care providers will work together to ensure you get the care you need and deserve.
If your doctor does not recommend a specific agency, you can ask around your area for referrals. You can also do an internet search for “home health care services near me.” Be sure to read about the services offered and check any reviews. You want to be sure your loved one gets the best care possible.
Paying for Services
Some private insurance companies may cover part of the home health care services cost. Check with your provider to see what the plan covers.
Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B will cover eligible home health services as long as you need part-time skilled services and you are homebound.1 This means you have trouble leaving your home without some assistance, leaving your home is not recommended because of your condition, and getting out of your home is typically a big effort.
Covered home health services include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Part-time, intermittent home health aide care
- Durable medical equipment
- Medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care
Any home healthcare agency providing services must be Medicare-certified. While Medicare will pay for home health care services, it will not cover 24-hour care at your home, meals, or homemaker services.
If a patient has Medicare Part A and/or Part B, they must be under a doctor’s care and following their care plan. The doctor must also specify that intermittent skilled nursing care is needed, and/or physical therapy and speech-language pathology. The patient must also be homebound. Medicare will not pay for home health care if the patient’s condition requires more than part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care.
Medicaid will also pay for some home healthcare services. Each state runs its Medicaid program differently, so eligibility and benefits will differ.2 Former service members may also qualify for coverage under certain veterans’ programs. Your local VA benefits office can provide you with helpful information about the home health care services your loved one may qualify for.
Home Health Care Services from Aleca
If your aging parents need home health care services, Aleca is here to help. We have a team of skilled medical professionals in various fields to offer services.
Aleca provides highly skilled clinical care and therapy for patients recovering at home from different types of medical conditions and surgeries, including:
- Orthopedic Surgeries
- Infectious Disease
- Cardiac Issues
- Pulmonary Conditions
- Trauma
- Wound Care
We also provide physical, speech, and occupational therapy as part of our home health care services.
Our skilled professionals work with your loved one’s doctor to develop a treatment plan that will help to keep them at home and avoid going back to the hospital.
To learn more about the home health care services Aleca provides, call us today or message us online. Let us show you why so many people trust us for home healthcare needs.
Sources:
[1] https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services
[2] https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/info-2017/afford-a-homecare-worker.html
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.