Home Health Care assists and helps seniors such as geriatric patients in their activities of daily living such as self-care, hygiene, grooming, house keeping and preparation of meals. There may be additional provisions that depend on the individual needs of the patient such as transportation services and other errands, exercise, assistance in toileting and other volunteer programs. There are other forms of extensive home health care that also have rehabilitation programs and physical therapy sessions as well as visits from nurses. Home health care program may also have respiratory and occupational nurses, mental health and social workers and physicians.

Financial Aspects of Home Health Care

Home health care is an outside assisted living program. It can be financed by private resources which may be the resident or a family member. It can also be financed by public payers like Medicaid and Medicare and employer-sponsored Health Insurance Plan.

In most cases, Medicare does not pay for home health care programs for a long period of time. Medicaid, on the other hand, can most likely help families with low-income or those with little or no assets at all. Home health care that is sponsored by the employer is usually on a short term basis only unless the health insurance plan turns out to be a generous one. In most cases, home health care is financed via the family’s resources.

What is the difference between home health care and assisted living or in-house nursing homes?

Majority of the elderly prefer home health care since they value their privacy. Still, there are cases that require strict supervision of the resident in a place with assisted living facilities. Home health care can also be classified as assisted living. However, it has more independence from the resident. A resident who requires full-time assistance needs to be in a nursing and boarding-type of home.

The usual impression is that home health care is more affordable than nursing home. The truth is that, home health care is more expensive because it is dependent on the number of hours that the aide has to work. There are residents that admit the fact that the cost of full-time home health care is double the cost of stay-in assisted living facility. Home health care costs around $20.00/hour or even higher. For residents who are somewhat independent, the cost can be controlled. Still, the best way to save on such costs if the need for such service is minimal is to get someone whom you can trust to assist you around your home.

Home health care is best for the elderly who still has some level of independence and only need occasional visits to the doctor. It is also advisable for seniors who require full-time assistance but do not want to live in public nursing home. Home health care can provide individualized and private attention. For such services, it is best to pay attention to the aides because you would be opening your home to a stranger. To ensure security, it is best to contact home health care agencies who carefully train and screen their workers.

Assisted living can be defined as a housing option for the elderly or adults who are in need of some assistance in their activities of daily living such as ambulating, bathing, eating, dressing, hygiene and others but do not actually require a 24-hour nursing service. These adults are still able to live and function independently but with some assistance. However, assistance is required on a daily basis in general. In most cases, assisted living is better defined as independent living with all the added perks and bonuses to make life easier and more worthwhile for the adults and elderly.

Assisted living facilities are not the same as nursing home. Those who are living with assisted living and care services have many avenues for social interaction. For instance, they may have religious services within their communities such as those who are Protestants and Catholics; and even gourmet dining at a very reasonable rate. In general, adults can have a diversion in order to make a difference in their lives and make it more meaningful.

A lot of adults think of how they will spend their retirement. Clearly, the best way to spend it is to find an environment where you will be allowed to get active, busy and have interaction with other people. Moreover, safety is of utmost importance as well as assistance in activities of daily living. This is what assisted living is all about. Independence, freedom and security all served in one plate.