By Michelle Rojas
What is Home Care?
Home Care encompasses a wide range of health and social services. These services are delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill persons in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.
Orange Grove Home Care provides non-medical home (or companion) care services, which are designed to assist or take over in the activities that elders and disabled people need to be able to live at home safely and with dignity. These may include light housekeeping, meal preparation, grooming or bathing assistance, fall prevention, medication reminders, transportation and running errands.
What does Non-Medical Home Care Cost?
The cost depends on what kind of care you need. According to the MetLife Market Survey of Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs of 2008, home health aide services in Los Angeles range between $17 and $35 per hour.
How to Pay for Home Care Services?
Most people pay for home care services directly or with their family's help. There are several governmental programs that provide financial assistance for home care expenses, including Medicare, Medicaid, Older Americans Act (OAA), Social Services Block Grand Programs, Veterans Administration Aid & Attendance Program, and CHAMPUS.
Commercial health insurance policies and Managed Care Organizations typically cover some home care services for acute needs, but long-term services vary from plan to plan.
Any individual requiring medically necessary home care services as a result of injury on the job is eligible to receive coverage through workers' compensation. Contact your employer for more information.
Coverage rules are always changing. You may contact any of the above for more up-to-date information.
Long Term Care Insurance
As the public need for home care has grown, private long-term care insurance policies have expanded their coverage of personal care, companionship, and other in-home services. Considerable care should be taken in selecting a long-term care insurance policy, as home care benefits vary greatly among plans. Consumers should be aware of limitations on coverage, such as prior hospitalization requirements, and pre-existing condition exclusions. Some policies may only pay for services that are already covered by Medicare. Have an independent financial planner review any policy you are considering before you buy.
Reverse Mortgages
Reverse Mortgages are a source of income for home owners who have equity in their home. Typically, homeowners get a lump sum or monthly payments from the bank, without having to make monthly repayments for as long as they live in the home. In order to obtain a loan, candidates must first go through counseling approved by HUD (US Department of Housing & Urban Development). To find a counselor in your area, call 800-209-8085.
Financial Resources available specifically in the Los Angeles area
IHSS: The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program helps pay for services provided to eligible persons who are 65 years of age or over, or legally blind, or disabled adults and children, so they can remain safely in their own homes. This LA County program is specifically for low income individuals. Their phone number is 888-644-IHSS.
Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center: Part of a statewide system of Caregiver Resource Centers serving family caregivers. LACRC provides respite services to relieve caregivers from the stresses of constant care. Respite is designed to provide temporary support so the caregiver may receive relief and rest. Limited funding is available for in-home help, or in an out-of –home setting such as an adult day center.
www.usc.edu/lacrc
800-540-4442
213-821-7777
lacrc@usc.edu
Jewish Free Loan Association: JFLA's Kopelove Home Health Care Loan Program offers interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to residents of all faiths in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas for short-term home health care and recovery needs, including respite care, nurses, in-home care providers and companions, and durable medical equipment.
www.jfla.org
323-761-8830
818-464-3331
info@jfla.org
Convalescent Aid Society: Provides medical equipment for in-home use on loan for free in Pasadena and surrounding areas.
www.cas1.org
626-793-1696
info@cas1.org
Michelle Rojas MS MBA is a Senior Care and Home Care Expert, and the owner of Orange Grove Home Care. She can be reached at michelle.rojas@oghomecare.com. Please visit her website at http://www.oghomecare.com.
Source:www.isnare.com |
