Many families make the mistake of believing home care and home healthcare are interchangeable terms. Even though the two types of care might sound very similar, there are some significant differences between them. To help you decide which type of care your aging loved one needs, here are a few of these key differences.
Help with Daily Activities
Some home healthcare providers assist with daily activities, but there’s typically a limit. However, an in-home caregiver can help with bathing, dressing, and various other grooming needs. A home caregiver can also clean the home and run errands for your loved one, but a home healthcare agency doesn’t provide these services. Unlike a caregiver strictly assisting with healthcare, an in-home caregiver can provide your loved one with transportation to the store, a friend’s home, and medical appointments.
If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of elderly home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.
Assistance with Medications
When it’s time for your loved one to take prescribed medications, a home healthcare provider can administer injections, IV therapy, and other types of medical care. However, in-home caregivers don’t have medical licenses to perform these tasks. Instead, they simply provide reminders to ensure your loved one takes his or her medication on time.
Companionship
An in-home caregiver can spend time inside and outside the home with your loved one, providing the companionship he or she needs to remain social. The main focus of home healthcare is to ensure your loved one receives skilled nursing care, including medications, wound care, therapy, health monitoring, and pain management.
An in-home caregiver can read to your loved one, take walks in the park with him or her, go out to run errands together, and watch movies or television with your parent. These activities are ideal for preventing isolation, which might otherwise lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.
For families living in Fair Oaks, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Qualifications & Payment Options
A doctor will need to prescribe a home healthcare provider based on your loved one’s health needs. An in-home caregiver doesn’t need to be prescribed by a doctor. If you determine your loved one will fare better with regular assistance and companionship, you can hire a respite or live-in home caregiver.
A recommendation from a doctor is the only way home healthcare services would be covered under Medicare. If your loved one qualifies, he or she has the option to use private funds or Medicaid. However, long-term care insurance can be used to cover the costs of a home caregiver, and low-income seniors can also pay for home care using Medicaid.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide senior care. Fair Oaks families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. To learn about our revolutionary in-home care plans, call us at (916) 485-4663 today.