Home Health Care - The Available Resources Of Managed Care

For those that don not want to move an elderly parent, or a disabled loved one, of any age, into a long term care facility, there are a number of choices for Home Health Care. They range from in home supportive service to hospice care for the terminally ill. Termed as managed care for those who wish to continue to stay at home rather than in a facility, the various degrees of managed care are all dependent on the needs of the individual. While another article you will find on this site deals specifically with modification to living quarters for the elderly or disabled, this article will provide you with an overview of the various managed care options.

Now, depending on an individuals finances, some of these services are provided for free by a states Medicaid program to individuals considered permanently disabled, others are provided on a shared cost basis, still others are provided for through health care insurance. And for the elderly, Medicare may compensate for some of the costs. Whichever the program you will have to do your own research to find out what the qualifications need to be met for any particular program. You may find some help by calling 1-800-677-1116 the local community Area Agency on Aging. .Should it turn out that one has to pay out-of-pocket for the service, then it would be important to balance the expense of the in home care against the expense of placing the individual in question into a nursing home, or an assisted living facility.

There are various levels of in-home service providers. The first level of providers is called homemakers, caregivers, companions, and personal attendants. They provide housekeeping and routine personal care such as cleaning, laundry, linen change, meal preparation, personal grooming, shopping, and driving the client to medical appointments. As a state and federal program it is known as In Home Supportive Services or simply IHSS. If one does not qualify for the program then it is otherwise an out of pocket personal hire expense

The next level is known as Health Aides that provide both in home medical and personal care provide for the next level of service. They work under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or therapist to provide health services. They are required to record the services they perform and the condition and progress of the person that is being cared for.

The highest level of in home-managed care is Hospice Care. For the elderly Medicare may compensate for this level of care if a physician certifies that if the disease runs its normal course the individual has less than 6 months to live. In some sates Medicaid pays for hospice care, as will many private insurance plans, HMO’s, and other managed care organizations. If one does not qualify for other funding and this level of care turns out to be a personal expense, then the cost of it should be balanced against not only nursing home care, but also the cost of hiring a registered or practical nurse to provide for the individuals in home health care needs.

Long Term Care