Home Health Care

When it comes to taking care of an elderly family member, often the caregiver has no idea how their own life will change in the process. Although someone is elderly, that doesn't necessarily mean that they won't live a long and fruitful life. To that end, many people start looking at the options of having a home health care agency assist in the day-to-day care of their elderly family member. When choosing a home health care agency, it's very important to use a set of standards to assess each company's ability to take care of the person. One very important factor to consider is the type of training the in-home care giver has received from their employer.

Training is absolutely vital when it comes to taking care of the elderly, especially if they have specific health-related issues. For example, Alzheimer's disease is becoming very prevalent among the elderly community. This is not simple senility or even dementia, but a specific disease that requires careful handling on the part of the in-home care giver. It can be a very frustrating disease to deal with for the family members and at can lead to stress and burn out. So it is important that the worker is well-versed in taking care of any situations that come up with the elderly person or couple.

Unfortunately, some home health care agencies do not properly train their workers to deal with specific medical conditions. Although they are not there to provide urgent medical care, certain conditions do require different handling. If someone has arthritis, for example, then the way they are cared for may be different than someone who has no real medical issues. Someone may have problems with incontinence, for instance, and this will need to be dealt with on a regular basis by the in-home care giver. Even though this person is your loved one and you may know every problem he or she may have, any problem could arise and you want the right person there with the right experience.

When you are interviewing home health care agencies, don't be afraid to ask in-depth questions. You are the caretaker of someone who is very important to you, so it only makes sense that you want to make sure that they have the right kind of care on a daily basis and that they are comfortable with the person who is caring for them.

Specifically, Credit Unions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Micro Lenders and Accounts Receivable Factoring Firms all said YES to the majority of their small business financing applications while most larger banks repeatedly said NO.

Although a home healthcare agency owner could be approved for financing by any of the alternative lenders listed above, the best alternative financing option for them is to work with a home healthcare factor, and here's why:

1. Home Health Care Factoring Creates Positive Cash Flow

Some Medicaid waiver programs can take up to a month to reimburse an agency for its pre-approved non-medical in-home services. This lag in payments makes it difficult for new or growing agencies to be able to meet payroll and other financial obligations. However, when agency owners sell their Medicaid receivables to a home care funding firm, funds can be directly deposited into their bank account within hours. Instead of waiting weeks or months, factoring your home care business gives business owners immediate access to cash.

2. Home Health Care Factoring Helps Eliminate Overhead

In addition to providing capital, home health care factors provide invoice processing services, which include the following: posting invoices to a computer, depositing checks, entering payments, following-up on past-due invoices and producing consistent reports. Agency owners can greatly reduce their current overhead costs associated with processing invoices and eliminate the overhead cost of handling collections when they work with a factoring firm. Moreover, agency owners can use the time they used to spend on collections, administration, bookkeeping, talking to banks, etc. to focus on marketing, sales and other business-growing activities.

3. Factoring Medicaid Receivables Helps Home Health Care Agencies Build Credit

As was previously discussed, home health care factoring provides agency owners with adequate cash flow. This new found access to capital gives agency owners the ability to pay its vendors on time, helping them to establish a good credit rating. Having good credit will make it easier for vendors and other financial institutions to extend credit to the agency in the future. In addition, factoring home health care allows agency owners to take advantage of early payment discounts. For example, some vendors will offer a two percent discount if a home health care agency owner pays its bills within ten days. This savings can then be used to offset the cost of factoring.

Eventually, the big banks will start lending again. In the meantime, home health care factoring is a great alternative financing option for agency owners to utilize. Specifically, home health care funding generates a positive cash flow, eliminates overhead costs and helps home health care agency owners build credit.

Considering the number of people who are growing into their 60's, 70's and older, it's obvious that the home health care industry is set for a large growth spurt. If you are looking at a franchise in this industry, one of your questions is: "What staffing do you need for a home health care franchise?" Of course there are a lot of other questions but this is a major concern. Let's address how to determine that and other issues.

Underlying Assumptions

This key question, 'what staffing do you need for a home health care franchise,' has some assumptions built into it. First, you've decided that your health care business is going to be a franchise. Second, you've implied that you'll be involved in health care. What does 'health care' mean to you? Are you planning on providing in-home medical treatments? Are you really referring to non-medical services that give comfort and peace-of-mind to your client. These primary differences heavily impact the answer to your main question (and others).

If Your Health Care Business is a Franchise

If your business is, in fact, going to be a purchased franchise, your answers are going to be easier to come by. You really need to review the franchise documents, ask questions of the franchise representative and talk with several of the existing franchisees to determine what you should expect regarding staffing. The type staffing you'll need is very different for medical vs. non-medical services. For instance, in the first case, you'll be considering nurses (RN & LPN), nurses' aids, physical therapists, etc. In the second, you may well be looking at people who can provide companionship, take care of household duties, run errands, etc. Of course, you immediately see both a need for higher fees and higher wages in the first case vs. the second. Even so, for these and other questions, you should be able to get all of your answers from the franchisor or other existing franchisees.

If Your Business is Not a Franchise or if Your Are Developing a Franchise

If you won't have the informational resources of an existing franchise available to you, you'll need to develop your own business plan to address all of your revenue and expense projections, including staffing. Don't short-change this task! I recommend that you visit your local SCORE or Small Business Development Center. You'll find their assistance quite valuable. You'll find that the most important part may well be how well formulated your assumptions are. One of the most important will be how you will acquire your clients. That will drive the growth in your revenue and the need for more expenses, such as staffing, into the future.

Learn how best to acquire those clients, even in a local market, by proper use of the internet. You can learn and plan that now, even before starting your home health care business.

It always makes me sad to hear the families of an elder say "Mom made me promise to never put her in a nursing home". That is simply a promise that most families today cannot keep. If a caring son or daughter finds that they have to break that promise, they may feel guilty for the rest of their lives. Mom probably asked for that promise because the nursing homes she remembers were dark, institutional places which would be considered substandard in America today. Today's family structure and the financial challenges of elder care, make facility living a very common choice. When an elder shows signs of not being able to perform the basic activities of daily living, families or concerned professionals must step in. It is actually against most state laws for a professional to be aware of an elder in trouble without taking some reasonable action to secure their safety. There are many indicators that an elder is no longer safe at home alone. The basic litmus test is to ask yourself is: "Could this person save him or herself if their home were on fire? Would they be able to call 911 and communicate their exact location? If left alone for any period of time are they at risk for physical abuse or financial exploitation? Do they have the skills and resources to meet their daily hygiene and nutritional needs? The answer is "NO" for many American elders who live home alone.

Independence vs. Isolation

Many of my elderly clients who were trying so hard to maintain their independence by living alone at home actually maintained nothing more than an isolated existence punctuated by the occasionally call or visit from friends and family. This type of isolation was also coupled with medication errors or abuse, self neglect and unsanitary housekeeping. A person living in this situation will often "bloom like a flower" in the right retirement facility environment. It is amazing what three hot meals a days, social interaction, clean sheets and regular administration of medications can do for a person's mind, body and spirit. A person who lives alone is more likely to fall and lay alone on the floor for days without being found. A person, who lives alone may make poor choices such as keeping, (or worse,) spoiled food in the refrigerator. If a person lives alone, there are many signs of illness that no one will notice during sporadic short visits. Medical appointments may be missed and prescriptions left unfilled. Many people feel that they are honoring their aging loved one by letting them live alone, even though all the tell tale signs of self neglect are apparent. There is no honor or dignity in being found on the floor after one has laid in their own excrement for three days. Unfortunately, many families will wait for this type of incident before insisting on either home health care or facility placement. If an elder is physically or verbally abusive to family and care givers, they are much more likely to be left alone to make their own decisions, regardless of how dysfunctional their situation may be. Elders with difficult personalities are many times more likely to be abused by caregivers. They need more supervision, not less.

American Family Dynamics and the Pressures of Today's World

I hear people say "Americans don't take care of their elders like other countries do". Well that is not my experience. The adult children who consult with Geriatric Care Manager or other eldercare professionals are very concerned about their parents. They love them and they want the best care their money can buy. That's the clincher: what their money can buy. In America, caregivers, maids, etc,, are expensive. Perhaps in another country where slave labor is commonplace, people can afford plenty of care. But in this country it costs $12.00 per hour (or more) for a home health aide. At eight hours per day, that is $96.00 per day. That is $2,880 per month or $34,560 per year - more than the average working American earns per year. The average woman gets a social security check of less than $500.00 per month. Do the math and you will soon see that unless you are wealthy, many people cannot afford to keep their elders in their own home with a part time caregiver or even in their children's home with a caregiver.

Now couple this financial problem with another very real problem. Most middle income women in their fifties, who are caring for their elderly parents, are also trying to hold down a job, help their young-adult children and maintain a marriage. If a middle income woman stops working to care for her parents, she and her husband either cannot pay their bills or they must significantly reduce their standard of living. I know a few husbands who are fifty-something and feel they have worked too hard and too long to have their dreams of retirement evaporate because someone else's needs are suddenly more important than their own. Now that Americans have come to grips with the concept that it takes two incomes to live well in this country, they are more determined than ever to have a retirement. Paying $35,000 per year for a caregiver can take a huge chunk out of the retirement savings. Frankly, most people couldn't afford to do it even if they wanted to. Because most Americans' net worth is in the equity of their home, selling the family home is the most common way to finance elder care services. If the family home sells for $100,000.00 and the average cost of an Assisted Living Residence is $36,000.00 per year, an elder can afford to live in that Assisted Living for 2.7 years. Coincidently, the average amount of time a person lives in an Assisted Living before moving on to a nursing home is 2.5 years.

Many adult children, who do have the desire and financial means to bring their elders to live with them, still cannot. They cannot because the medical or psychological needs of the elder are beyond their capacity to manage. For example, if Grandma is sweet and docile by day, but "sundowns" or grows agitated as evening falls, this poses a difficult problem for the caring family. When some people experience dementia or other medical issues, they may stay awake all night. They sometimes wander out of doors or rummage through drawers and closets. This behavior will keep the whole family awake at night. If a working family cannot sleep at night, this situation will become intolerable very quickly. Some adult children have been raised by violent, aggressive parents who are now violent aggressive elders. Children who have been raised under these conditions need not feel obligated to bring their parents to live with them, despite the pressure they may get from outsiders who do not know the real story.

Elders and their families who are trying to make difficult choices about elder care benefit from a professional assessment from a geriatric specialist. Professional care managers can offer an objective opinion based on a clinical evaluation of the physical and cognitive status of the elder. Physicians, hospital case managers, facility admissions coordinators and social workers can also offer advice about appropriate placement of an elder or even suggest how to set up services in the home to best meet the elder's needs.

Home Health Care - Stay Home without Being Alone

At the very least, any elder living alone should have a medical alert system. This is a necklace or wrist band with a panic button that can be pushed in case of emergency. If the button is pushed a dispatch center receives the signal and makes and attempt to communicate with the elder through a speaker placed in the home. If the elder needs help or does not respond to attempts to communicate, emergency services will be dispatched to the home. Many services will also contact friends and family to notify them that assistance is needed. A good candidate for this device is one WHO DOES NOT have memory loss as memory loss makes it difficult to learn to operate new appliances.

There are two basic types of home health care services: Medicare and Private Duty:

Medicare Home Health is free but can only be accessed if ordered a physician. Medicare will only authorize the free home health services if specific events have happened such as a recent hospitalization lasting three or more days, or a recent change in health status, etc. Medicare will send a Registered Nurse to evaluate the elder and that nurse decides if other professionals such as physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, etc. should perform evaluations. Each professional will determine what services they will render and for how long. Medicare services are temporary in nature and are not offered on a full time basis. The average visit by the nurse, aide and therapist is less than one hour each. Even Medicare home health aides only stay long enough to bathe and dress the patient.

Private Duty Home Health can be arranged on a full time, part time or live- in basis. Many Long Term Care Insurance policies will pay for home health care. The amount of care one can get and the duration of the services varies depending upon which policy they purchased. If someone does not have insurance, they must pay out of pocket (or private pay) for any services. Typically a private home care agency will offer services at a minimum of four hours per day. Typical eight hour shifts are 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm and 11pm - 7am. Many elders complain that an agency sends them a different caregiver each day. In order to avoid having the same aide, that as much as possible, order care every day for at least eight hours. This will allow the agency to schedule the same person for all your shifts. Because labor laws do apply and the agency would have to pay overtime for time which exceeds 40 hours per week, you will most likely have at least two to three caregivers on a full time case. The average hourly rate is $14.00 per hour. A live-in will cost about $150.00 per day. A live-in lives in your home and drives your car (or theirs for a mileage fee) and you are expected to feed them as well, even if you go out to dinner. By law, a live- in is entitled to two hours per day of free time. They can do what ever they like, including leaving the house during their break. If this arrangement will not work for your situation, consider hiring an aide around the clock. Around the clock care is typically delivered in two twelve hour shifts which are done by two different caregivers.

One aide comes to the home from 8am until 8pm and is relieved by the second caregiver at 8pm until 8am. Around the clock care can be delivered in many schedule formats. A live- in is expected to have their own private bedroom and bathroom although many agencies are flexible on this issue. The live- in is expected to be awake all day and have at least 7 hours of sleep at night. If the elder does not sleep at night, a live- in arrangement will not work. One option is to have the live in ($150/day) plus hire a caregiver to come to the house and stay up all night with the elder ($14.00. hour for eight nighttime hours). This costs $112 + $150= $262.00 per day. The only other alternative is to have around- the- clock care which will cost $14.00/hr X 24 hr=$336/day. Adding the eight hour night shift to the live in, saves about $3,000 per month. The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is available to qualified veterans who need a caregiver in their home on a regular basis.

Types of Adult Housing and Facilities:

Independent Living Facilities usually offer small apartments with some meals included in the price. A person who lives in an Independent Living Facility is expected to manage their daily care needs on their own, but the staff would readily recognize if needs increased and assist the resident in obtaining the needed help. Some facilities have extra care services available for additional charge to help the resident "age in place." Others may ask a resident to move out if their needs exceed the scope of that particular facility. Limited transportation is usually provided although many residents are still driving when they enter an Independent Living Facility. These facilities may cost anywhere from less than $1,000 per month to over $5,000 per month depending upon the luxury amenities and location.

Assisted Living Facilities usually offer hotel size rooms with the option to share a room or pay extra for a private room. Three meals and snacks are usually provided as part of the price. Residents are expected to need some assistance with their daily care needs. Medication administration is strictly supervised. The State laws dictate who can live in an Assisted Living. The State does not want Assisted Living facilities to house nursing home candidates or Nursing Homes to admit people who could function just as well in an Assisted Living Facility. Assisted Living residents must be able to walk and transfer ( from bed to chair or chair to standing) with the assistance of only one other person. An Assisted Living resident can be left alone in their room for two hours or more. Nurses aides are on duty around the clock. Registered nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses are on duty at least during the daytime. Many medical services may make rounds and visit residents at least monthly. It is not uncommon for an Assisted Living resident to never have to leave the building for a medical or beauty appointment. Prices may range from under $1200/month to over $8,000/ month, once again depending upon the amenities. Medicaid has a program called the Medicaid Waiver which can pay part of the cost of the Assisted Living. However, funds have been historically limited and waiting lists can be long. The Veteran Aide and Attendance Pension is designed to financially assist qualified veterans who need the services of an Assisted Living facility

Dementia Specific Facilities are designed especially for the memory impaired resident. The building, floorplan, furnishings, décor, activity program and even the lighting have been scientifically engineered to enhance the lifestyle of residents with dementia. Many Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes offer a dementia program or dementia unit, but there are entire facilities which specialize in this unique population. Dementia Specific Facilities can be either Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes. They are secure in order to prevent residents from wandering off the property and getting hurt or lost. The price for this extra level of care is usually about $1,000 to $2,000 more per month than a non-specialty building.

Nursing Homes are State regulated and are inspected at least annually. A person who needs a nursing home generally cannot live safely in an Assisted Living environment. A typical resident is either wheelchair bound or bed bound. Those who can walk around freely may need the nursing home environment because they need constant medical supervision. The medical component of this environment is similar to a hospital or hospice setting. The emphasis is on rehabilitation or custodial care rather than socialization and activities. The ICP Medicaid Program (institutional care program) will pay for the room, board and medical costs of those residents who meet the financial and medical criteria. It is possible to plan in advance to help an elder meet these strict criterion.

Financial Realities

Keeping an elder at home with a caregiver can be the most expensive option of all. Many families feel keeping their loved one in the comfort of their own home is priceless. If a paid caregiver cost $14.00/hour, eight hours per day is equal to $2,880.00 per month. Around the clock care exceeds $10,000 per month. Independent Living Facilities cost an average of $2,300.00/ month and provide no personal assistance. Assisted Living Facilities range from about $2,500/month to $5,000/month and provide limited care. A Nursing Home (without ICP Medicaid assistance) can cost from 5,000.00 to $7,000.00 per month and will provide total care.

Anyone considering hiring home health or moving an elder into a care facility of any type should have their elder's current needs assessed by a qualified professional who can ascertain the elder's current medical/psychological and financial needs and anticipate future needs/solutions. With careful, realistic planning, caring for an elder does not have to be a financial or emotional nightmare. Making the right choices for you and the elder you care about is easier when you enlist the help of people who know the eldercare community and all that it has to offer.

These days, home health care has almost become synonymous to caregiving. What happens here is that you hire a care professional to help assist your elders as they continue to live in their own home or as you leave them behind at home to go to work.

But for some people, caregiving is nothing but a bad experience. This is why some of them opt to bring their elders into retirement communities even if the latter would rather live with them or continue to live at their respective homes. What is it about caregiving that people have most misconceptions about?

First, there's the issue of negative experience due to abuse. Some people believe that caregivers can end up abusing the elders who might prove to be challenging to work with. This should not really happen if you do your homework before selecting a care provider and if you only get from reputable caregiver agencies.

There's also the issue of children no longer becoming a part of the elders' life. When you hire a caregiver, it's not the latter's role to fill in your shoes. This only happens when you become too complacent to visit your elders from time to time right where they live. Of course what happens is that your parents would spend more time with their caregivers and most likely not remember you especially if they have undiagnosed dementia or Alzheimer's.

Apart from this, some people also become disappointed with caregivers when they don't seem to have all the knowledge with the elder being cared for. This would only happen if you do not give them a plan or schedule ahead of time. You shouldn't expect caregivers to become experts if they do not know the medical history of their client.

Some people also see race and culture as an issue. They simply would not want to have caregiver who may be of western or Asian descent. Some would specifically want a particular nationality to care for their elders. One thing you should know is that these professionals get their training regardless of race and they all know the protocol in handling their clients.

There's also the view that caregivers are expensive. Some do get paid by the hour while some get their salaries on a monthly basis. You can actually alleviate the expenses by having a health insurance and choosing a provider covered by the said insurance.

Caregivers are among the best home health care you can have for your elders. If you just know how to choose your options and have a plan before you contact one, you can be sure that all those myths will be nothing but urban legend.

It seems quite academic. An elder person needs care but wants to stay in her home. Home health care providers are ready to serve, either part-time or live in. Simple.

Enter the human psyche, and particularly the proposition that one's home is her castle, and the route to a happy and productive outcome becomes less clear. And so the battle lines are often drawn between adult children and their beloved but aging parents who understandably want to maintain dignity, health and control over all aspects of their lives. Particularly what goes on in their homes.

Envision the Course Ahead

Perhaps you have watched the Olympic Winter Games, and noticed the alpine ski racers before descending the mountain. They crouch in their stance, mimicking the route to a successful finish. Preparing for home health care is much the same. Start with the psychological.

Whether home health care is a necessity because the house cannot be sold, or a choice as an American Association of Retired Persons 2007 study reveals, adapting one's attitude must precede the spatial and behavioral changes. Just reaching the point where the elder is both aware of a need for care and the family can agree on how to provide it takes communication skills.

The Devil Is in the Details

Assuming the elder person likes the home health care provider, having someone in your home creates an intimate relationship that strains even close family relations. You can avoid many pitfalls, and gain an open relationship between the elder and his family by considering all facets of daily life, such as:

• Where does the provider park?
• Where & when does the provider eat?
• Can she watch TV when you nap or go out?
• If she's live-in, can her kids visit?

Establish ground rules to minimize uncertain expectations and miscommunication.

It is crucial to remember that if a health provider becomes a friend, or even a "part of the family," she should not be allowed to interrupt your true familial relations. And also that she has a family of her own which deserves respect and separation from your own.

Nepotism in the workplace does injustice both to the friendship and to the business relation. The same is true here. A friendly but skilled, competent provider who is also a good house guest is best.

Go Slowly

Aside from the psychological adjustment that should precede introduction of a care provider into a home, the physical change itself should be approached with as much caution as time permits.

Unless a physician orders a certain at-home regimen or other circumstances dictate an all or nothing approach, try phasing in the care. Any new routine takes acclimation, and it is more difficult for us to adapt as we age.

The patience and understanding shown will pay great dividends for adult children in particular, who may otherwise be ready to make the decision and be "done with it."

Nowadays, a large number of people are entering home health care jobs. They are getting into these jobs because some people are experiencing a hard time taking care of their older loved ones. This is why they end up looking for home health care nurses that can do their duties instead.

There are many ways to find a home care assistant. Most of the time, home health care employees are found directly or via home care agencies. These agencies usually have staff like nurses and social workers that can cater to your needs. On the other hand, employing an independent home health care assistant is more effective because it gives you more power over the kind of assistance you want.

You should properly screen your prospect home care employee is he or she has sufficient training, personality and qualifications. You should completely discuss the needs of the senior recipient during the interview. It is also important for both of you to have a written copy of the job description and the nature of expertise you are searching for.

Before you employ the person, he or she should be knowledgeable and skilled with the following home health care services:

1. General health management including the giving or applying of medication and other medical care treatments.
2. Personal care like dressing, bathing, oral hygiene and shaving.
3. Nutrition assistance including the preparation of meals, feeding and even grocery shopping.
4. Household chores like dishwashing, laundry, and light housework.
5. Companionship like reading books and newspaper or taking the senior on walks.

It is also important to let the employee fill out an application form with the following details: full name, phone number, address, date of birth, educational background, social security number and work history. You can also ask them for a copy of their senior health care certificate and any valid ID like social security card and driver's license.

These are the basic things you should require and conduct once you offer home care jobs. With these, you would get a qualified and reliable health care assistant. This way, you are assured that the senior will be cared for effectively and satisfactorily.

What's Covered and What's Not

Medicare covers therapy, both physical and occupational therapy plus speech language pathology services. It also covers counseling, certain medical supplies, durable medical equipment, as well as assistance with day-to-day activities like bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and toilet activities. For most of the other medical equipment, Medicare will provide coverage of 80% of its cost.

On the other hand, Medicare will not cover 24-hour home care, delivering meals to your home, and services that are not related to health care like housekeeping. You will also be required to pay 20 per cent for medical equipment not covered fully by Medicare like wheel chairs, walker and oxygen tanks.

On Medigap and the Possibility of Larger Coverage

Medigap, a supplement to Medicare insurance, covers certain services that Medicare doesn't cover. This might just also be the solution to patients on home health care. When used together with a Medicare supplemental plan, Medigap Insurance allows the patient to enjoy a larger coverage in terms of health benefits.

More often than not, Medigap and Medicare can cover a substantial portion of the costs on home health care. Insurance companies offer a variety of Medigap policies (Plans A through L), but since each type comes with specific benefits, it is best to compare the highlights closely. For one, Medigap policies vary by cost, and many insurance companies require you to have both Medicare Parts A and B in order to purchase a supplemental plan (5).

For senior citizens with both Part A and Part B of Medicare insurance, their home health care situation is, by default, covered. Thus, they get to save 20 per cent of their pocket expenses on medical equipment.

The cost of home health care should not cost an arm and a leg especially with Medicare and Medigap Insurance just within reach. Just keep in mind what your Medicare (and Medigap) insurance benefits are.

Ask information from your physician, home care agency, and insurance officer at Medicare Supplemental Insurance center.

There are a number of home health care California facilities that are available, offering everything from personal care to health care. Home health care services involve therapy services and other skilled attendants, nursing care facilities. These have become important as people want to be home when receiving medical care instead of being admitted into nursing care units.

Home health care basically encompasses assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing and walking. Services like shopping, companionship, pharmacy infusions and medication administration are also part of the services rendered by these companies. Many other related services that are advertised are speech and physical therapy, medical social services.

These facilities have come up basically to fill the gap of assistance that is needed by chronic or invalid recovering patients to remain at home. They support the needs of these people to help them recover and live as independently as possible.

In case, you are looking at a long term care for your child or parent, which can be emotionally and physically tiring. Evaluate your need and priority. For the main daunting task before every person who is looking for home health care California is to look around and compare the services offered according to the price charged. The best way to start looking in California would be to do a search on the web to come up with a few good options that can be followed up.

One thing that needs to be done before home care services are provided is to make the home safe for ill elderly people who might be living alone. Installing railings on the stairs, moving furniture to make adequate space, anti skid adhesive strips in the bathtub and bathroom, grab handles for safety may be a few things that become a help.

Other than that Adult day care facilities are also there where home care agencies provide supervision and medical care in safe environment, to those who are able to move around. It is a good way for you to get back to work while not worrying about the person being alone at home.

Another concern that is prime important is looking after the cooking and nutritional needs of the old person. Age and illness can become a deterrent for shopping and driving services are available with many agencies to help with these activities even though the person may not be ill or invalid. Prioritize your need and then look around specifically for the service that is needed.

Home health care refers to supportive care provided to the patient at their home by healthcare professionals. The healthcare professional is called an aide worker, or the home healthcare provider. There are other terms that refer to this job, and which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions require the healthcare aide to be licensed by the state medical boards. But states such as California do not have such a requirement - anyone can start providing healthcare at home without license. This requires the patients and their family to be extra careful when employing a health care aide.

Other type of home health care jobs include home nursing, which is a visiting nurse who takes care of the medical needs of a patient at home. The home may be a private home, but is usually a home care center for the elderly.

Responsibilities of Personal Care Assistant

Personal care assistant is the overarching term used to refer to the health care providers who provide assistance and health care to their patients at home. Other terms for it are personal caregiver, personal care assistant, personal care attendant and home care aide.

The job involves taking care of the day to day living requirements of the patient, including the six basic daily living tasks. Called the six Activities of Daily Living (ADL). These tasks are: bathing, dressing, walking, transferring, eating and using the toilet. The personal caregiver is s required to help the patient with all or any of these tasks as needed by the patient.

Responsibilities of Home Nursing Home Nurses

Nursing homes are hospices where the elderly and other patients who require medical supervision live. Nurses care for the resident patients' medical needs - such as caring for them if they are suffering for Alzheimer's. They mostly play a supervisory role, though they also have to personally care for the needs of the patients. They also develop the patients' treatment plans, perform difficult and expert operations such as starting intravenous fluids and supervise personal care assistants in the care of the nursing home residents.

Responsibilities of Home Care Nurses

Home care nurses are also called visiting nurses. These nurses are registered nurses who have trained to take care of the patients at their home. Usually, they provide periodic services, such as visiting the patients 2-3 times a week. They also instruct and plan the treatment of patients, which range from the ones recovering from accidents, patients who are recuperating from different types of surgeries, and even some cases post-natal care for the mother and the child.

You still need to be comfortable even if you are already senile and you are thinking of a home health care service. This idea was incorporated by the senior home care services industry, that is why they made some expansions which can enhance a person's existence while experiencing personalized home care treatment. Before anything else, you have to decide first what service is more to your liking. Would it be the home maker services, personal care, or the companion services?

One kind of a home health care service is that one called the personal care service. This type of service caters to the needs of individuals. Bathing is one of the services offered in this type. Aside from that, this service also makes sure that your loved one will remain mentally and physically healthy even if he or she is already old. They also take time to ask the assistance of health care experts and family members so that they will be able to plan and prepare the meal of persons who are following strict special diets.

The second kind of service is what they call as the companion care service. This type revolves around the idea that even old people need the company of other people. Not only will your loved one have a companion who will entertain him with conversations, he will also have one who will run his errands and do his grocery shopping.

The last kind of a home health care service is the home maker service. This type of service shares some similarities with the personal care and the companion type of services. Though this type may include preparation of light meals and performance of light housekeeping tasks, the types of services being offered here are restricted. The service which will be rendered will depend upon the senior citizens possessions or income. Evaluate the different agencies which offer these services in terms of their credibility and capacity to supply responsible care to you, if you are hoping to avail of the services for yourself, or to your loved ones.

Having a home health care nurse is one of the new concepts in the health industry, which is rapidly picking fame. Through home health care, the patient's privacy is maintained and even the family is released from the hassle of taking the patient to the hospital again and again for routine checkups. Home health care nurse services are best suited for people suffering from fatal illness, permanent or temporary disability, or prolonged health issues.

According to a survey nearly 7 million people require nurses for in home care. Until a couple of years back, nurses were needed only in hospitals, nursing centers, or high class living centers. However, today the need of nurses has taken a 360 degree twist. The nurses are no longer only required in the above stated places, in fact, families having members as patients demand receiving nurse care at their home. The nurses associated with home health care are allowed to practice nursing at homes, only after undergoing academic training.

Families also prefer hiring only those nurses that come with a sufficient amount of qualification and experience of several years. With time, several changes have been made in home health care. Now, a very secure home health care is provided to the families. Today, insurance is provided and proper documentation is also done between the nursing agency and the family. Also, with technological advancement in the medical field, now patients do not need to stay admitted in the hospital for long. They can easily shift home under the care of home heath nursing services.

Home health nurses come with an number of skills.They do not only treat the patients, but they also educate them regarding their illness. Also, they are looked upon to provide emotional support to the patients. From taking care of injured or sick young children, women who have recently given child birth, looking after the elderly, and all other patients suffering chronic diseases, nurses today can be looked upon for nearly every disease, injury, or other kind of treatment. Health care nurses are also capable of taking care of the patient in any particular setting. It is very important for the nurse to have strong communication skills. She should also come with the flexibility to adopt any kind of culture and customs that the family follows. If you are thinking of having a career in home health care nursing, then you should not waste more time and just get into it. The demand for nursing is said to increase by 10% in the coming future.

Home health care services may just be the assistance you need for your aged parents. But you need to understand that the term itself is so diverse. There are different kinds of professionals who can provide home health care assistance to you. Just the same, there are also different types of institution where such care can be provided.

The most common health care personnel you might have encountered are registered nurses. They are also considered the most skilled because they don't just care for the basic needs of their patients. They can also be made to supervise monitoring for vital signs as well as giving the right medication for the patient. RNs and experts in using health equipments.

Another type of home health care personally are home care aides. They are a good choice for a health companion because they can provide assistance to basic living skills such as bathing and dressing up. They can also provide a nutritional diet for your aged loved ones as well as do some light cleaning to avoid the spread of illnesses at home.

Then there are also the homemakers or home companions. However, these people are not exactly schooled or formally skilled with caring for aged people. But they can be expected to take care of the home where your aged loved ones live and also make sure that some of their basic necessities are being cared for.

Getting the type of home health care is something that you should talk over with the whole family. If your parents are still good enough to comprehend the situation, it would be best to also involve them during the decision-making process. This way you can prevent having any problems between the caregiver and the care recipient because the latter actually resents having someone else to tend to him.

After that is cleared, the next important thing would be to clearly define what the caregiver tasks should be. Do this in accordance with your aged loved ones current medical conditions. It would even be best if the tasks are actually advised by the doctor. If you can also include an actual daily schedule for the caregiver to follow, then that would be much better.

When the decision-making process to hire a caregiver and the actual tasks are done, then you will now be ready to find the best homecare services. It would be best to look for one within your area so you can easily compare their fees and requirements.

When choosing your home health care services, make sure that you get from an agency duly certified by the government. It would also help to engage in the services of an agency whom you can pay through your insurance coverage.

When dealing with home health care, one has so many advantages at hand that they almost have to be picky about what they are going to get involved with.

Believe it or not, home health care these days is an unmatchable service, because its singular job provides a multitude of services you would not expect.

From occupational therapy to physical therapy to speech therapy, home health care has adapted to provide people all these services you would have to go elsewhere for inside the home. Just think of the situation. You would typically have an appointment Monday with your physical therapist. In fact, it would probably even be Monday and Wednesday, as most therapies occur two days a week. That being the case, take occupational therapy and schedule it for Tuesday and Thursday. Finally, speech therapy gets prepared for Fridays, and maybe every so often you switch around therapy to not over do it, or not accommodate other appointments.

Could you imagine having to do all that? The driving, the gas money, the constant roaming around and never having the right time to rest; it all seems too daunting and too straining to even be thinking about. However, it is often the reality for some who are trying to live at home, but still look after themselves by seeking out the best care possible.

With home health care, you can eliminate this need to be everywhere everyday at once, and you can make your day around when someone is coming to help out. In fact, many people think that all home health care providers do is look after patients at home by giving them medicine or cooking them meals.

They do not realize the extensive training they have received that allows them to help out with therapies like occupational, physical, and speech. That isn't to say that the most basic forms of care are not provided or aren't necessary. Certainly they are.

However, the main point of home health care is to go beyond the general offerings of nursing facilities. It may be easy to think why that is possible, but there are a lot of options to cover, and home health care providers stay on top of them. For instance, nursing facilities are excessively costly, and it is challenging to try and reduce such costs. There are some fees that are just out of your hands, such as usage inside your dwelling, or payments that go toward the staff. Those are just some of the base costs. There is no telling how far expenses can extend.

Once your decision has finally come to be made, it is important you sit down and actually compare the cost differentials between home health care and a facility that one moves into. Chances are that you will see that in every aspect home health care is going to be the more affordable option because you have some control over the costs. However, it is important you see for yourself. No matter how convincing the arguments seem, you must inform yourself first and foremost.

As we age, we will find that we will require a little extra help then we may be willing to admit to. In some cases, we may require being transferred to a retirement home in order to get the support and additional care we require but in others, we can still maintain a certain level of independence with the aid of home health care.

The primary aim of home health care is to allow the individual to stay at home for as long as possible, or until it is unfeasible for them to be living at home. This is an ideal solution for those who do not require round the clock care but may need assistance with a few daily activities. There are a number of different types of home health care services that will allow the individual to maintain their independence and still reside within their home whilst utilizing outside, professional help.

Staying at home is always ideal as we will feel comfortable and at ease, surrounded by our own, familiar possessions. For this reason, as we age, many of us hope to be able to reside within our home for as long as possible. However, if we are aware that we will require some additional help, this is the time in which to look into home health care and how it will benefit us. By identifying the level of help you need and your budget, you will be more equipped to decipher if home health care will cater for your needs and if it is the best option for you in the long run.

When considering home health care over a residential home, you should firstly consider the location of your home in regards to whether you need access to a car in order to access community facilities. If there is public transport available, is it safe for you to use this by yourself? If you are located too far away to effectively complete your shopping or attend your medical appointments, you may need to move to a different residential are, or hire the help of a home health care worker who can help you complete these tasks. Next, investigate your home in regards to whether you are able to move around with ease. Do you have a lot of stairs within and outside of your home? If so, can these easily be modified in order to help you safely move around? If you have a rather large home, it may also be difficult for you to maintain yourself which may call for additional help in order to lighten the load.

There are some who will be fortunate enough to have family and friends who live in close proximity who can help them complete various tasks such as shopping and home maintenance. However, if you are somewhat isolated, you may be missing the human contact you desire. A home health care service can not only help you with various tasks, but can give you the interaction you strive for. This being said, moving into a residential home will enable you to meet and converse with a number of individuals which in turn, can help you build some new friendships if this is what you are lacking. Being unable to leave your home yourself or having no one nearby can lead to some feeling somewhat isolated which may develop further into depression. Home health care services can help eliminate this but it is something which needs to be strongly considered.

As we age, we will need to make a number of decisions regarding our future. We will not only want to live in an environment where we will get the help we need, but we will look for interaction and a sense of independence which can be obtained through home health care. However, it is important to consider how much help you will require as this is not always a feasible solution. By identifying your needs and how these may change in the immediate future, you will be able to make an educated decision as to whether home health care will truly be beneficial.

There is an ever increasing need for professionals in the home health care industry. If you are considering a career path, or have decided you want to make a career change, you will find a variety of positions that fall under the home health care tag. This has been marked as an industry that is expected to grow significantly in the next few years.

Although the majority of home health care positions involve services for our geriatric community, there are also positions available to provide for younger patients that are ill or disabled. The needs are great in this industry; however, the variety of positions available may not be as diverse. This job field does offer a variety of rewards in that the services you offer improve the quality of life for those that require the services.

If you are more management minded and want to make a difference, you could consider a career as a placement agent or account manager. A job such as this will place you in the interview phase of the home health care process. You will meet with the family or the client and assess their needs and help create a plan of action that will provide the best options for the care needed.

If you prefer to work directly with the patient, you could consider becoming a home health aide. This job will allow you to interact directly with the patient. This is a good position for someone that wants to see the immediate rewards of the efforts they put into their job. You can work directly for the patient, or their family, or you can work through an agency that will place you with a patient.

There are several types of positions in most home health care agencies, but the two most common are Personal Care Aide (PCA) or a Home Health Aide (HHA). Both of these positions require specific training and supervision by a Registered Nurse. Although both positions are similar, there are some differences between the two.

A Personal Care Aide gives the patient help with the activities required for daily living. They may help bathe the patient and help them with walking and exercise. They are also trained to assist with toileting, and transfers with mechanical lifts. A PCA will often be employed to assist with cleaning, running errand, and providing meals.

A Home Health Aide provided all the nonprofessional nursing services listed above. They can provide all the same services as a PCA, but a HHA is additionally trained in other areas. They often provide services such as recording fluid intake, or taking the vital signs of the patients. They may also provide assistance with bandage changes and are trained to recognize signs of infection.

This industry is one that provides the benefit of a career that leaves you feeling like you have made a difference at the end of the day. Although the home health care industry may not provide a lot of flexibility in positions, it does provide an ample supply of job opportunities because of our aging population.

Home health care can be for medical needs, but it can also be just to help you with day-to-day activities. For many people, it is those activities that are the hardest. Your friend may love going shopping, but he or she can no longer drive. That can be very frustrating. It is important to get your friend the right help.

Even though your friend may not need medical home health care at this point, it is a good idea to be familiar with it. It is wonderful for your friend to have someone come in and tidy up his or her room so that he or she can find the things needed. It is also nice to just have someone there in case there ever is a medical problem. Even though the help will not have complete medical training, he or she should know what to do in a medical emergency.

Some people who can no longer shop can still cook. Some groups will cook meals. If your friend needs this help, you might suggest this in addition to helping with shopping and just around the house. Even if your friend still loves to cook, he or she might still like the help during the meal in case a bottle needs to be opened or something heavy needs to be lifted.

Make sure to talk to your friend carefully about calling health care services. It is important that he or she not feel like you are not being kind. You just need to explain that you think he or she could use some help. Tell him or her that you wish you were able, but you are not. Explain that there are people who can help, and that his or her doctor should be able to get a referral.

If you explain it in the right way, hopefully your elderly friend will not mind. He or she should understand that help is something that is needed.

You might have more than home health care company near you. You might be able to help your friend by checking into the various ones. You should ask how they regulate their employees and whether they do background checks before hiring. Find out whether those going into the homes are CNAs or have no nursing training at all. These are important areas to consider as you think about home health care for a friend. You will not regret checking these things out if it helps your friend to have a better quality of life.

An unfortunate part of aging can be losing the ability to take care of yourself. Whether you are living alone or with someone at your constant beck and call, the complication of being able to do less is a continual hardship. There are many solutions to dealing with such a struggle. One in particular that is becoming increasingly popular is home health care.

Home health care is essentially receiving services you would at a hospital or nursing facility inside your own home. The advantages to this in-home care are numerous.

For example, think of some services your daily week requires: laundry, grocery shopping, cooking. Now think of work you have trouble doing that is even more basic in scope: getting out of bed, taking a shower, eating, going to the bathroom. This is where home health care spans and fills the gaps of your need.

Of course, we've all heard this routine before. So how does home health care outweigh that of a nursing home?

The first way is basic, but something on everyone's mind and that's cost of care. As individuals who need care, or as family members looking to provide care for their elders, the most important decision is cost. No one wants to feel like a financial burden on another, nor does a friend or loved one wish to deal with the guilt of paying less for care that provides fewer services, if need be.

With home health care, one doesn't have to worry about sacrificing care for cost. Since any individual receiving these services isn't having to worry about being charged for the utilities of a facility or on-hand resources, the costs instantly dwindle. That leads us to the next advantage.

Remaining in your own home keeps you one step ahead of the game. There's no having to find a sterile room or apartment at a larger facility and trying to make it your 'own.' There's no better advantage than feeling safe in your surroundings and that's the foremost provision of this care: you'll get to feel comfortable sooner and faster than anywhere else.

The next way is by individualized attention. A person doesn't just get home health care, but they can received skilled health services like speech therapy or physical therapy.

While the latter can sound daunting, they're generally not. Often speech therapy begins with practicing new words or word games to help sharpen the mind. Physical therapy as well as occupational therapy can be easy pinpointing of symptoms: from hand stretches to limited weightlifting with the feet. The upshot is it's one-on-one directed.

Overall, it's important to think about home health care in terms of who is the one receiving the benefits. If an individual is struggling and not able to perform everyday maintenance in their life, they shouldn't have to feel embarrassed or out of place to solve the issue. Home health care offers a reliable and personal treatment to the often expensive out-of-house care of nursing homes.

A career as a homemaker-home health aide can be a very rewarding experience. Aides provide a variety of services and assistance that allow elderly and disabled residents to live comfortably. An aide not only helps an individual but also provides peace of mind to family members who are concerned about a loved one in need of personal care. Aides are naturally compassionate and, as one aide said, will try to help patients so that the patients can help themselves. Individuals enter into the field for a variety of reasons; some do so after caring for a family member or loved one while others are retirees looking to stay active.

Homemaker-home health aides offer a wide range of services including personal care assistance such as bathing, grooming and transfers. They also assist with assigned daily exercises, medication administration and accompaniment to clinic visits or physician appointments. An aide can provide meal preparation, feeding assistance, light housekeeping, aid with social activities and companionship. An HHHA can be available to provide hourly or live-in patient care.

Entering into this field and becoming a certified homemaker-home health aide is not as difficult as it may seem. Those interested in a career need no prior experience. An individual must complete a required training program, a competency evaluation and a criminal history background check to become a certified HHHA. The training program is a 76-hour course offered by one of the many certified schools or home health service agencies throughout the state. A list of certified HHHA training schools can be found through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website.

The training program is divided into two sections, 60 of the program hours are assigned to classroom instruction and the remaining 16 hours are for clinical instruction in a skills laboratory or patient care setting. After completing the program the aide is awarded certification through the New Jersey Board of Nursing. Certified HHHAs must be employed by a New Jersey licensed home health care service agency; aides may not work privately. Often, the school that provided the training also offers job placement. A HHHA career offers a flexible schedule and local cases. Once employed through an agency, the aide is assigned responsibilities and tasks after a registered nurse designs a plan of care for each patient.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) states that 76 million adult Americans, or approximately 29% of the adult population of the United States, have hypertension. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of deaths in the United States. In 2008, the number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease was greater than the number of deaths caused by cancer, accidents, and Alzheimer disease combined.

High blood pressure (HBP) is correlated with an increased risk of heart failure, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. However, HBP does not have to be "high" to lead to these issues; even prehypertension can put one at risk for heart failure, stroke, or chronic kidney disease. People with pre-hypertension are more likely to develop sustained hypertension over the next 5-10 years.

There are two aspects to blood pressure (BP): systolic and diastolic values.

- Normal BP is systolic BP (SBP) <120 mm Hg and diastolic BP (DBP) <80 mm Hg or 120/80.

- Hypertension is defined as SBP ≥140 mm Hg or DPB ≥90 mm Hg or ≥140/90.

- Pre-hypertension is defined as untreated SBP 120 to 139 mm Hg or untreated DBP 80 to 89 mm Hg.

- Stage 1 hypertension is SBP 140 to 159 mm Hg and/or DBP 90 to 99 mm Hg.

- Stage 2 Hypertension is SBP ≥160 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥100 mm Hg.

The presence and staging of HBP should be based on 2 or more BP readings during clinical office visits.

Age and lifestyle factors strongly influence the likelihood of one having HBP. Lifestyle modifications are essential to BP. Lifestyle modifications include weight control, exercise, dietary sodium restriction, moderation of excessive alcohol, and a sensible diet, such as the DASH diet. Visit Mayo Clinic for a great article on the DASH diet.

The ease of home BP measurement has grown with the introduction of small, easily and reliably operated automatic monitoring devices. Home BP devices are convenient and inexpensive methods of getting involved with your own care. However, unless devices are properly maintained and used, they may produce unreliable results.

BP should be taken while sitting in a chair with feet on the floor and your arm comfortable supported at heart level. Caffeine, exercise, and smoking should be avoided for at least 30 minutes prior to taking your BP. You can track your BP by keeping a log and recording your values daily (the good & the bad!).

If you do find at home that you have HBP and visit a clinic for follow up, the physician may prescribe ambulatory monitoring for 24 hours. Ambulatory BP monitoring provides many BP measurements over a period of time, usually 24 hours, which can give a better picture of your BP status.

Once diagnosed with hypertension, the physician will recommend lifestyle modifications (such as diet and exercise), cessation of smoking, and may prescribe a daily anti-hypertensive to lower your BP. It is important to follow these guidelines and take the medication as prescribed at the same time each day to effectively lower your BP. Your physician may also arrange for a follow-up appointment in two months to monitor the effectiveness of your prescribed regimens.

The target goal for an individual with elevated BP is <140/90 mm Hg, except for individuals with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease, for whom a target of <130/80 mm Hg is recommended.

It is important to remember that you can manage your BP and change does not happen overnight. By adhering to the dietary guidelines, exercise regimen, and medication schedule you can control your blood pressure!

If you prefer a visual demonstration on how to monitor your BP, please view http://nurseswithheart.com/home-health-care/nurses-with-heart-whats-up-with-my-blood-pressure.

Our life is dedicated to our dear & near ones. We can sacrifice many things for the sake of their well being. And what if somebody very close to our heart gets injured or ill? We get worried. We want to choose the best way of treatment. We want to give him/her the best possible support. We make sure that we are providing with homely atmosphere during the phase of recovery. However, this atmosphere is not possible to get in every hospital. When that's not possible we take decision to get him/her home for treatment. And now-a-days it is possible to get almost all kinds of treatment at the comfort zone of our home.
Home Healthcare services are growing with time. There are many types of services available to give us the peace of mind that we have our spouse or child or whoever is under treatment, is in front of our eyes always and getting well in a cozy, comfortable atmosphere.
So, in which cases we can depend on Home Healthcare services? It is good to be aware of the types of Home Healthcare services available so that we can make the right decision when needed.
Physician Care:
The appointed physician may visit the patient at home for initial diagnosis and follow up checking.
Nursing Care:
A registered nurse may be appointed for almost whole day and for the whole period of recovery. The services provided by the nurse may include monitoring the factors causing illness, tracking the improvement, handling emergency problems, medication, wound dressing etc.
Sometimes nursing care may include helping patient in all the daily works like eating, bathing, and dressing while keeping the medical aspects in mind.
Physiotherapy, Speech therapy:
In case of any accident or paralysis qualified physiotherapist may visit at home to provide some kind of massage treatments to help gain or restore normal functionality of the organ or the portion of the body. Some special equipment is necessary for some special kind of physiotherapy treatments. Those equipments should be arranged at home.
Sometimes after recovering from severe illness, patient may find difficulty in speech. Speech therapist would visit home and make the patient practice some speech therapy techniques to return to normal state. Speech therapy specially has proved to be more effective when done at home. It gives mental comfort to the patient and recovery becomes faster.
Counseling:
Psychiatrists may visit the patient at home to provide some counseling service to help the patient recover from any mental shock. But in some extreme cases it may not be always possible to arrange all the necessary equipment needed for the treatment at home. Counseling at home may be required to help patient regain the self-confidence after a period of severe illness.
Dietary support:
Dietitian may monitor the diet of the patient at home to ensure fast and healthy recovery of the patient.
Home Companionship:
Patient may feel lonely at home if nobody at home all the day. Some worker may be appointed to give company to the patient as well as to help in all household works.
Meal or Medication Delivery:
People are available to give timely delivery of meal or medical aides needed for the patient to make it easy for single person when ill.

The non Medicare home health care agency will meet the needs of an aging population. Surveys of those over 50 years old, consistently shows that nearly 90 percent of them want to remain in their homes and communities as they age.

We are an aging population that is living longer and healthier than previous generations. So it is important to plan and prepare for those years when we may need assistance of some kind.

Preparation and planning for those years should start while you are still well and able to make decisions about the future. Many of the aging population ignore that there will be a need of any kind for assistance in the future. Many will wait, until an emergency or crisis occurs, then they are ready to take action. For many, the lack of planning and preparing means they will not be able to return to their home or their community. Many individuals that have been placed in a nursing home are there because they did not plan for those unplanned events life throws our way.

Consider all the possibilities

Preparing for remaining at home and in the community as we age requires identifying what we want to accomplish and taking a look in to the future. It may not be a pleasant thought, but consider all the possibilities that you may have to experience as you age. Don't count on family members to be there to assist you. Remember, you are looking into the future and you do not know what the future will bring.

Will you need assistance with transportation, cooking, laundry, bathing or dressing? If these scenarios did occur, how would you pay for the services you may need?

More on An Aging Population Guide to the non Medicare Home Health Care Agency...

Did you know that the present cost of having a non Medicare home health care agency today averages about $20 an hour? That an assisted living facility can cost on average $36,000 a year. A nursing home can cost over $77, 000 a year.

When planning and preparing for aging, it is important to consider how to pay for the services we are gong to need.

Surveys of those over the age of 50 years old show that most aging adults want to do things on their own terms, in their own way. They want to maintain control over their life as they age. Planning and preparing for the future now, will allow you to maintain control over your situation as you age.

Is long term care insurance an option

Investigate long term care insurance. Contact a reputable company and discuss your options. It is important to ask about home health care and a cost of living rider. Since we are an aging population that is living longer and healthier, you cannot be sure when you may need those services. With the rising costs of healthcare you want to be prepared and able to make you goal of aging at home a reality.

A non Medicare home care agency can provide a variety of services to support you to remain in your home as long as possible. It is the goal of the home health care agency to determine your needs and provide you with the level of service you require.

When the time comes for utilizing a non Medicare home health agency, it is important to interview several and compare.

Some important things to look for in an agency are:

• Material that provides information on funding sources, eligibility requirements and fee schedule. Do they have an annual report available to review about the company?
• Do they provide educational material to the aging adult, as well as to the family regarding health/mental health conditions pertinent to the diagnosis of the aging adult?
• Are you part of a franchise? How long has the office been in business? Are you licensed by the state? Do you have to participate and be surveyed by the state to maintain your licensure? If so, do you have results from your survey?
• Can they meet any specific cultural or language needs of the aging adult?
• Do they offer ongoing case management services?
• Do they include the family in the plan of care? How often is the plan reviewed and revised?

The aging population will benefit from utilizing the non Medicare home health care agency in the future. It takes planning and preparation so that you can be in control of your life as you age. Don't allow the health care system to determine where and when you will live as you age.

As our population ages we will see more and more folks choosing in-home health care, instead of Old Folks Homes. Of course this does not mean it will be cheap or free by any means. Prices can range from $75.00 to $150.00 per day presently and that could either increase due to supply and demand and nurse shortages or drop due to more companies entering the market.

In fact one company in Arizona has recently franchised this concept and those who would like to provide in-home care can buy a franchised business to do this type of work. With more of our population living longer and having fewer kids to support them in their old age we will see this industry sector increase. Most health care analysts believe that home health care and in-home care will become a multi-hundred billion dollar business very soon and could hit a trillion a year by 2025.

Of course with these high daily costs, you can imagine that this could take quite a bit of money to insure one is able to afford it. Luckily there are insurance companies, which will provide coverage incase you are home ridden in the future. Just be sure to pick a reputable company that will be around later if you sign up for such insurance now. Consider all this in 2006.

Online loan borrowing has created quite a bit of revolution in the financial world, in the recent past. This system has affected the method of financing for everybody, by and large. Doctors have largely benefited from this method of financing as a lot of professionals from the medical field opt for online loans. Loans for physicians can help the doctors' facilities benefit from all corners of the world to beat the financial barriers while at the same time raise their professional quality and care with updated instruments, machines, medicines and other treatments, in office settings and with home care.

Home health care treatments often include using equipment like comfortable medical beds, wheel chairs, and oxygen apparatus. As elderly persons or ailing persons need medical care at home, that is where the need for home healthcare equipment is felt the most. As the costs of these treatments can be exceptionally high, anyone who is interested in purchasing such apparatus may opt for home healthcare equipment financing.

Medical beds for patients, for example, are essential because such beds can provide additional care at home. Medical beds offer great flexibility and relief to the patients. For patients who are unable to move or others who find it tough to get up from the bed, these beds are the ideal option for care. As the patients want these beds for their comfort; the providers must keep adequate stock to render service at the hour of need. And as these medical beds are expensive, care givers must look for home healthcare equipment financing as an option.

The key to a happy, healthy and emotionally stable life depends on a number of factors. One such factor is the ability to act independently to meet one's own needs. For some individuals, this very basic need is extremely hard to meet due to circumstances such as age or physical disabilities. Simple tasks such as bathing, sitting, standing or even walking without help are very difficult or sometime's - impossible. Facing that kind of reality on a daily basis weighs very heavily on emotional health and has negative effects on quality of life. Fortunately, home healthcare products can help tremendously in restoring independence and improving general emotional well being. This, in my opinion, is why home health care products are so priceless, especially as we age and aren't as mobile as we once were or are affected by circumstances beyond our control.

How do Home Health Products help?

With the help of walkers, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and other elder or disability care products, you can perform some daily tasks without the aid of a loved one or a caregiver. And for many, there is no better feeling than to be able do things for themselves. Home Health Products provide you with the extra freedom to get out and enjoy your life again. No longer are you confined to your home depending on others to help you get out and about. With mobility products in particular, you can visit friends or relatives at your leisure and feel good knowing that you have these items in place to support you. Just having this extra freedom does wonders for your emotional health and just your outlook on life in general. Knowing that you have these products to use on a daily basis makes you feel secure and in control of your daily activities and reduces your stress level, which in turn, improves your quality of life. Because of the wide variety of different products that are available for purchase, there is most certainly something out there to suit you.

What Are the Benefits?

The benefits of home health products are many. Not only are they made to help you with mobility and day to day living in general, they help you feel better as a whole. When they are in use, you are no longer confined to your home -- you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, on your own. Additional benefits include giving you back your personal freedom to live your life to its fullest and that my friend, is worth more than money can buy!

Certified home health care is a convenient in- home companion service available for seniors and their families. Opting to utilize a reliable home care agency offers rewarding advantages; to include a wide range of quality medical services. Elderly who opt to receive in-home medical services are given the opportunity to live healthy and prolific lives at home.

Making the decision to receive nursing home care can be challenging for the patient and their families. Healthcare decision- making generally involves identifying key quality measures that will determine how effective such service would be. Consequently, the task for opting effective home nursing care is to identify an agency that meets clinical review standards, while also offering compassionate and compatible services that will help seniors live independently as long as possible.

In the home setting, there are a variety of health care interventions utilized to help the patient maintain a comfortable lifestyle. The healthcare services have proven to be resourceful and qualitative. Home healthcare services for the elderly generally include skilled nursing care, health aides and personal assistance, and comprehensive wellness programs. A certified full- service healthcare company is ranked by its ability to provide quality patient care and extensive financial performance. More so, the home care saves lives by managing pain levels, medication administration, and wound healing as well as preventing chronic diseases.

Skilled nursing care is utilized by in- home patients to improve or maintain a patient's condition and to prevent further illnesses. Skilled nurses are registered or licensed clinical staff that ensures that the services are implemented safely and effectively. Conversely, non- professional medical staff, such as health aids or personal assistance employees provide the usual daily activities.

The skilled nurses provide services, such as administer medications, administer disease management programs, and implement advanced technology. The health aids provide assistance with daily activities that include eating, bathing, and walking. They may also assist with monitoring colostomy or bladder catheters or administering oxygen. However, the responsibilities of both disciplines are clinically necessary and must meet the review standards to restore the maximal level of function and health.

As the oldest form of healthcare, in- home medical care services have a variety of rewarding benefits. Incidentally, elder home care services are inexpensive due to recent Medicaid and Medicare regulations. In the United States alone, 12million Americans receive in- home health servicesas it has become extremely popular amongst the elderly population. Using specialized nursing services not only gives the family members a well deserved break, they are given the comfort in knowing that professionals are prepared to help them.

In addition to obtaining professional assistance at a low cost, the patient will maintain a healthy well- being by experiencing daily socialization and communication. Social interactions helps the elderly stay connected and sharpen social skills. Because professional medical care is readily accessible, the family member is relieved of the responsibility and burdens about missing work or school to care for love ones.

With that being said, family members do not have to worry about the patient not taking medications in a timely manner or eating a balanced diet as they should. In fact, home health care contributes to the long- term health of their patients as well as the economy.