In Home Care and Assistance vs. Home Health
Right at Home of Utah Valley has helped hundreds of families with in-home care and assistance for their loved ones. As I have met with each of these families (and spoken with many more individuals who call into our office each day), it's clear to me that our society doesn't do a very good job educating our aging population about what care options are generally available and --more specifically--about the differences between what we offer our clients with our in-home care, and what home health is.
What follows is some information about these two types of services, including typical payment options, duration of care, costs, and amount of regulation and oversight.
• Services include help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation.
• Provided by caregivers or aides, who may not have medical training but are skilled in providing personal assistance.
• Generally paid out-of-pocket or through long-term care insurance.
• Medicaid may cover some services for low-income individuals under certain programs, but Medicare does not typically cover non-medical care.
• Can be long-term and ongoing, depending on the individual's needs and personal circumstances.
• The duration of care can range from a few hours a day to 24/7 live-in care.
• Costs are usually lower than home health care but are often out-of-pocket expenses.
• Average hourly rates for non-medical care range from $30 to $40, depending on the cost of living and other factors in your community.
• Less regulated than medical home health care.
• Oversight varies by state, and the quality of care can depend significantly on the hiring and training practices of the service provider.
• Services include wound care, medication administration, intravenous therapy, monitoring vital signs, and rehabilitation therapy.
• Often involves a physician's directive and a formal plan of care.
• Typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance if prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary.
• Coverage usually requires the patient to be homebound and in need of skilled medical care.
• Usually short-term and intermittent, based on the patient's medical needs and progress.
• Services are provided until the patient meets specific recovery or health maintenance goals.
• Costs vary but can be expensive; however, insurance coverage often alleviates much of the financial burden.
• Typical hourly rates for skilled nursing care range from $40 to $80.
• Subject to strict regulations and oversight by federal and state agencies to ensure quality and compliance with medical standards.
• Agencies providing these services must be licensed and adhere to rigorous standards.
Right at Home of Utah Valley will often augment what Home Health provides to our joint clients, since Home Health companies offer task-based services and make a limited number of short visits in given week. I hope this information has been useful to you as you gather information about the shape and nature of care options for your loves ones.
What follows is some information about these two types of services, including typical payment options, duration of care, costs, and amount of regulation and oversight.
Personal In-Home Care and Assistance (Right at Home) Overview:
• Non-medical services focused on assisting with daily living activities.• Services include help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation.
• Provided by caregivers or aides, who may not have medical training but are skilled in providing personal assistance.
• Generally paid out-of-pocket or through long-term care insurance.
• Medicaid may cover some services for low-income individuals under certain programs, but Medicare does not typically cover non-medical care.
• Can be long-term and ongoing, depending on the individual's needs and personal circumstances.
• The duration of care can range from a few hours a day to 24/7 live-in care.
• Costs are usually lower than home health care but are often out-of-pocket expenses.
• Average hourly rates for non-medical care range from $30 to $40, depending on the cost of living and other factors in your community.
• Less regulated than medical home health care.
• Oversight varies by state, and the quality of care can depend significantly on the hiring and training practices of the service provider.
Home Health Care Overview:
• Medical services provided by licensed professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
• Services include wound care, medication administration, intravenous therapy, monitoring vital signs, and rehabilitation therapy.
• Often involves a physician's directive and a formal plan of care.
• Typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance if prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary.
• Coverage usually requires the patient to be homebound and in need of skilled medical care.
• Usually short-term and intermittent, based on the patient's medical needs and progress.
• Services are provided until the patient meets specific recovery or health maintenance goals.
• Costs vary but can be expensive; however, insurance coverage often alleviates much of the financial burden.
• Typical hourly rates for skilled nursing care range from $40 to $80.
• Subject to strict regulations and oversight by federal and state agencies to ensure quality and compliance with medical standards.
• Agencies providing these services must be licensed and adhere to rigorous standards.
Right at Home of Utah Valley will often augment what Home Health provides to our joint clients, since Home Health companies offer task-based services and make a limited number of short visits in given week. I hope this information has been useful to you as you gather information about the shape and nature of care options for your loves ones.
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