What Is Home Care? ServicesCostand Options

Home care is a professional service for seniors who want to receive supportive care in the comfort of their own home. This care may include companionshiphelp with activities of daily living (ADLs)home health care for medical needsor a combination of these. Sometimes also known as in-home care or domestic carehome care may help seniors safely age in place and give family members peace of mind.

Personal careor assistance with ADLsis the most commonly used in-home care service. Howeverservices are customized to meet a senior’s unique needs. Here are examples of other popular nonmedical home care services:

• Help with errandscookingand housekeeping
• Incontinence care
• Mobility assistance
• Specialized care and supervision for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia

Nonmedical in-home care services are usually provided by personal care aides. The role of a personal care aide is to provide companionshipassistance with personal hygiene tasksand help with household chores. Home health care services are provided by or under the direct supervision of licensed nurses and therapists. The role of home health care providers is to monitor a senior’s health and deliver skilled medical and rehabilitative care.

A Place for Mom offers advice on caring for a parent at homeinformation on the different types of in-home caretips on hiring a caregiverand more. Our guidance can help you make informed decisions about your loved one’s care.

There are many different home care services that can help seniors preserve or improve their quality of life at home. These services are split into two main categories: nonmedical and medical.

Nonmedical home care may consist of companion carehomemaking assistancepersonal careor some combination of these. Older adults who live alone may benefit from companion carewhich offers emotional support and socialization. For seniors who just need a little extra support around the househomemaker services can provide help with laundrychoresand cooking. Personal care provides nonmedical support with daily activities like dressing and bathing.

Home health care is medical in nature. It’s usually prescribed for homebound seniors who require skilled care at home for a health condition or after a hospital stay. Services can include skilled nursing carelike wound care and medication administrationand skilled rehabilitation serviceslike physical therapy. Home health care services are provided or at least overseen by licensed medical professionals.

The median cost of nonmedical home care is $33 per houraccording to proprietary data gathered by A Place for Mom. Where your loved one lives and the level of assistance they need are the primary factors that affect overall costs. The following articles offer a more in-depth look at home care costs and how they compare to the cost of other senior care types.

Families can hire a caregiver through a home care agency or choose to hire an independent caregiver directly.

Home care agencies can often reduce the stress of finding and managing an in-home caregiver for a loved one. They typically screen employees by interviewing them and doing background checks. Agencies match caregivers to a senior’s needs and personality and will provide a substitute if their regular caregiver is out sick. Agencies also handle payroll and taxes.

Hiring an independent caregiver usually provides more flexibility and offers the family more control over the interviewing and selection process. Independent caregivers may be less expensive than those hired through an agencybut this arrangement requires the family to take on the responsibility being the caregiver’s employer. This may include doing background checksinterviewingschedulingand administrative tasks.

Each type of home care provider has its own benefits. It’s important to find a caregiver who will get along well with your loved one and provide a high quality of care. The following guides cover everything you need to know about choosing a home care provider.