While many people know that nursing homes are an option for long term care, they are not the only option. If you have the funds available, home health care is a great alternative that will not only allow you to stay in your home, but that will also provide you with quality one-on-one care that is tailored to your medical needs and your wishes.
As a former home health agency employee, I know that one of the biggest challenges of this long term care option is finding a caregiver, or multiple caregivers that have the time, experience and personalities that are going to be compatible with your needs. Many elderly people feel that they simply have to accept whatever help that they can get, but this is not the case. You have the right, and the responsibility, to voice your opinion and to tell agencies what you want in a caregiver. While you may not always get a 100 percent match, you have the right to refuse certain caregivers who either do not meet your standards for job performance or who you don’t get along with.
In addition to using a home health care agency to find a caregiver, you can also privately hire a caregiver or a team of caregivers to meet your long term care needs. This process is sometimes preferable for people who are paying for the caregivers out of their own pockets. The advantage of this option is that you can select who you want and you don’t have to pay a markup on the care that you receive. However, the drawback is that the caregivers are not pre-screened by an agency and you may end up with a lemon.
When planning for your long term care needs it is important to think about all of the options that you have and what your basic long term care insurance will cover. If you are unsure what your current long term care health insurance will cover consult your insurance agent or a senior citizen advocate agency.
