One of the many changes that has emerged in the wake of the COVID pandemic is that people are thinking about senior care differently. This is a good thing. Even though the pandemic was a terrible tragedy for many, the fact that care is changing and improving is never a bad thing.
In-home care has been around for years, but it hasn’t always been viewed as a viable option for many. But thanks to awareness raised during the pandemic, public perception has changed.
There are some big benefits to home-based care. In-home care allows seniors to live their lives where they want to live them. It allows seniors to age in place and maintain independence while doing so. It can allow them to live in familiar surroundings, while still allowing them to have the support of a professional caregiver, rather than having them live in a nursing home or assisted living facility. There’s nothing inherently bad about living in such a facility, but it’s not always in an elderly individual’s best interests to do so. Unfortunately, nursing homes are over utilized because of how our nation’s insurance system is set up. For a long time, insurance policies prioritized nursing homes above other types of care. But as mentioned above, the COVID pandemic has forced this to change.
Home-based care can come in a variety of forms, but they break down into two major categories: medical and non-medical. Both can be received in the home, and both are fairly easy to set up. Calling your local Office of the Aging can help you to get started with resources in your community.
Finally, the peace of mind that comes with care administered in the home cannot be underestimated. There’s a quiet kind of joy that comes about from living where you want to live. For seniors, this can be a joy that they feel they don’t have any sort of control over, especially if they are in declining health. Bringing resources to them allows them to continue to live their lives the way that they want, and still have access to the help that they might need.
Insurance companies are more likely to include home-based care in what they will cover for the elderly. While Medicare typically doesn’t cover much when it comes to senior care, Medicaid and private insurance policies do. Luckily, more and more people are seeing that this is a strong option for their families. All across the country, access to home-based senior care is becoming easier. In fact, many states have made changes to allow for in-home care to be covered by their Medicaid programs. New Jersey was a big leader of this several years ago. Their success has paved the way for other states to follow suit.
If you would like to learn more about in-home care in the Bay Area, please feel free to get in touch. One of our trained caregivers would be happy to talk more with you about who we are and what we do. In-home care might be exactly what you’re looking for.
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