What is Private Pay Home Care?

Visiting Angels, NNMP helps families understand financing options for home care services in Virginia

As our parents and other relatives age, it is likely that they will need some level of living assistance. The amount of help needed will depend on a variety of factors including medical history and any current conditions or illnesses they are living with.

Your parent may be mostly independent – able to move around, get to the bathroom, and get themselves dressed – but could benefit from companionship, conversation, and help at meal time. Maybe your loved one has early-stage dementia and needs assistance with medication reminders, getting to appointments, and running errands. Or your loved one may require full-time care, bathing assistance, transferring and positioning.

Whatever your unique situation, you’ve recognized that Mom or Dad needs help. What is your next step?

Choosing the Right Care Option

When it comes to senior care, there are a variety of options. The cost of these services will vary depending on the provider.

Senior or Assisted Living Facilities – these communities allow elderly adults to live in a community with some level of support. This requires seniors to move out of their homes and into a facility. A facility setting may be a good fit for adults who are lonely, struggle to care for their home, or who are still largely independent and are looking for a place to age long-term.

Nursing Homes – similar to an assisted living facility, a nursing home is a care residence. Nursing home staff will usually include medical personnel, such as nurses, doctors, and physical therapists. A nursing home is a good fit for seniors who require constant medical care or will need long-term skilled care.

Home Care Services – this type of service, which Visiting Angels provides, gives seniors the care of an assisted living facility but in the comfort of home. There is one-on-one support from a personal caregiver, who provides the daily living assistance your loved one needs. Home care is a great option for seniors with all levels of non-medical care needs because care is provided when it is needed – either for a few hours each week, full-time day care, or overnight and 24 hour care.

Financing Private Pay Home Care

An increasing number of seniors wish to remain in their homes as they age – an alternative preferred over facilitated care. If your parent or other loved one has expressed a desire to stay in their home, you likely have questions about how to pay for this type of care. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when considering private home care services:

Visiting Angels is a non-medical home care agency.

The services we provide are non-medical and include bathing, getting dressed, toileting and incontinence care, mobility and transfers, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and transportation assistance. Because our services are non-medical, Medicare and Medicaid benefits do not cover our services. Traditional health insurance does not cover our services for the same reasons.

There are options for private pay home care.

Most of our clients and their families finance care directly through their income or savings. Families can also choose to share expenses among multiple members. In order to determine the cost of your loved one’s care, it is best to schedule a free assessment. We will determine how much care your loved one needs, and the number of hours care will be provided. At that point, we can give you an exact cost of care for your unique situation.

A long term care insurance policy may help cover the cost of care. This special type of insurance policy is separate from your loved one’s traditional medical insurance. To determine if your parent has an eligible policy, it is best to reach out to their Power of Attorney or insurance broker.

Customized home care promotes overall wellness.

With private home care from Visiting Angels, your loved one can remain in their home as they age, skipping the stress and anxiety that can come with moving into a facility. With Visiting Angels, your loved one will have a personal, reliable, and qualified caregiver who understands their needs and is trained to provide the assistance they require to stay safe, healthy, and happy at home. Your mom or dad can come to trust and rely on their caregiver, improving the quality of their care.

We will create a customized plan of care that details what services will be provided, when a caregiver is scheduled, and what the cost of care is. There will be no surprises – and if you do have questions, you can call our office at any time to speak to a Care Coordinator.