Home care services are some of the most common services provided for seniors in the United States. These services are provided by home health agencies. They provide full services in order to help seniors have a good quality of life.
Let’s take a closer look at the main types of home care agencies and what they are all about:
The home health agency is the most familiar provider of senior home care services in Broward County. All home health agencies must be licensed by the state’s health department and are certified by Medicare. Virtually all home health agencies also have to accept 3rd party billing of health insurance. If the home health agency is certified by Medicare, it means that it has met the federal requirements and guidelines concerning patient care. Simply put, the industry is highly regulated and all service providers have to be fully certified and licensed in order to provide senior home care services in Broward County for senior citizens.
The Purpose Of Home Health Agencies
The main purpose of senior care home services in Broward County is to provide skilled assistance and treatment services for patients who are living at home. The patients can be either seniors or younger adults who require this type of special care. The home health agencies have multiple professionals as employees, each with different specializations, offering highly specific services for their patients. Home care professionals must respect the doctor’s plan for home care and should follow every medical detail included in the plan. Medicare requires regular updates for the treatment plan (they should be done every 60 days), in order for the benefits to continue.
What Services Are Usually Included?
Home health agencies provide numerous home care services for their patients. However, there are some core services that are usually provided to most patients. These include social work, home health aide work, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing. Usually, home health agencies focus primarily on medical care or therapy, and their home health care aide is only a supplement to their primary senior care home services in Broward County. No matter what type of services are provided, Medicare will only pay for the skilled care provided for a limited period of time, following a medical procedure or an injury. The care can be provided as pre-authorized, but the long term care must be discontinued when skilled care is no longer justified or needed.
Of course, individuals can still receive ongoing personal care even after skilled care is no longer required. This need is quite common, and home health agencies provide this option, but with private pay. These services also include nursing assistants and personal or custodial care for patients who still need them. Other alternatives include hiring a non-medical home care agency or a private caregiver. These alternatives are usually implemented when a home health agency cannot provide these services or the service is not feasible in the current situation.
The Non-medical Home Care Agency – What You Need To Know
There are also many non-medical home care agencies on the market. These agencies provide senior home care services that are not considered medical or skilled care to patients in Broward County. The service provided is usually non-skilled custodial or supportive. Their employees are usually certified nursing assistants, home health aide, non-certified nurse aids, companions or homemakers. These providers visit the patient’s home and provide the services as required or necessary.
Although not skilled, according to law, these senior care home services in Broward County are very sought after and much needed by seniors. They include personal assistance with bathing, toileting, eating, dressing and undressing among many others. This type of service is not reimbursable by Medicare and should be paid privately. Financial alternatives exist, and in some cases, long-term care insurance will pay for these services. A plan from a doctor is not required during these services, as they are not considered medical. The patient’s homebound status is not required. In virtually all cases, there is no need for a monitored or authorized care plan. The service can be done without any schedule or plan and is entirely dependent on the patient’s needs.
While home health agencies that provide medical care and are certified by Medicare will require federal approval, the non-medical home care agencies require only state licenses. The regulations differ a lot from state to state and the employment regulations will be very different as well. These agencies provide a very important service, filling the gaps created by home health agencies. In many cases, these services, such as cooking, laundry, and housekeeping, are what most seniors actually need in order to have a good quality of life and a comfortable life in their own homes. In fact, most clients only need these non-medical, unskilled services, and rarely look for medical services.
Working With A Staffing Or Registry Agency
If you don’t want to work with a home health agency, there are other alternatives. For instance, you can choose to hire a private home care assistant. These professionals are hired via staffing or registry agencies, which act as an employment service for various non-skilled or skilled health care workers. Some of the professionals you can find at staffing agencies include nurses, nurse assistants, and rehab therapists. In most states, these agencies are not required to be licensed and do not have to meet regulatory requirements.
Similar to home health agencies, staffing agencies can also be reimbursed by Medicaid, long term care insurance or private pay. These agencies provide a wide range of employees who can offer high-quality services to seniors. If you want to hire a home care assistant via a staffing agency, the process is similar to hiring a professional on your own. Essentially, you will have to create a contract, sign it and then manage the relationship with the service provider directly. You will manage your own employees, which will give you additional responsibility. While some seniors may appreciate this type of service, others may find it too complicated and difficult to manage.
