February 19, 2007
Guest Presenter: Ann Zimmer, Wesley Community Services
THE NEED:
The need for home care is
increasing as insurance companies are shortening hospital stays, and the infirm
elderly are staying home longer before going to nursing homes.
In-home care is a more cost
effective way of caring for people than nursing home care.
WHO PAYS FOR HOME CARE:
Medicare coverage for
in-home care is usually available for 3 to 6 weeks after a hospitalization, but
there are several requirements to qualify for this care, including that the
person must be homebound and in need of assistance with several activities of
daily living.
People on Title 19 also have
several requirements to satisfy to qualify for home care coverage, but the
requirements are not as stringent as for those on Medicare. For instance, it is not required the person
be homebound to qualify for services.
Some Long-term Care
insurance and some private health insurance plans also cover home care in some
cases. There is also some County and State funding to help with home care
expenses in some cases.
The State of
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED:
Referrals for services must
come from the physician, hospital social worker or in some cases can be
self-referred. Several types of services are provided as in-home care including
(but not limited to):
COSTS:
Costs vary by the provider
and the type of care that is needed. For
instance, Wesley Community Services in
$5.70 per meal maximum for
meals on wheels, available 7 days a week and also provides a safety check as
well as the meal;
$21.50 per
hour for home health care aide services, with a 2 hour trip minimum charge.
$20 per hour for Companion
and Homemaker services , with a 2 hour minimum charge
per trip.
$45 per hour for Nursing
visits with a 1 hour minimum per trip.
Wesley Day Care Center is
$45 per day and available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.