Did you know that there are several different types of home care workers? If you are new to home care, you may have assumed that home care just means one thing. Perhaps you envisioned home care as an experienced nurse handling all tasks that a homebound person needs, including medical care as well as cooking and cleaning.
The reality is that there are several types of home care workers. If you anticipate the need for home health care, it’s important to know what these different types of workers do so you can choose the right person for the job. Here is more information on the different types of home care workers.
Non-Medical Home Care
Non-medical home care workers are professionals who may not have a background in nursing. Their main goal is to help with basic activities like cleaning, cooking, and running errands. Some also may have training in tasks such as bathing an older adult. Non-medical home care workers also can provide company to someone with a chronic disability or dementia.
Depending on the tasks they can do, this type of worker is called a home care aide, home health aide, or an attendant.
Doctors do not prescribe non-medical home care workers, so you would need to decide if this type of person is a good fit for your loved one based on what you can afford. It never hurts to check your insurance, but this type of care is typically not covered.
Home Health Care
Home health care is considered medical care. It is provided by a trained medical professional, such as a registered nurse, occupational therapist, or physical therapist. Home health care is common after certain types of surgeries (for example, hip replacement) or after a stay in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility. Home health care is covered by Medicare but the care must meet specific guidelines outlined here.
Home health care professionals will help the person regain any skills or function lost during an operation or hospital stay.
Private Duty
Private duty care can be similar to home health care, but it is paid for by the client. The person or agency providing private duty care often can handle a variety of health-focused tasks to help the client and may have others working with them who will handle cleaning/cooking services.
What Type of Home Care Is Right for My Loved One?
The home care choices available can be overwhelming. This is where Secure Aging can help. Although Secure Aging is not a home care agency, we can work with your family to identify the type of home care needed and verify your insurance coverage. From there, we can help recommend or find trusted home care workers to care for your loved one. Just give us a call, and let us make your quest to find a home care worker less stressful.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
