What Is An Example Of Home Care?

An example of home care is a nonmedical service by a home care agency’s caregiver who provides housekeeping, companionship and help with daily activities. The senior pays a fee for the number of hours the caregiver is within their home, with a fee variance based on the time of day. For example, an agency is likely to charge higher fees for caregivers who stay with the senior overnight. It may also tailor its fees to the type of care delivered. Basic services, such as light housekeeping, may cost less than those that require trained caregivers, such as help with activities of daily living (ADL).

Home care should not be confused with home health care, which is a medical service provided in the senior’s home. Home health care providers are typically licensed professionals qualified to deliver home-appropriate medical care, such as injections and physical therapies. However, the same agency may offer home and home health care services.

Home care agencies typically provide services relevant to the senior’s needs and wishes. If the senior is relatively healthy but lives alone, they may just want companionship. This could be delivered exclusively in the home but may involve the caregiver driving the senior to grocery stores and other activities. Another option is light housekeeping, which is typically provided to seniors who struggle with home maintenance due to their age or a temporary or permanent infirmity. Light housekeeping can also include preparing meals.

A common service delivered by home care agencies is help with activities of daily living (ADL). Beneficiaries are typically homebound seniors who would otherwise struggle to bathe, dress, feed themselves and get in and out of bed without assistance. ADL services can also include timing the senior’s medications but does not involve administering medications, as home care caregivers aren’t medically trained.

Home care costs vary greatly across the country. The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey calculates the median fee to be $4,957 per month and the hourly median rate at $26. These calculations assume the caregiver works 44 hours per month and don’t account for the many factors that can influence the home care agency’s pricing policies.

Location is a major factor in costs. For example, Louisiana’s median monthly fee is $3,623, while in neighboring Texas it’s $4,576. Fees within states also vary due to location. In Jackson, Michigan, monthly fees average $4,957, while they average $6,101 only 40 minutes east in Ann Arbor.