Home Health Care: Family Caregivers vs Professionals
As we age, we often need extra support. In some cases, we may even require round-the-clock care. Both family caregivers and professional home care can help support you or your senior loved one’s well-being.
No matter what you choose, it’s an emotionally difficult time as you acknowledge that you or your loved one aren’t as capable anymore. Remember, the right choice is the one that allows you or your loved ones to get the necessary care.
Key Takeaways
- Family caregivers are an affordable way to provide home care.
- Professional caregivers offer a wider array of healthcare services.
- When choosing between family and professional caregivers, consider your capabilities, limitations, budget, and personal preferences.
What Is a Family Caregiver?
Family caregivers are a cost-friendly (many family caregivers don’t receive pay) solution to caring for a senior person’s needs while offering a chance for emotional connection.
However, providing frequent care is an immense task with unique challenges, including caregiver burnout and emotional strain. Unpaid caregiving often involves immense sacrifices of time and energy, and if you or a loved one are the ones currently providing support for a senior, it’s important to recognize these struggles and ask for help as needed.
What Are Professional At-Home Healthcare Services?
Professional at-home healthcare services bring the professionals into a person’s home. Caregivers are often employed by a licensed agency but may be independently contracted.
Professional home health agencies add extra regulatory oversight to the quality of care provided by their caregivers, including requiring background checks, certification, and training.
Professional home caregivers often provide access to specialized medical support and flexibility in the caregiving arrangement.
Medicare covers home health services for eligible individuals. Before certifying your need for home health services, a doctor or nurse practitioner will have a face-to-face visit with you. They must order your care, and a Medicare-certified home health agency must provide the services.
Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD
Types of Professional Caregivers
Several types of professional caregivers ensure your or your loved one’s needs are met. They may include:
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). CNAs provide companionship and essential home care, including activities of daily living such as bathing or toileting.
- Registered Nurses. RNs provide more extensive medical care from home. This may include wound dressing, IV therapy, medication administration, and ostomy care.
- Personal Care Aides. Personal care aides provide basic personal care and other services, such as running errands or preparing meals. They’re sometimes called assistive care providers.
- Rehabilitative Therapists. If rehabilitative support is necessary, physical, occupational, or speech therapists can go to your or your loved one’s home to help them relearn skills[1].
- Social Workers. Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD, says, “Social workers provide valuable services in home healthcare. They help patients and their families deal with medical and emotional challenges, arrange care, and connect them with community services.”
What Are the Differences Between Family and Professional Caregivers for End-of-Life Care?
Family caregivers and professional home care both provide critical support during the end-of-life period. Family caregivers are usually more cost-effective and already know the person requiring care. However, depending on how much care is needed, it can be difficult to meet extensive needs.
Professional caregivers can often meet a wider array of needs and the care plan can be tailored to what a senior needs easily. However, they may be costly.
The right choice depends largely on several factors, including how much support and care your family can provide versus how much you can afford to pay for professional care. Create a plan that works for everyone involved while considering your individual capabilities and limitations compared to what your loved one needs.
Choosing the Best Home Care for You or a Loved One
The best home care for you or your loved one varies based on several factors, including:
- The ability of your family to rally together and provide support
- Your budget
- Your family’s skills and limitations
- How much care you or your loved one will require and whether skilled care is needed
- Individual preferences
Common FAQs About In-Home Caregiving
The exact cost varies considerably based on the services needed and location. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, as of 2023, the median hourly cost of a home health aide is $33, while homemaker services (personal care assistance) averages $30 per hour. Based on these numbers, it costs an average of $24,090 per month for 24/7 home healthcare or $21,900 for personal assistance[2].
Some insurance plans, such as Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance, cover professional home care for eligible seniors. Home care covers assistance with daily tasks, while home healthcare involves skilled medical services.
This process is state-dependent. Contact your state’s Medicaid office or local Area Agency on Aging for more information[3].
Medicare typically covers 100% of qualifying home healthcare services. Rather than paying a specific hourly rate, it covers up to 28 hours per week, subject to eligibility and medical necessity.
People who are homebound and need skilled care may qualify for home healthcare services. Many agencies and insurance providers require a doctor to certify that home-based services are medically necessary.
Several insurance providers may cover in-home care and in-home healthcare based on medical needs and eligibility criteria, including:
– Medicare
– Medicaid
– Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs
– Veteran’s benefits
– Some private health insurance
These programs offer coverage to eligible seniors based on specific criteria.
Home Healthcare Helps Seniors Age in Place
Seniors often prefer to age in place, and home healthcare helps make this happen. Ensure your decision aligns with the needs and values of your senior loved one. Remember, you’re not alone in this process. Local resources, such as your Area Agency on Aging, can assist in finding ways to cover the cost and avoid burnout.
Written by Serena Tanner
Serena Tanner attended the University of Washington, where she earned a degree in philosophy after many detours delving into human rights, law, psychology, and social work. Health and holistic wellness topics continue to hold a special place in her heart. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her two children and dogs.
Edited by Katelynne Shepard
Katelynne Shepard is a writer, editor and SME who is proficient at crafting and reviewing content. She has been a full-time copywriter and editor since 2011 and has written content for Fortune 500 companies, independent law firms, indie publishers, small-business owners and mainstream websites. She specializes in parenting, lifestyle, family law, personal injury, criminal law, immigration law, astrology, personal finance, education and health care. In addition to thousands of e-commerce product and category descriptions, Verle's work includes SEO blogs, social media posts and long-form informational articles.
Subject Matter Expert Brindusa Vanta, MD
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a healthcare professional, researcher, and medical subject matter expert . She earned her MD degree from "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine, Romania. She has a special interest in mental health and has collaborated with psychologists and other mental health practitioners on various research projects focused on therapies to manage depression, age-related cognitive decline, trauma and stressor- related conditions.
Sources
ALS Association. (n.d.). FYI: Different types of home care workers. Sourced from https://www.als.org/navigating-als/resources/fyi-different-types-home-care-workers
Genworth. (n.d.). Cost of care. Sourced from https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care
USA.gov. (n.d.). Disability and caregiver resources. Sourced from https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver