Nonmedical home care includes a range of services designed to provide help for seniors who want to age at home. The most common types of nonmedical home care are homemaker services and personal care services. Some seniors may need only minimal assistance, but those who require more help can combine a variety of services to create a care plan that fits their needs.
Exploring care options for your loved one can be challenging, but there are several ways to get help finding the right home care plan. Read on to learn more about nonmedical home care and the different ways it can be used to support your loved one.
What is in-home personal care?
In-home personal care covers a variety of services that assist seniors with activities of daily living (ADLs), including the following:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Mobility
- Toileting
In addition, caregivers provide companionship to help seniors feel less isolated.
Caregivers who provide in-home personal care range from unpaid family members to trained home health aides who are often hired through a home care agency. The median cost of hiring a caregiver to provide in-home personal care is $27 per hour, according to Genworth’s most recent Cost of Care Survey.
What is homemaker care?
Homemaker services focus on providing support with household tasks and may include the following services:
- Laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Transportation
Along with helping seniors keep their homes safe and tidy, homemakers may also provide companionship. Family members often provide homemaker services, but professional homemakers can also be hired through an agency. You can expect to pay around $26 per hour for homemaking services and companion care.
What are the benefits of nonmedical home care?
With nearly 80% of adults 50+ wanting to live at home as they age, according to a 2021 AARP survey, nonmedical home care will continue to play a role in supporting seniors’ needs.
As seniors age, there are several factors that can become obstacles to living at home safely. Seniors who want to age in place can enjoy the following benefits of home care:
- Mobility support — Professional caregivers can provide assistance with mobility and transfers, reducing the risk of falls and other household accidents.
- Housekeeping — Many home care agencies can provide light housekeeping services to help a senior maintain a clean, safe, and organized household.
- Personal care — Daily personal hygiene tasks can become a challenge for many aging seniors. Caregivers can provide assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and incontinence care.
- Companionship — Feelings of isolation can have an impact on a senior’s mental health. Occasional or frequent visits for conversations or activities can help support the social needs of seniors who live alone.
- Health monitoring — While nonmedical home care doesn’t include skilled home health care services, caregivers can provide supervision, note changes in a senior’s health , and communicate with their family.
- Organizational assistance — From helping to manage bills to keeping track of appointments, caregivers can offer a senior assistance with daily organizational tasks.
- Meal preparation — Many seniors benefit from assistance with preparing meals or having meals prepared for them. Caregiver visits to prepare meals help seniors maintain consistent and nutritious eating habits and may also offer companionship.
How does nonmedical in-home care compare with home health care?
There’s an important distinction between nonmedical home care and home health care. Both levels of care offer support for seniors in their homes, but home health care provides medically necessary care that’s typically prescribed by a doctor and may be covered by insurance.
Home health care is provided by medical professionals such as nurses and therapists. This short-term care is often prescribed to support a patient’s recovery after an injury, illness, or surgery.
Support navigating nonmedical home care options
While most families will pay for nonmedical home care out of pocket, some seniors may be eligible for help covering the costs of home care through public assistance programs such as Medicaid or VA benefits.
Nonmedical home care can provide the assistance a senior needs to live at home safely, but finding the right home care agency can be time consuming. AgingCare’s Care Advisors can simplify this process by connecting you with local home care providers that meet your loved one’s needs and budget. You may also receive advice and support by connecting with other family caregivers in the Caregiver Forum.
Reviewed by Todd Austin, President and COO of Home Care Pulse.
Sources:
Genworth Cost of Care Survey (https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html)
Where We Live, Where We Age: Trends in Home and Community Preferences (https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/community/info-2021/2021-home-community-preferences.html)