Having read the questions and answers for several days, I think the bottom line is that you want home health care that your father does not have to pay for? The short answer is that very little if any, home care is provided at no cost. Under some situations, if your father had Medicaid, a small amount of home health care might be provided. In some states, family members can receive some pay for caring for a relative through Medicaid. However, your father does not have Medicaid. Have you checked recently to be certain he doesn't qualify? For the most part, otherwise, home health care is private-pay, and it is not cheap!
The way that care is covered by charity is that the person involved goes into a Medicaid-accepting facility! I know that that is not what you want! In summary, you you either pay for home care, are cared for by family members, or go to a facility. One thing that isn't clear is your father's prognosis: is he expected to recover, or is it uncertain? For a dying person, a part of care is covered by hospice. If a person is expected to recover, then it may be easier to work out ways to pay if the care is short-term. As others have said, the social worker will be your best friend here in helping you make the right decisions.
For additional information about Senior Services Associates visit their office at McHenry Township Senior Center, 3519 North Richmond Road in Johnsburg. You also can call Senior Services Associates at 815-344-3555 or visit the Senior Services Associates website.
Dear Boxergirl, back in 2018, My dad was also dying of Cancer, and my mother and I took care of him at home.. under a non-profit hospice care titled "Sacred Heart".. Not sure what you may have in your area, but you can look it up online.
Nurses came three times a week to wash and shave him.. And mom and I changed his urine pads and underwear in bed the nights they didn't come. They showed us how. I recommend a good non-profit at home hospice care for him. I will keep you, your Dad and family in my prayers!
Does dad have medical insurance? If so, call the insurance company, Medicare/medicaid, etc, & see what plan he has. It should provide everything you listed. If you need me, feel free to contact me. Good luck.
If your dad has Medicare or insurance through work, a doctor's prescription for a hospital bed. If your dad is physically incapacitated, Hospice should be contacted, and they'll ask the questions after introductions. Hospice can offer you the direction you're looking for regarding 'Help'.
A doctor can order all the equipment that he needs and it should be covered. If he is still getting treatments (curative ones) he would not qualify for Hospice. Hospice would provide, order and have delivered all the supplies and equipment that you would need.
If you are looking to purchase a hospital bed you can search FB Marketplace. You can contact your local Senior Center they may have a lending closet. I will tell you though that most beds that you come by will not have mattresses as no organization will take a used mattress.
You can rent or purchase a mattress. (Rented ones are cleaned and sanitized between rentals) Look for an Alternating Pressure mattress as they are supposed to help prevent pressure sores. Contact the American Cancer Society in your area or if the type of cancer he has has an organized organization they may have a contact.
There is free help for those who are indigent and using Medicaid. Otherwise caregivers are oaid out of pocket. Medical expenses are tax deductible over a set amt depending on your or his tax bracket. Hospice is paid for by Medicare, but it is usually not daily care, unless he is in a hospice facility. He probably wualifies for free home health care visits from a HHC agency for nursing, PT, OT, bathing and/or speech therapy under the little known “maintenance” care provision for people with multiple medical needs. Check Craig’s list ir other online mktplcs for medical furniture, vehicles, devices for reduced costs. Any medical device is also tax deductible.
Home care is expensive, but it is still less expensive than facility care and it saves Medicare and the govt money. Lobby for tax credits for family members and spouses who provide it in your state legislatures.
A friend of mine called the local United Way and they connected her with someone who had a free hospital bed available. Probably just lucky timing, but worth checking.
Hello, there are benefits for DME which is (durable medical equipment) through Medicare and Medi-Cal which your dad should have benefits for. I suggest you ask your dad’s insurance company. Also for getting in-home help there is a program called IHSS which stands for In-Home Support Services, just called aging and independence services and they will do the intake and then connect you. Another suggestion is to call 211. It is a wealth of information they have so many resources and can point you in the right direction for just about anything. I truly hope this helps!
Hi again, after reading most of the answers, I realized that you and your father should be guided to and offered all these services. It will take foreeever to get a referral from your Dr let alone processed. . I agree that with all the others that the fastest and most efficient way is to get in touch with the hospital where he is or was. My heartfelt wishes that you get all the help your father needs.
In addition to the posts here, ask someone to help you manage a computer and searches to do your research. Call local Cancer Association. If none local, call national and ask for referrals / networking options for your area.
Work with a social worker if you can. Your dad may qualify or ask hospital - to speak to social worker for help in these areas.
Depending on where he lives there is a company that helps with hospital beds, Landmark or we have a hospital we could give you. Get back to me and let me know.
I once listed a free hospital bed on Craigslist. Someone came within an hour and grabbed it. (It was a sunny day so we just put it outside in front of the house and told them where to find it).
I would recommend everyone to NEVER EVER use Craig's list. People get shot engaging in these 'buy and sell' services. I understand you listed and someone picked up bed ... however, not everyone is honest - and people are just LURKING on Craig's list ... waiting for a vulnerable person to fall into their trap.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. I worked in hospice homecare for a long time and will tell you, they are not going to offer much. A nurse will come in a couple times a week to check meds and to order things for the patient. They will also send an aide a few hours a week to help with hygiene care. That's about all hospice at home offers.
There is no free homecare. Insurance will pay for a very limited number of hours. Although the hospital he goes to for his cancer treatments may have a volunteer program for people in need. It's worth asking about at his doctor's office.
As for the hospital bed. That takes a long time. I know people who've waited nearly two years for the bed despite several referrals from their doctors. I'd look on line to see if anyone is selling one. That will be your best bet if you need one quick.
I'm sorry for what you're going through and I know how it is when dealing with hospice, social workers, and Medicare.
That’s the key point, Medicare will cover with a doctor’s order. My mother never got any homecare covered by Medicare, even though she was terminal, couldn’t bathe, walk, or do any ADLs. Hopefully your dad’s doctor will have more compassion.
Any doctor can write the order, it doesn’t have to be the patients doctor. All hospice agencies have a medical director, they can also write the order. I’m so sorry no one told this to you when your mother was ill.
Both my Mom and Dad had cancer and the use of a hospice service for managing the progression of the disease is a must have. In my area, we used Angela Hospice each time (all of their services were covered by Medicare in both cases); this service is primarily training and providing necessary pain management meds in the last month or so.
Homehealth is covered by Medicare for as long as your dad has a skilled need, I.e nursing or physical/occupational therapy. There will also be a social worker available to assist you with long term planning for your dad . Ask the discharge planner at the hospital now to begin planning for discharge. Physical therapy assessment for equipment need etc. Dont wait until day of, he’ll most likely need a walker and transport wheelchair. All covered by Medicare with a doctor order and you can have them delivered prior to discharge.
The discharging hospital should have a home care arm, which will provide for some home health care services, including training and advice. They will also write script to obtain a hospital bed and and special mattress to help prevent bedsores. Further they will advise on receiving visiting Doctor services.
In my case caring for my wife, all of it is covered by Medicare.
Names for my southeastern Michigan location for the above are Trinity Hospital, Trinity Home Care, Harmony Medical Cares and Binson (Medical equipment supplier).
In my case, I did not have much luck with home care agencies with the exception of one part-time care (Guardian Angels also covered by Medicare).
Durable Medical Equipment re-Use Free medical equipment including hospital beds, wheelchairs, hoyer lifts and much more. Contact info: dme.maryland.gov 242-230-8000 dme.maryland@maryland.gov
As Joann29 stated, the hospital social worker should be helping you with discharge planning, including obtaining a hospital bed. If your dad was a veteran, he may qualify for services through the VA but in my experience most people will not qualify for free services unless they are truly low income(and often there’s a waiting list through county agencies).
He would likely qualify for home health services, which would be nursing care, physical/occupational/speech therapy as indicated and a home health aide, but these are limited and not the caregiving services I think you’re looking for.
This is not what you asked, but I would also look into palliative care for your dad. My husband had a nurse practitioner come every 3 to 4 weeks and give individualized care for symptom management, including pain. Having that one on one time in the home can help identify those “important flags” that might otherwise be missed. Best of luck to you and keep coming back with questions, people are here to help.
Go to this site and click on home health services, then input your zip and the various companies will come up. These services are a benefit of the Medicare insurance for original Medicare. Not sure about advantage plans. There should be a number on dads insurance card to call.
You should talk to the Social Worker at the hospital Dad goes to for his Chemo. I hope he has a supplemental to pay the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay. Maybe Dad fits Medicaid criteria. Some hospitals have a charity that will pay what insurance won't Hospital beds can be gotten thru Medicare with an order from a dr.
HI we have medicare not medicade. We are only interested in home health help. My mom was in a place over night and almost lost her so I took her out asap. Thanks for all suggestions trying to figure out how to reply to comments.
Medicare doesn't give in home help that I am aware of other than through Hospice. Don't take my word for it, but I am unaware of any in home help through Medicare.
"I am caring for my father...who is 82 years old, living at home with cancer, diabetes, hearing loss, heart disease, incontinence, lung disease, and vision problems."
Is he bedbound or profoundly ill? Medicaid covers LTC as assessed by his doctor and qualifies financially.
His mind is sharp for most part not hospice. He is just weak cant walk chemo takes it out of him. He was in icu but tonight we have been downgraded to icu observation so thats good news said we may go home in 3 or 4 days and I just would love help once in a while to just give me support in anyway. Plus to check on him its hard when you see them daily and sometimes important flags slip by you and I dont want that to happen.
I think we need a bit more info before we start giving opinions. It looks like Dad is 82. What state is he in, does he have a legal partner, Does he have Medicare and if so, is it traditional or Medicare Advantage? Does he have and see a primary care physician. Where is he currently? If he is in a hospital now, grab the social worker who will be able to answer a lot of your questions and point you in the right direction: depending on his discharge diagnosis it is possible the hospital might be able to order a hospital bed. If he is home, contact your local Office on Aging and explain your situation; they can connect you with great resources. Depending on his financial status, Dad may need Medicaid which sometimes covers a lot of things but is administered differently in each state. The Office on Aging can direct you to Medicaid, if that is necessary.
Your profile indicates that Dad has a cancer Diagnosis. Please get in touch with your local chapter of the American Cancer Association. They are absolutely wonderful.
Also, if not already done, if Dad is competent, please get all Dad's important documents done (Will, power of attorney, advanced directives) completed and stored safely. Wishing you luck but please get back to us with more info.
The way that care is covered by charity is that the person involved goes into a Medicaid-accepting facility! I know that that is not what you want! In summary, you you either pay for home care, are cared for by family members, or go to a facility. One thing that isn't clear is your father's prognosis: is he expected to recover, or is it uncertain? For a dying person, a part of care is covered by hospice. If a person is expected to recover, then it may be easier to work out ways to pay if the care is short-term. As others have said, the social worker will be your best friend here in helping you make the right decisions.
Nurses came three times a week to wash and shave him.. And mom and I changed his urine pads and underwear in bed the nights they didn't come. They showed us how. I recommend a good non-profit at home hospice care for him. I will keep you, your Dad and family in my prayers!
Disclaimer: Not an advertisement.
If he is still getting treatments (curative ones) he would not qualify for Hospice.
Hospice would provide, order and have delivered all the supplies and equipment that you would need.
If you are looking to purchase a hospital bed you can search FB Marketplace. You can contact your local Senior Center they may have a lending closet. I will tell you though that most beds that you come by will not have mattresses as no organization will take a used mattress.
You can rent or purchase a mattress. (Rented ones are cleaned and sanitized between rentals)
Look for an Alternating Pressure mattress as they are supposed to help prevent pressure sores.
Contact the American Cancer Society in your area or if the type of cancer he has has an organized organization they may have a contact.
I am going to send you a PM, I am in Crystal Lake
Check Craig’s list ir other online mktplcs for medical furniture, vehicles, devices for reduced costs. Any medical device is also tax deductible.
Home care is expensive, but it is still less expensive than facility care and it saves Medicare and the govt money. Lobby for tax credits for family members and spouses who provide it in your state legislatures.
Work with a social worker if you can.
Your dad may qualify or ask hospital - to speak to social worker for help in these areas.
Gena / Touch Matters
A nurse will come in a couple times a week to check meds and to order things for the patient. They will also send an aide a few hours a week to help with hygiene care. That's about all hospice at home offers.
There is no free homecare. Insurance will pay for a very limited number of hours. Although the hospital he goes to for his cancer treatments may have a volunteer program for people in need. It's worth asking about at his doctor's office.
As for the hospital bed. That takes a long time. I know people who've waited nearly two years for the bed despite several referrals from their doctors. I'd look on line to see if anyone is selling one. That will be your best bet if you need one quick.
I'm sorry for what you're going through and I know how it is when dealing with hospice, social workers, and Medicare.
In my case caring for my wife, all of it is covered by Medicare.
Names for my southeastern Michigan location for the above are Trinity Hospital, Trinity Home Care, Harmony Medical Cares and Binson (Medical equipment supplier).
In my case, I did not have much luck with home care agencies with the exception of one part-time care (Guardian Angels also covered by Medicare).
Free medical equipment including hospital beds, wheelchairs, hoyer lifts and much more. Contact info:
dme.maryland.gov
242-230-8000
dme.maryland@maryland.gov
He would likely qualify for home health services, which would be nursing care, physical/occupational/speech therapy as indicated and a home health aide, but these are limited and not the caregiving services I think you’re looking for.
This is not what you asked, but I would also look into palliative care for your dad. My husband had a nurse practitioner come every 3 to 4 weeks and give individualized care for symptom management, including pain. Having that one on one time in the home can help identify those “important flags” that might otherwise be missed. Best of luck to you and keep coming back with questions, people are here to help.
Go to this site and click on home health services, then input your zip and the various companies will come up. These services are a benefit of the Medicare insurance for original Medicare. Not sure about advantage plans. There should be a number on dads insurance card to call.
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-dme-coverage
This link explains about equipment such as a hospital bed, wheel chair, etc.
The Area Agency on Aging, each county has one, could provide information for any services in your area.
I’m sorry your dad has cancer. I hope you find some help. Keep in touch with the forum for support. We care.
"I am caring for my father...who is 82 years old, living at home with cancer, diabetes, hearing loss, heart disease, incontinence, lung disease, and vision problems."
Is he bedbound or profoundly ill? Medicaid covers LTC as assessed by his doctor and qualifies financially.
Or, is he not thriving? Terminal? Then maybe hospice, covered by Medicare.
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care
You can also talk to social services for his county to see if he qualifies for any in-home services.
Does your Dad have a PoA assigned? Or Medical Representative?
Your profile indicates that Dad has a cancer Diagnosis. Please get in touch with your local chapter of the American Cancer Association. They are absolutely wonderful.
Also, if not already done, if Dad is competent, please get all Dad's important documents done (Will, power of attorney, advanced directives) completed and stored safely.
Wishing you luck but please get back to us with more info.