When making the switch over to at-home care, there’s a lot that needs to be dealt with. Things like choosing a home care agency, registering for services, creating a schedule, and applying for financial aid.
So, we’re here to break it all down for you step by step, question by question in a two-part series on getting home care in Philadelphia.
In this first part, we’ll walk you through the basics. We’ll explain what home care is, how it works, and the process of signing up for services.
Let’s get to it!
What is home care?
The first thing to understand before applying for home care, is what home care actually is.
At-home care services are meant for seniors who require skilled care, but would prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes. Services can include assistance with daily activities, light housekeeping, emergency response, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more.
How does home care work?
Home care services are meant to be flexible and personal. That means, getting individualized attention for whatever services your senior needs however your senior needs it.
A common problem with nursing homes and other senior care facilities is that with so many seniors to care for all at once, seniors are pushed to fit into cookie-cutter molds, rather than get specialized care for their specific needs.
With at-home care, you and your senior create the program. You decide what your senior needs, when, and with whom. And, the best part about signing up with an entire agency, is that as your senior’s needs change, you can easily change, add, or subtract which services you pay for.
How to register for home care services?
When registering for home care services, most agencies require some kind of “order” or notification from a doctor. Think of it as a prescription. Your doctor prescribes home care services for your senior, and the agency delivers the order.
This just means that you’ll need to talk to your senior’s regular doctor first before officially signing with an agency. After receiving the order, the agency will then require the patient’s official consent and health insurance information.
And, that’s it. You’ll be all set to start.
A quick note on health insurance and home care…
No matter which home care agency you sign up with, you are going to be asked to provide health insurance information.
However, you do not need to have health insurance to get at-home care. Home care agencies will take you whether you have insurance or not. The only reason that agencies tend to push for insurance is that it can save you a lot of money in the long run. At-home care can be expensive, and insurance can really cut down the costs.
So, while you are not required to have insurance, it is highly recommended to look into insurance rates and services for your own financial benefit.
Stay tuned for Part Two of the series. Until then, feel free to give us a call with all your questions at 1-215-354-4444 or shoot us an email at info@auroraathome.com.
