Affordable home health care allows you or a loved one to receive services at home rather than in a hospital or nursing facility. For seniors who need some help for daily living but are still independent, home health care is an excellent option. It’s also a good choice for someone recovering from an injury and needing temporary help. However, home health care is not always covered by insurance, so you need to budget carefully for this expense.
The Cost of Home Health Care
The cost of this service is based on where you live. Home health care is going to be cheaper if you live in Nebraska than if you live in California. To give a baseline, so you know what to expect, AgingCare states the “national median cost of personal care services provided by a home health aide is $27 per hour. . .The median hourly cost of non-medical home care, such as homemaker services, is $26 per hour.”
How to Find Affordable Health Care
Caring for a loved one at home is expensive, but it’s generally cheaper than having the person go to a nursing home. However, an assisted living facility may be more affordable if your loved one requires several hours of help a daily.
Insurance May Cover Some Costs
While insurance is unlikely to cover the entire expense, your loved one’s policy may cover some in-home medical assistance. (You will likely have to pay out of pocket for non-medical help, such as help with cooking and cleaning.) Therefore, you should start your search for affordable health care with your loved one’s insurance company.
Private Care Providers Are Cheaper than Agencies
You can save by hiring an individual privately rather than through an agency. However, there are some drawbacks to doing so. Your relative may have to go without necessary care if the individual you hire is sick or unreliable. An agency can usually send someone else out if a caregiver is sick so your loved one does not have to go without care.
Utilize State Programs
Most states offer one or more programs to assist individuals who need care to stay in their homes as long as possible. Paying for Senior Care shares a chart listing the services available in every state. While some states, like Delaware and Indiana, only have one program, others, like Nebraska, have four or more programs you can explore.
Consider Giving Free Room and Board
An unconventional way to get the help your loved one needs is to offer a nursing student at a local college free room and board in exchange for daily assistance. This gives the student vital experience and also costs less than other options.
Final Thoughts
Finding affordable home health care so a relative can comfortably remain in her home is challenging. However, you can explore several avenues that can assist with expenses. Hopefully, one or more will be able to help so your relative can age in her home, where she is likely most comfortable.
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Melissa is a freelance writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking.
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