In-home health care is a huge industry. It provides professional assistance to seniors who need help while still living at home. The nurse or assistant will come to the resident rather than the resident having to live in a nursing home or in hospice. It's great for giving seniors the ability to continue to live in their own home while getting the help they need. But do seniors who participate in Medicare get the same benefits?

How it Works

If you or your loved one has Medicare, there are some instances where it will cover in home help for up to twenty hours per week. In order to qualify, you must be "home bound" and only be able to get around with a wheelchair or a walker. Your doctor must submit something called a "plan of care" that indicates to them that you will need someone to help you while at home with different health-related issues. In addition, your doctor has to review this and re-submit it every sixty days. Finally, the people who will help you must be a Medicare-certified home health agency.

Help You'll Get

If you decide to utilize home health care, you will receive a wide array of assistance. Your skilled nurse can help you administer injections and medications, walk you to and from the restroom, and regularly check important vital information like your blood pressure and heart rate. They will also help make sure that your home is safe for seniors and that you are being fed nutritious foods. Another perk is that they can help coordinate with your doctor and pharmacy when it comes to making appointments and getting your prescriptions filled. The services they provide can be invaluable to seniors who live at home alone.

If Medicare Doesn't Cover It

If you find that you do not meet the requirements for at home health care under Medicare, there are some alternative options. Medicaid is another program designed to help people who need medical assistance, but you must meet certain income levels. If you're above those levels, then Medicaid will not be applicable. Private insurance is another option, and many major insurance carriers offer extra coverage for specific assistance like in home care. For those who are military veterans, there are also programs available to help US military vets get the assistance they need. You can find out more about in home health care and Medicare here.

For more information about in home care, contact a business such as JFS at Home.

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