
You’re feeling concerned that Dad might need some help at home, and so naturally, you know exactly where to go for the assistance needed, right? No? Rest assured – you aren’t alone. Millions of Americans are faced with the same quandary, and most people don’t know very much about home care services until the need for senior care develops.
If you’re in the preliminary stages of looking into home care choices, it’s beneficial to have some understanding of what exactly home care is and how it works. To help you through this journey, the highly skilled team at Nightingale Homecare has pulled together some frequently asked questions regarding home care, along with the corresponding home care insights to help you make better, more informed care decisions for a loved one.
Q: Is it less expensive to hire a caregiver privately than working with a professional home care provider?
A: No. While at first it might seem that hiring an independent caregiver is more cost-effective than hiring a caregiver through a professional home care agency, there are a number of unrevealed costs when hiring a private caregiver. For example, with a privately hired caregiver, you are the caregiver’s employer, meaning it is your duty to pay taxes, worker’s compensation, and more. When working with a professional home care agency, you do not have to worry about or cover the cost for any of these things.
Q: Will Medicare cover the cost for long-term in-home care?
A: No. Although it’s true that Medicare might pay for some home health care costs within very specific parameters, it was never intended to cover long-term in-home care.
Q: What do ADL and IADL mean?
A: ADL is the term for Activities of Daily Living, or activities that occur every day, including taking a bath, getting dressed, moving from the bed to a chair, walking, etc. IADL is the term for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and covers such activities as managing household expenses, shopping, using the phone, etc. ADLs and IADLs are assessed when establishing which level of care is ideal for a senior. Nightingale Homecare can help older adults with both ADLs and IADLs, leading to safer, more comfortable, and more independent lives at home.
Q: Is home care a good choice for a senior with dementia?
A: Yes. Nightingale Homecare provides highly trained, experienced Alzheimer’s and dementia care professionals. Our caregivers receive ongoing training on how to provide the highest quality support to seniors with dementia, providing families much-needed breaks from care.
We know you most likely have some additional questions about home care services, and we’re always available to provide the answers and home care insights you need. You can reach us any time at (602) 504-1555 to learn more about our services related to home care in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and throughout Metropolitan Phoenix.