Nothing Compares To Someone Who Cares.
At Home Atlanta helps families just like yours. If you need In-Home Healthcare assistance, you are not alone! We can help you too.
From the initial call, we begin developing a needs assessment. We then set up a home visit to gather additional information, answer questions and let you understand how At Home can help. Whatever the In- Home healthcare need, we are here to help you find the best services available.
After our initial meeting, we develop a Customized Plan for your specific needs. Once the Customized Plan is approved, we begin searching for the best person to provide care. Our management then makes regular visits to the home to ensure caregivers are following the specifics of your Customized Plan.
At Home provides comprehensive care your loved one needs to allow you to continue with your daily responsibilities knowing your family member’s needs are taken care of. Our care professionals connect with your needs in a personal, more humane way, giving you total confidence knowing your loved one is well cared for.
In addition to simply attending to healthcare needs, we provide social interaction. We help with individuals who in many cases would otherwise be all alone. The quality care that we provide is second to none and is all done in the comfort of home at a reduced cost. Your complete satisfaction is our ultimate goal.
You can have complete peace of mind knowing that our caregivers have been through an extensive interviewing process to include a background check. Our caregivers are thoroughly trained to deliver the care you expect and will be replaced if you ever have any problems or concerns.
What Are Some Signs That It May Be Time for In-Home Care?
Decreased Mobility
Trouble walking and moving around can make it tough to complete routine activities of daily living, making in-home care a much-needed help. Mobility issues can have far-reaching effects, making it tough to safely get around the house (especially if stairs are involved), shower, or go out for errands and social visits. This can lead to a host of other problems, from fall-related injuries to malnutrition. Home caregivers can help your loved one get where they need to go and provide valuable companionship.
A Decline in Hygiene and Grooming
One of the biggest indicators that your aging parent needs in-home help is a noticeable decline in hygiene and grooming. This may include infrequent bathing, overgrown facial hair, or a generally unkempt appearance. Typically, hygiene and grooming habits decline when a person is no longer able to keep up with these routines, either physically or due to cognitive impairments.
Maintaining one’s hygiene and grooming is considered an activity of daily living, and many people work with a home care provider to help their loved one with these tasks. Personal care assistance can both physically help a client complete their ADLs as well as help a person stick to a more regular routine and grooming schedule. In-home care aides can also help with other hygiene-related ADLs including toileting and bathing.
Physical Changes
When you give your loved one a hug, you may notice that they feel thinner and frailer than before. Or, maybe you’ve spotted bruises on their body. These types of physical symptoms may be signs that your parent needs some extra help at home. Significant weight loss can be a sign that your aging parent is struggling to prepare meals for themselves, or that they have trouble getting around the kitchen or possibly remembering how to cook properly (a sign of cognitive decline).
Bruises tend to be evidence of falls or other accidents, although your loved one may be reluctant to admit that this is happening. An in-home caregiver can help ensure that your parent is getting the proper nutrition and can help them prevent falls.
Increased Forgetfulness
We all forget things sometimes – the name of that book you read, or whatever it is you walked into the room to get. But increasing incidents of forgetfulness over time, especially when it comes to important to-dos like taking medication or paying bills, may indicate that home care help is needed. If your loved one’s memory issues are interfering with their everyday activities and well-being, it’s a good indication that they should see a physician about their memory problems, as these may be signs of cognitive decline. Working with an in-home care assistant, you can help ensure that your loved one stays on top of their normal activities, despite any cognitive decline.
Difficulty Maintaining One’s Home
Difficulty keeping up with housework is a common indication that an elderly person needs in-home assistance. They may be unable to perform these tasks the way they did before due to mobility issues, cognitive decline, or even depression.
Some signs that your loved one is struggling to keep up with the housework may include dust, dirt, or grime in areas that used to be clean, excessive clutter, or piles of dirty dishes. Many in-home caregivers provide housekeeping assistance such as cleaning countertops and appliances, sweeping the floor, running the dishwasher, and doing laundry.
Loss of Interest in Activities and Hobbies
Have you noticed that your loved one no longer seems to enjoy many of the hobbies they once loved? Maybe their previously well-tended backyard garden has been neglected, or their weekly card game with friends has gone by the wayside. You might notice that your mom or dad has even given up more sedentary activities such as knitting, reading, or watching a favorite TV show.
Losing interest in hobbies and activities can be a sign of numerous underlying problems, notably depression. While an in-home caregiver won’t be able to solve these medical or mental health issues, they can help ensure that your loved one adheres to treatment plans, has regular social interaction and companionship, and can provide much-needed help so that your mom or dad is still able to enjoy favorite pastimes.
Financial Assistance for In-Home Care
It’s always an option to pay out-of-pocket for in-home care. Many people utilize some form of financial assistance to make the cost more manageable. Below are other commonly used resources available:
- Long-Term Care Insurance: Standard health insurance will not pay for personal care assistance, but some long-term care insurance policies may. While long-term care (LTC) insurance policies are specifically designed to cover senior care, the exact coverage details can vary depending on several factors, most notably the age of the beneficiary when they signed up for their policy. LTC insurance oftentimes will not cover in-home care until the client needs help with at least two activities for daily living (ADLs). Check the details of your loved one’s policy to see if in-home personal care assistance is a covered benefit.
- Medicare: Original Medicare does not cover standard in-home care as it is considered “custodial care” and not medical. However, it may cover personal care assistance if it is delivered with home health care services from the same provider. Additionally, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans may cover in-home care services.
- Medicaid: Medicaid does not cover custodial care, which includes standard in-home care. However, many states have some form of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver, designed to expand the state’s Medicaid benefits to cover additional services such as personal care assistance. Medicaid does always cover home health care for those who meet both medical and financial eligibility requirements.
- Life Insurance: Though one’s life insurance benefit is intended to be accessed after they pass, in some cases it makes more financial sense to access the funds early and use the life insurance payment to finance long-term care. This may be in the form of an “accelerated death benefit” from the insurance provider, or you may look into selling the policy to a third-party for a cash payment. Look into the specifics of your loved one’s policy to see if this option makes sense for your situation.
- Veterans Benefits: In addition to a VA pension, some veterans are eligible for the Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit, an additional monthly payment intended to be used towards paying for long-term care. One of the eligibility terms is needing help with one or more ADLs, so most veterans in need of in-home care will likely qualify. You can learn more about the benefit and apply directly on the VA website, or apply in person at your local VA office.
- Reverse Mortgage Loans: Reverse mortgages are a loan that one can take against the value of their home, essentially converting part of their home’s value into a cash payment while they continue to live there. The only federally-insured, and thus most reliable, form of a reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), available to adults age 62 and over to help finance long-term care or other expenses. No matter which type of reverse mortgage one chooses, the loan will need to be repaid with interest once the home is eventually sold.