Do you have questions about in-home care? We have answers! Read on to find out more about this vital service from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
What is in-home care?
This service provides professional services so people can live safely and more comfortably at home rather than in a long-term care facility or assisted living facility.
Who receives in-home care?
People who are elderly or aging, or for patients who need extra care and attention at home.
For example, an elderly person with mobility issues might need in-home care to take care of certain chores around the house.
A child with special needs might need this service while the parents are at work.
What services do in-home care professionals provide?
Professional employees at an agency provide many services:
- Personal care, such as grooming, bathing, and dressing
- Assistance in transferring from a hospital to home or from home to assisted living
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Grocery shopping and errands
- Preparing meals
- Cleaning up around the house
- Range of motion exercises
- Medication set-ups and assessment
- Respite care.
What is the difference between in-home care and home health services?
In-home care is a nonmedical service, while home health services require a licensed medical professional (such as a nurse) to provide medical care in a home setting.
What does advanced personal care mean for in-home care?
Advanced personal care is defined as providing assistance with daily living activities when this type of assistance requires devices, technology, or procedures related to altered body functions.
For example, someone might need an ostomy bag change or help walking around the house with a walker or cane.
Other examples of advanced personal care include:
- Changing dressings on superficial wounds as directed by a nurse
- Applying medicated lotion
- Using lifts or transfers
- Manually assisting with oral medications
- Providing assistance with walking or moving around the home
- Administering suppositories or enemas
- Helping with ostomy and ostomy bags, as supervised by a nurse
Does Medicare pay for in-home care?
No. Medicare pays for up to 35 hours of home health services from medical professionals as prescribed by a doctor.
How much does it cost for in-home care?
All of Phoenix Home Care & Hospice’s clients use Medicaid to pay for these services.
What is respite care for in-home care services?
Respite care refers to short-term relief of full-time or primary caregivers.
What is an example of respite care?
A 48-year-old daughter spends 43 hours per week taking care of her elderly mother while balancing a full-time job and raising her three teenage children. A specialist can provide respite care to give this person a break during the week, even if it’s just two or three hours, so the primary caregiver can take a break from a hectic schedule.
What is an overnight in-home caregiver?
An overnight caregiver arrives at a senior’s home shortly before bedtime and remains awake and alert until morning when the person wakes up. As the person sleeps, the caregiver provides quality care while monitoring the person to make sure they are safe, comfortable, and sleeping soundly.
What skills does an in-home caregiver need to succeed?
This specialist needs to have various soft skills to succeed at their job, including but not limited to:
- Communication when speaking with patients and family members
- Positive attitude to keep them upbeat
- Empathy because the person in your care may be hurting or lonely
- Patience in dealing with a long work shift
- Problem-solving skills for when there are multiple situations to deal with
- Reliability since your client is depending on you to be there
- Attention to detail when observing their clients
- Time management to arrive at the job site at the right time
- Stamina when lifting heavy objects such as chairs, walkers, or even their clients as they get into a tub or car
How much does an in-home caregiver make per hour?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average national hourly wage for this type of caregiver is approximately $12 per hour. Pay rates vary by state.
The average annual wage comes to around $30,300.
What education does an in-home caregiver need?
In general, this type of caregiver needs a GED or equivalent to hold a job for an in-home care agency. Most of these employees receive on-the-job training once they find an agency to work for.
Some states may require some vocational training beyond high school.
Contrarily, home health aides (medical professionals) require state licensure and advanced education.
Do in-home care companies need to be licensed?
In most states, these companies need a license to operate non-medical and/or skilled home health services.
What supplies and tools does an in-home caregiver need on the job?
Some tools include:
- Smartphone with charger and associated apps
- Writing utensil and patient paperwork
- Hand sanitizer
- Facial mask
- Medication manager, if required for the patient
- Healthy snacks for a long shift
- Small flashlight in case the power goes out
- First aid kit
- Something to occupy waiting time
How long does an in-home caregiver shift last?
Shifts may vary depending on the needs of a patient. You could work as little as four hours or as much as 12 hours for overnight care.
Where can you find in-home care services?
You can perform an internet search to find the closest in-home care agency near you.
Where is Phoenix Home Care & Hospice located?
We have 13 locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. We offer services for a wide range of cities, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, and Springfield.
Do you or a loved one need in-home care?
Contact Phoenix Home Care today, or call 888-830-2388. We’ll have an honest discussion about your needs.
