As America’s population ages, many families face a common conundrum: Seniors have their hearts set on remaining in their own homes, but their loved ones worry that they are unable to do so safely. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Private Duty Care services can help support a senior’s independence without compromising their health or safety. What are Private Duty Care services? Could they be a good fit for your family?
With the potential for slips, falls, cooking fires, and other catastrophes, homes can be dangerous places. If you’re looking for a service that bolsters independence while limiting risks, Private Duty Care services might be the perfect choice. Designed to help a patient avoid an unnecessary stay in a hospital, nursing home, or similar facility, Private Duty Care services involve care delivered in the home by an agency or private employee. While seniors are frequent benefactors of this type of care, people of all ages can benefit from Private Duty Care services if they need a little extra help to complete everyday tasks safely.
What Do Private Duty Care Services Involve?
Private Duty Care services are meant to allow the person receiving care to live safely and comfortably in their home. Because everyone has different needs, the exact services provided are generally tailored to suit the individual client’s needs. Private Duty Care services may include some or all of the following:
- Nursing services
- Medication reminders
- Assistance with bathing and personal hygiene
- Assistance with grooming and dressing
- Meal planning and preparation
- Basic housekeeping
- Help with laundry
- Transportation for shopping, health care visits, and social outings
- Companionship
- Help with caring for pets or house plants
- Assistance with letter writing or reading
When Are Private Duty Care Services a Good Choice?
What are Private Duty Care services utilized for? There are many scenarios in which they can be useful. When someone realizes that a little professional assistance would make their daily routine run more smoothly, they can independently arrange for Private Duty Care services. Alternately, family members may suggest them as a way of protecting a loved one’s health and easing their own worries. Sometimes, a patient who still requires extra help after a serious injury or illness that confined them to a hospital will turn to Private Duty Care services so that they can go home instead of transitioning to a rehab center or nursing home. Private Duty Care services can also be useful when a family is providing care for a loved one in need. It’s not unusual for spouses or adult children to provide some form of care for family members who require regular assistance. Arranging for a period of Private Duty Care services can offer welcome respite so that these caregivers can go on vacation, attend a special event, or simply take a few hours to run errands.
How Are Private Duty Care Services Different from Home Health Care?
Although both Private Duty Care services and home health care provide services at the patient’s home rather than in an institution, the two forms of care are distinctly different.
With Private Duty Care services, the person receiving services (or their family) determines what types of services are needed and makes the necessary arrangements with an agency or professional caregiver. These services are delivered in set blocks of time and can continue as long as the client desires. While hourly services may be available, many caregivers who provide Private Duty Care services spend an 8-, 12-, or 24-hour shift with a client.
In contrast, home health care is coordinated by a doctor and involves the delivery of skilled health care by professionals like nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists in the home setting. Generally, these professionals stay long enough to deliver the prescribed services as they visit one to three times a week for up to 60 days.
Who Pays for Private Duty Care Services?
Medicare and other health insurances generally do not cover Private Duty Care services, so paying for this kind of care is typically the responsibility of the client or their family. Private payment means that the client is the customer. As such, they have more control and can more readily customize the services that they receive. This flexibility can make Private Duty Care services a fantastic choice for families who want the right solution for their loved one’s unique needs.
At Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, we strive to promote positivity, improve our patients’ quality of life, and meet the challenges that life brings with compassion, grace, empathy, and respect. We are committed to excellence and innovation, and we take great pleasure in helping our clients find the services that they need to thrive. To learn more about our Private Duty Care services, contact us today.
