Patient Resources
Paying for Care
Navigating and Planning for Home Health Care Costs: A Comprehensive Guide for Seniors and Their Families
Planning for home care for seniors involves not only thoughtful financial considerations, but also strategic assistance from others to ensure a seamless transition into this new phase of life. On Call recognizes the importance of financial planning and offers services that include care management, long-term care (LTC) policy activation, and personalized at-home care within budget constraints. Here are some tips on how seniors and their families can financially plan for home care with On Call’s support:
Engage a Care Manager for Personalized Assistance:
On Call understands that every senior has unique needs and circumstances. Engaging with one of our Care Managers can offer personalized guidance in navigating the complexities of home care planning. These experienced professionals work closely with families to assess specific requirements, recommend suitable care options, and create customized plans that align with both the seniors’ needs and their financial capabilities.
Activate LTC Policies with On Call’s Support:
For seniors who have invested in long-term care insurance, On Call provides support in activating these policies and offers guidance around how to navigate their terms and conditions. Our team of specialists collaborates with insurance providers to streamline the activation process, ensuring that seniors are aware of the full extent of their benefit coverage and can access their benefits when needed. This proactive approach helps seniors and their families make the most of their insurance coverage and provides additional financial security for home care services.
Budget-Friendly At-Home Care Tailored to Individual Needs:
On Call is committed to delivering high-quality at-home care that aligns with the budgetary constraints of seniors and their families. Our Care Managers work collaboratively to design a care plan that meets the specific needs of each individual while staying within their predetermined financial parameters. This helps to ensure that seniors receive the essential support required for daily living without compromising their financial stability.
Navigating the financial aspects of home care can be a challenging task for seniors and their families. On Call’s comprehensive approach, encompassing Care Managers for personalized assistance, expertise with Medicare wraparound coverage options, support in activating LTC policies, and budget-friendly at-home care, offers many great solutions. With On Call’s guidance, seniors can embark on their home health care journey with confidence, knowing that their unique needs and financial considerations have been fully accounted for.
Safety
Tips For Keeping Your Loved One Safe At Home
- Be sure your loved one is aware of the daily routine and post any calendars, plans of care or other reminders conspicuously.
- Secure or remove all rugs and any other opportunities that could cause a fall.
- Install grab bars and non-slip rugs where necessary. Be sure all stairways have handrails or other appropriate guidance.
- Ensure good lighting in all entryways, stairs and other frequently used rooms.
- Keep bathrooms and hallways lit at night.
- Provide your loved one with an emergency call button if necessary while also keeping emergency phone numbers in a conspicuous area.
- Be sure to properly organize and store medications and schedule refills as needed.
- Make sure faucets and other applicable appliances are labeled clearly as hot and cold.
- Schedule frequent visits from friends, family and neighbors.
Primary Care
How to Start the
Home Health Care Conversation
- BE PREPARED Know your options in advance. Familiarize yourself with available services and be ready to offer options and answer questions.
- FORM A CAREGIVING TEAM Involve anyone directly involved in your family member’s care, such as siblings. Create a decision-making alliance so that no one in the process feels alone or burdened.
- SEEK HELP FROM EXPERTS Involve someone with experience in care management to help navigate you and your family through the process.
- MAKE THE DECISION A PARTNERSHIP It’s critical to make sure the person who will be receiving care knows their feelings are heard and valued.
- TRY A REVERSE APPROACH Highlight the benefits for the individual as well as their entire family or support system.
- SPOTLIGHT THE BENEFITS Be sure to discuss the value in having more free time to do the things they love and be with the ones they love.
- FOCUS ON INDEPENDENCE With home health care, they’ll be able to continue to live in the comfort of their own home and play a vital role in their own care management.
- SUGGEST TRYING IT ON A TRIAL BASIS If a patient is recovering from surgery or returning home from a hospital stay, this is an opportunity to introduce the idea on a trial basis. For patients with long-term care needs, suggesting to try it out can help ease the concerns about entering a new situation.
- ASK PROBING QUESTIONS TO HELP DIRECT THE DISCUSSION Ask them more about any concerns. Are the concerns about privacy or potential costs, for example? Knowing the root of concerns can help guide the conversation to answers that address and alleviate those worries.
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIMING AND LOCATION Sometimes having the conversation in a more neutral space can help.