Types of Care for Elderly
Have you ever asked yourself: What are the options for Senior Care? What is the first step to take with my aging parents? How do I know which option is the best? These are all questions that you most likely will face as your parents get older. The transition from being an adult to an older adult is something not well discussed in our society, so when the change starts to happen, many have no idea where to start. Luckily for you, there are many options for senior care to better fit your parent(s) needs and wants.
In-Home Care
Cost: 500-10,000$ a month depending on hours needed
Staff: Caregiver (Non-Medical), CNA/Nurse/PT/OT (Medical)
Location: Home Based
Insurance Coverage: Long Term Care Insurance (both Medical/Non-Medical), Medicaid (some Non-Medical/Medical), Personal Medical Insurance (Medical)
There are two types of in-home care: Non-Medical Home Care and Home Health Care. Non-Medical Home Care focuses on assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ALDs) that have become more difficult to perform and/or have posed a risk for one's safety. Such activities include chores, errands, transportation, cooking, hygiene assistance, dressing assistance, helping with transferring, bathing, etc. These activities are assisted by a Caregiver. Depending on the state and company, these Caregivers can either be non-certified or certified. Usually, this care is paid out of pocket, through long-term care insurance, and occasionally through Medicare.
Home Health Care focuses on more medical aspects such as evaluating medication, placing catheters, trach care, etc. Home Health Care can be done by many different types of medical professionals like Certified Nursing Assistants, LPNs, RNs, Physical Therapists, etc. CNA’s can assist the senior citizen with similar aspects of Non-Medical Home Care such as bathing and dressing. This service can be paid through insurance and/or Medicare.
2. Adult Day Care
Cost: 80-150$ a day
Staff: Resident Assistant, Medication Technician, LPN
Location: Delivered from an Adult Day Care Center
Insurance Coverage: Long Term Care Insurance, Medicaid Waiver, Private Pay
Adult Day Care is a physical place that Elderly individuals can be dropped off at for a set amount of hours a day. Usually, these hours are while their primary caregiver is at work, running errands, etc. Adult Day Care provides meals, activities, nursing care, medication management, and is a great solution to social isolation. Staff includes Nurses, who can give the clients their medication and manage any medical issues and Direct Care Staff, or caregivers. The Direct Care staff helps with toileting, feeding, or mobility needs. This is paid out of pocket or through long-term care insurance.
3. Independent Living
Cost: 3,000-5,000$ a month depending on hours needed
Location: Senior Living Community
Insurance Coverage: Private Pay
Independent Living is a type of senior-community based care. It is for the individual who does not need assistance with most activities, but wants to live in an environment with others around the same age. Housing can be an apartment, townhome, or single home. Lawn care is done by the community. In some senior living communities, laundry, housekeeping, and daily meals are offered. Independent Living is not medical based. If more assistance is needed, the older adult can hire Home Care to help meet additional needs. Usually, these communities offer continual care. This means that if the older adult needs more care in the future, they can move them to Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Skilled Nursing within their community.
4. Assisted Living
Cost: 4,000-6,000$ (average)
Staff: Resident Assistent, Medication Technician, LPN
Location: Assisted Living Facility
Insurance Coverage: Long Term Care Insurance
Assisted Living is a residence in which senior citizens can receive help with activities of daily living. In most cases, the client has their own room, but dining, kitchen, and occasionally shower areas are shared. Resident Assistants help with dressing, bathing, housekeeping, feeding, medication administration, and basic transferring needs. In most cases, these facilities have a response nurse to help in emergency situations such as falls, skin tears, or going unresponsive. This type of residence also offers activities and resident’s can form clubs such as book clubs, pool clubs, and bible studies. Depending on the state and facility, these Resident Assistants can be certified or non-certified. This service can be covered by long term care insurance, but a chunk of the cost will be paid out of pocket.
5. Skilled Nursing
Cost: 5,000-10,000$ a month
Staff: CNA, RN/LPN, OT/PT, Dietary, etc
Location: Home Based
Insurance Coverage: Long Term Care Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid Waiver, Personal Medical Insurance
Skilled Nursing is a form of care for individuals needing a large amount of help with activities of daily living. The layout of Skilled Nursing is similar to that of Assisted Living: the resident has their own room and bathroom, but the dining room, shower/bath area, and kitchen areas are shared. A majority of these residents need assistance with transferring, repositioning, and mobility. In some cases, lifts are used to transfer residents as they can not bear weight on their own. Other care includes feeding, dressing, incontinence care, vital checks, chronic disease maintenance, medication administration, etc. Certified Nursing Assistants are the ones who assist with these cares, and RN/LPN’s are the ones who do assessments, administer medication, place catheters, draw blood, etc. The first 100 days of Skilled Nursing can be covered by Medicare. Insurance can all help cover the costs.
6. Respite Care
Cost: 1,000-6,000$ depending on time needed.
Staff: Caregiver, Resident Assistant, Medication Technician (depending on where).
Location: Assisted Living or At-Home
Insurance Coverage: Long Term Care Insurance, Medicaid Waiver, Private Pay
Respite Care provides short term relief for primary caregivers. This form of care is similar to Adult Day Care, except it can last multiple days. Respite Care can be conducted in home, Assisted Living facilities, or at an Adult Day Care center. Respite Care can be conducted by a caregiver or CNA depending where the family prefers the older adult to be.
7. Palliative Care
Cost: 50-100$ a day (insurance pays for most)
Staff: Caregiver, CNA, RN/LPN
Location: Assisted Living or At-Home
Insurance Coverage: Medical Insurance, Medicare
Palliative Care is aimed to help increase quality of life for individuals suffering from severe chronic and sometimes terminal diseases. Palliative Care is aimed at pain management and lowering suffering instead of managing and/or preventing furthing of the disease process. Depending on family and older adults preference, curative care can be given or not given. Palliative Care is multidisciplinary, as the care team can include CNAs, RNs, Social Workers, and Physicians. Palliative Care is the precursor to Hospice Care.
8. Hospice Care
Cost: 50-100$ a day (insurance pays for most)
Staff: Caregiver, CNA, RN/LPN
Location: Assisted Living or At-Home
Insurance Coverage: Medicare, Medicaid
Hospice Care is similar to palliative care as it focuses on comfort care, pain management, and lowering suffering, but it does not provide any curative care. Usually those placed on Hospice are not expected to live past six months. Hospice staff work with the client and family by prioritizing spiritual and emotional needs. Just like Palliative Care, Hospice workers are CNAs, RNs, Social Workers, and Physicians.
