What Qualifies as Long-Term Care at Home? Financial Assistance Options, Finding Care, and More
When a loved one needs additional help but doesn’t want to move to assisted living, long-term home care services can provide the perfect solution. These services offer both medical and nonmedical support, allowing seniors to age in place comfortably. Long-term care at home is particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities, as it provides consistent and progressive care tailored to their needs. Trained professionals deliver attentive care, ensuring seniors receive the support they need in the comfort of their own homes.
Types of Long-Term Home Care Services
Long-term care at home includes various options for in-home assistance, catering to both medical and nonmedical needs. These services ensure personalized, one-on-one care that aligns with the recipient's medical and lifestyle requirements.
Home health care involves specialized medical services prescribed by a doctor. These services are typically provided by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses to assist those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and other medical needs. Specific services can include diabetes care, medication administration, wound care, and various therapies. While long-term home health care is possible, these services are usually short-term.
Nonmedical Home Care
Nonmedical home care offers help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and companionship. This type of care is ideal for those who need assistance with day-to-day activities and desire social interaction. Services can include light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and transportation. Nonmedical caregivers also engage in recreational activities, plan outings, and provide companionship. These services can be combined with home health care if needed.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care at Home
One of the primary considerations for long-term home care is how to finance these services. If paying out of pocket is not feasible, there are several options available to help ease the financial burden.
Long-Term Care Insurance
This insurance helps families plan for long-term care costs. Policies must be purchased before the need for long-term care arises and kept active through regular premium payments. Coverage varies, so it's essential to contact the insurer to understand the specifics of the policy.
Medicaid
Medicaid assists low-income seniors with medical and care-related costs. The federal government has increased investment in Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) to provide long-term care at home. Programs like the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) offer nursing home-level care in the home setting.
Medicare
Many mistakenly believe Medicare covers long-term care. While Medicare Part A and Part B cover home health services prescribed by a doctor, this coverage is only part-time. For long-term care needs, a physician must recertify the care every 60 days. Medicare does not cover personal care or homemaker services unrelated to home health care.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans have multiple options for receiving and financing long-term home care. Programs like Skilled Home Health Care (SHHC), Homemaker and Home Health Aide (H/HHA), and Home-Based Primary Care offer alternatives to nursing home care. Eligible veterans and their surviving spouses may also access pension benefits to cover care costs.
Retirement Accounts
Funds from retirement savings accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs can be used to pay for home care costs. Additionally, care expenses are often tax-deductible, which can help offset any income tax associated with withdrawals from these accounts.
These are just a few options for funding long-term home care services. Many other payment methods can be utilized by family caregivers and care recipients.
Additional Services to Support Long-Term Home Care
Besides bringing professional help into the home, additional services can make daily life more convenient for seniors, helping balance the cost of other home care services.
Adult Day Centers
Adult day care centers provide temporary care, offering activities, meals, transportation, and personal care assistance. These centers allow seniors to socialize and receive the care they need while continuing to live at home.
Meal Delivery Services
Meal delivery services ensure those living at home receive nutritious meals. Some services cater to specific dietary requirements, relieving family caregivers from the stress of meal preparation.
Finding the Support You and Your Loved One Need
Hiring long-term home care can be challenging, but these services enable aging loved ones to live safely at home. For more information on how AmoryCare can assist with long-term care insurance and other needs, please contact us:
For assistance and further support, contact AmoryCare:
Phone: 908-854-3220
Fax: 908-854-3221
Email: info@amorycare.com
Service Areas
AmoryCare serves several counties in New Jersey, including Union, Morris, Essex, Bergen, and Passaic counties. Specific service areas include:
Union County, NJ: Berkeley Heights, Summit, Linden, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Murray Hill, Plainfield, Mountainside, Garwood, Clark, New Providence, Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Winfield, Kenilworth, Vauxhall, Cranford, Springfield, Union, Fanwood, Rahway.
Morris County, NJ: Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Budd Lake, Butler, Califon, Cedar Knolls, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Far Hills, Flanders, Florham Park, Gillette, Greenvillage, Hibernia, Ironia, Kenvil, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Ledgewood, Lincoln Park, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Millington, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mt. Arlington, Mt. Freedom, Mt. Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, New Vernon, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Picatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Schooley’s Mountain, Stirling, Succasunna, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany.
Essex County, NJ: Livingston, Roseland, Essex Fells, West Orange, South Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, West Caldwell, Fairfield, Irvington, Newark, East Orange.
Bergen County, NJ: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack (county seat), Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Wyckoff.
Passaic County, NJ: Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park.
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