Can Medicaid Pay for 24-Hour Home Care?

For many seniors, receiving 24-hour home care is preferred to entering a nursing facility. But the cost of paying for continuous in-home care can be daunting. While Medicaid programs in many states cover some personal and non-medical care services, they don’t cover 24-hour home care.

What is 24-hour home care?

Multiple professional caregivers work in shifts to provide continual supervision and care to an aging care recipient. Each caregiver is alert and attentive during the shift. The senior’s care needs are fulfilled throughout the day and night by the rotating staff of caregivers.

When is 24-hour home care necessary?

Full-time care may be needed when a senior’s health noticeably declines. An individual with dementia or someone who has suffered a stroke are candidates for 24-hour care. Constant supervision helps maintain the safety, comfort, and health of the older adult.

Families may seek 24-hour care when an aging loved one suffers frequent falls or a loss of balance. Wandering in dementia patients is dangerous, necessitating constant monitoring. Seniors returning from a hospital stay benefit from 24-hour care to accelerate their recovery.

Other situations that warrant 24-hour attention are when the senior has difficulty eating and drinking without assistance, faints due to dehydration, or has an increase in bathroom accidents. Confusion between day and night can also prompt the need for extra supervision.

What are the benefits of 24-hour home care?

It is easy to see how older individuals in certain situations stand to benefit from 24-hour care. Many families and their elderly loved ones do not want to rely on nursing facilities and instead opt for home care. Receiving care at home allows seniors to age in place.

Having the opportunity to remain at home for as long as possible offers seniors several benefits. Dementia patients especially feel more secure in a familiar home environment. Seniors in general appreciate the chance to be near family, friends, and their beloved community.

Twenty-four-hour home care is beneficial to seniors who tend to develop bed sores. Caregivers provide ambulation to older adults who are unable to move themselves, including at night. These professionals assist with incontinence issues, keeping seniors clean 24 hours a day.

How much does 24-hour home care cost?

The value of 24-hour home care is clear. However, the costs associated with this form of care are high. The median rate for 24-hour care is $30 per hour, or $18,250 per month. Professional 24-hour caregiver service lengths range from 15 to 20 months on average.

The cost of 24-hour caregivers is higher than for a live-in caregiver due to the fact that the 24-hour caregivers remain awake and alert throughout their shifts. Families can find and arrange payment for quality 24-hour caregiver services through reputable home care agencies.

Does Medicaid pay for 24-hour home care?

While Medicaid does pay for some personal care services received at home, the federal program does not typically pay for 24-hour home care. Some state Medicaid programs, however, do cover 24-hour home health care for skilled nursing services when there is a need for around-the-clock care.

An aging care recipient who relies on around-the-clock home care is usually someone who needs advanced medical services, such as the use of a feeding tube, IV medications, or mechanical ventilation. Eligibility for Medicaid coverage depends on the state, however.

What types of home care does Medicaid cover?

Medicaid’s coverage is limited to part-time or intermittent home care services. It is helpful to know that each state determines the specific amount, duration, and scope of services. In Ohio, for instance, Medicaid-covered services should not exceed eight hours of service per day.

Intensive skilled services may be required for some elderly individuals. In these cases, private duty nurse programs are recommended. Again, however, the states set their own limits. Private duty nursing services are typically capped at under 24 hours per day.

What options do seniors have to pay for 24-hour home care?

While Medicaid offers few options that help pay for 24-hour care at home, seniors can turn to other financial resources.

• Long-term care insurance policies have expanded their coverage for in-home care to meet the growing needs of seniors who wish to age in place.
• The Illinois Department on Aging and the Illinois Department of Health Care administer Medicaid waiver programs to seniors who meet eligibility requirements related to their physical and financial needs. Seniors must be Medicaid eligible and at risk for nursing home placement.
• Self-pay is another option for older adults who wish to receive 24-hour home care. Homecare agencies providing 24-hour care services coordinate billing with families. Twenty-four-hour care rates and services vary depending on the home care agency chosen to provide the services.

Call Assisting Hands Palos

Twenty-four-hour care from Assisting Hands Home Care is the solution for many families and their aging loved ones who seek reliable, compassionate, and dedicated services. Our licensed caregivers rotate shifts to ensure that care recipients receive their full attention at all times.

Whether a senior is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia or has recently suffered a stroke, our 24-hour care keeps the individual safe and comfortable. We meet all their non-medical care needs, from hygiene to nutrition and transportation, right in their home.

Families choose our high-quality 24-hour care option when they lack the time and resources to provide adequate supervision to a vulnerable senior. Your aging loved one will never be left alone. In addition to ongoing monitoring, our caregivers provide pleasant companionship to the elderly.

As a Medicaid licensed provider, Assisting Hands Palos is here to guide you about how to use your Medicaid for in-home care.

Seniors in Palos Heights, Illinois, have a range of care options from Assisting Hands Home Care. Our professionals are licensed, bonded, and insured to give you maximum peace of mind. Schedule a free in-home consult today and learn how our around-the-clock care services can be a benefit.