Charter Oak Home Care knows one common mistake many of us make after deciding we want to age at home is believing that all home care services are the same. This could not be farther from the truth. In this article we review the differences between medical home care, non-medical home care, agency based care, registry based care and self directed care. All these options have their pros and cons but to determine which is best for you and your family it is important to be informed and to be informed you should know the right questions to ask. Below we list several questions we recommend individuals looking for care to ask.
Non-Medical Home Care
Non medical home care assists with the activities of daily living like dressing, showering, ambulation and provides companionship, meal preparation, transportation to errands, light housekeeping and a variety of other services. Non medical home caregivers cannot administer medication (but can do hand over hand assist) or do wound care or other medical tasks. Generally this care is provided in several hour increments.
Medical Home Care
Visits are short in duration and include medical tasks like medication administration, taking vitals, wound care etc. Medical home care does not generally assist with transportation, ADLs or housekeeping. It is often used in conjunction with non-medical home care.
Agency Based Home Care
Both medical and non-medical home care agencies can fall into this categorization. Care is directed by an agency which is insured and bonded and generally has W2 employees providing care. If a caregiver calls out the agency will work to find a replacement. Agencies oversee care and ensure quality and handle all payments and taxes going to their employees. Agency based care is ideal for families who do not want the responsibility of supervising care and do not want the responsibility of hiring a caregiver directly. Charter Oak Home Care falls into this category.
Registry Based Care
Some home care agencies act as registries which match you with a caregiver which you are then responsible for hiring and paying yourself. If the caregiver does not have insurance you are responsible if they are injured while in your home. You are responsible for finding replacement caregivers and the care provided is not overseen by an agency as you take on this responsibility. The pro to using a registry is that it is generally cheaper than using a home care agency but the con can be that it is difficult to ensure quality care and you assume responsibility for the caregiver if something goes wrong.
Self Directed Care
Self directed care covers a wide range of government programs where an agency will pay you or another loved one to take care of the client. In some cases the government will pay you to provide care to a loved one. This can be ideal for family members who are already taking care of their loved ones.
Below are recommended questions to ask of a home care agency
- Are you a non medical or medical home care agency?
- Are you licensed?
- Are you bonded and insured?
- What does your screening and interview process look like for caregivers?
- Are caregivers your employees or are they contractors? If they are contractors you are likely dealing with a registry.
- Do you background check all your caregivers?
- How long has your agency been in business?
- What happens if a caregiver calls out of a shift?
- Do you have any service minimums?
- How much do your services cost?
- Do you offer live in and 24 hr care
- Do you bill long term care insurance direct or do I have to do it?
- Do you have someone on call 24×7?
If we can be of any help do not hesitate to contact us at 860-489-4151 or info@charteroakhomecare.com. Charter Oak Home Care is here to help.
