Considering Some Help at Home?
As you or your loved one get older, you may find it harder to do the things you used to do at home. You may have difficulty with daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, or bathing. You may have safety concerns like falling, wandering, or forgetting to take your medications. You may feel isolated, lonely, or depressed. You may also experience caregiver stress if you care for a family member who needs assistance.
If you face these challenges, you may benefit from help at home. Help at home is a type of care that provides support and assistance in the comfort of your home. Help at home can improve your quality of life by helping you maintain your independence, health, and well-being. Help at home can also reduce stress and burden by giving you peace of mind and more time to enjoy with your loved ones.
This article will discuss how to consider some help at home and what options are available for you. We will also cover the costs and coverage of help at home and how it can impact your quality of life.
Key Takeaways
- Help at home is a type of care that provides support and assistance in the comfort of your home.
- Help at home can help you with daily activities, such as personal care, homemaking, companionship, or hospice care.
- Help at home can improve your quality of life by helping you maintain your independence, health, and well-being.
- Help at home can reduce stress and burden by giving you peace of mind and more time to enjoy with your loved ones.
- Help at home can be accessed through different options, such as hiring a professional agency, finding an independent caregiver, or relying on family or friends.
- Help at home can be funded or assisted by different sources, such as Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, long-term care insurance, or community programs.
The Signs That You May Need Some Help at Home
How do you know if you or your loved one need help at home? Some common signs indicate that you may benefit from some help at home, such as:
- Difficulty with daily activities. You may have trouble with tasks that used to be easy for you, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, or paying bills. You may need assistance with personal care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting. You may also need help with medical care, such as taking your medications, managing your chronic conditions, or monitoring your vital signs.
- Safety concerns. You may have a higher risk of falling, injuring yourself, or getting lost. You may have mobility issues, such as using a cane, walker, or wheelchair. You may have sensory issues like poor vision, hearing, or balance. You may have cognitive issues, such as memory loss, confusion, or dementia.
- Isolation. You may feel lonely, bored, or depressed. You may have limited social contact, such as family, friends, or neighbors. You may have limited access to transportation, such as driving, public transit, or taxi. You may have limited participation in activities, such as hobbies, clubs, or events.
- Caregiver stress. You may be caring for a family member who needs assistance, such as a spouse, parent, or child. You may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or frustrated. You may have difficulty balancing your caregiving duties with your needs, such as work, health, or leisure. You may also have trouble coping with caregiving’s emotional, physical, or financial challenges.
If you notice any of these signs, you may want to consider some help at home. Help at home can address these signs and improve your quality of life. Help at home can provide you with support and assistance that are tailored to your needs and preferences. Help at home can also offer you flexibility and convenience, as you can choose the type, frequency, duration, and location of services.
There are different types of help at home that are available, such as:
- Personal care. This type of help at home assists you with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. Personal care can also include assistance with medical care, such as taking your medications, managing your chronic conditions, or monitoring your vital signs.
- Homemaking. This type of help at home assists you with household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, or paying bills. Homemaking can also include pet care, gardening, or home maintenance assistance.
- Companionship. This help at home provides social and emotional support, such as conversation, listening, empathy, and encouragement. Companionship can also include assistance with transportation, such as driving, public transit, or taxi. Companionship can also include assistance with activities, such as hobbies, clubs, or events.
- Hospice care. This type of help at home provides you with comfort and support if you have a life-limiting illness and a life expectancy of six months or less. Valley View Los Angeles Hospice care can include assistance with personal care, medical care, pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement support.
The following table shows some examples of the types of help at home that are available and how they can benefit you:
| Type of Help at Home |
Examples |
Benefits |
| Personal care |
Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, medication, chronic condition, vital signs |
Maintain your hygiene, comfort, and health |
| Homemaking |
Cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, paying bills, pet care, gardening, home maintenance |
Maintain your household, nutrition, and finances |
| Companionship |
Conversation, listening, empathy, encouragement, transportation, activities |
Maintain your social and emotional well-being |
| Hospice care |
Personal care, medical care, pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, bereavement support |
Maintain your comfort and dignity |
Help at home can benefit you in many ways, such as:
- Improving your physical health and comfort by providing the support and assistance you need to prevent or treat infections, wounds, or other complications and relieving your pain, discomfort, or fatigue.
- Improving your emotional and social well-being by providing the companionship and support you need to cope with loneliness, boredom, or depression and enhancing your sense of belonging and connection.
- Enhancing your dignity, respect, and autonomy by providing choices and options and honoring your preferences and wishes.
Help at home can also benefit your family and caregivers by reducing their stress and burden and allowing them to spend more time with you. Family and caregivers can also participate in help at home by helping, watching, or learning from help-at-home providers or by sharing their stories, memories, or emotions with them. Help-at-home providers can also provide family and caregivers with education, guidance, support, and respite as they cope with the challenges and changes of caring for you.
Many sources support the benefits of help at home for you and your family, such as:
- A National Association for Home Care and Hospice study found that home care can improve patients’ quality of life and reduce hospital readmissions, emergency room visits, and nursing home placements.
- A study by the American Association of Retired Persons found that home care can increase the satisfaction and well-being of patients and caregivers and decrease the stress and burden of caregivers.
- A study by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization found that hospice care can improve the comfort and dignity of patients and reduce the pain and symptom distress of patients and caregivers.
The Options for Getting Some Help at Home
Once you have decided that you or your loved one need help at home, you may wonder how to get it. There are different options for getting help at home, such as hiring a professional agency, finding an independent caregiver, or relying on family or friends. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, and you should consider them carefully before choosing.
Hiring a professional agency. This option involves hiring a licensed and certified agency that provides help at-home services. The agency will assign you a qualified and experienced help-at-home provider who will work under the supervision and direction of the agency. The agency will also handle the administrative and financial aspects of the service, such as scheduling, billing, payroll, taxes, insurance, and background checks.
The pros of hiring a professional agency are:
- You can expect a high quality and reliable service, as the agency will screen, train, and monitor the help-at-home providers and ensure that they meet the standards and regulations of the industry.
- You can have peace of mind and security, as the agency will cover the help-at-home providers’ liability and workers’ compensation and protect you from any legal or financial risks.
- You can have flexibility and convenience, as the agency will match you with a help-at-home provider that suits your needs and preferences and provide you with backup or replacement in case of absence or emergency.
The cons of hiring a professional agency are:
- You may have to pay a higher cost, as the agency will charge you a fee for their service, including a markup, a minimum, or a cancellation fee.
- You may have less control and choice, as the agency will determine the service’s type, frequency, duration, and location and assign you a help-at-home provider that may not be compatible with you.
- You may have less continuity and consistency, as the agency may change the help-at-home provider without your consent or notice or send you different help-at-home providers at different times.
Finding an independent caregiver. This option involves finding and hiring an individual who provides help at-home services. The individual may be a professional or a non-professional who works independently or through a referral service. You will be responsible for the administrative and financial aspects of the service, such as interviewing, hiring, firing, paying, taxing, insuring, and supervising the help-at-home provider.
The pros of finding an independent caregiver are:
- You may pay a lower cost, as the individual may charge you a lower rate or negotiate a price that fits your budget.
- You may have more control and choice, as you can choose the help-at-home provider that meets your criteria and decide the service’s type, frequency, duration, and location.
- You may have more continuity and consistency, as you can establish a long-term and stable relationship with the help-at-home provider and avoid frequent changes or interruptions.
The cons of finding an independent caregiver are:
- You may face a lower quality and reliability of service, as the individual may not have the proper qualifications, experience, or references or may not follow the standards and regulations of the industry.
- You may face more risk and liability, as you may be liable for any injuries, damages, or losses caused by or to the help at-home provider. You may not have any insurance or legal protection.
- You may face more hassle and stress, as you may have to deal with the various tasks and issues involved in hiring and managing the help at home provider, and may not have any backup or support in case of absence or emergency.
Relying on family or friends. This option involves asking or accepting help from your family members or friends who are willing and able to provide you with some help at home. The family members or friends may be your spouse, children, siblings, relatives, neighbors, or acquaintances with some experience or skills in providing help at home. You will have a personal and informal relationship with the help-at-home provider and may or may not compensate them for their service.
The pros of relying on family or friends are:
- You may not have to pay any cost, as family members or friends may help you at home for free or a nominal or symbolic amount.
- You may have more trust and comfort, as you can rely on someone you know and love, who knows and loves you, and who may share your values and beliefs.
- You may have more communication and involvement, as you can express your needs and preferences more easily and openly and participate more actively in the service.
The cons of relying on family or friends are:
- You may face a lower quality and reliability of service, as the family members or friends may not have the proper qualifications, experience, or availability or may not follow the standards and regulations of the industry.
- You may face more guilt and resentment, as you may feel that you are imposing or burdening the family members or friends or sacrificing or neglecting their own needs or interests for you.
- You may face more conflict and tension, as you may have disagreements or misunderstandings with family members or friends or feel they are interfering or controlling your life.
The following table shows a comparison of the pros and cons of each option for getting some help at home:
| Option |
Pros |
Cons |
| Hiring a professional agency |
High quality and reliable service, peace of mind and security, flexibility and convenience |
Higher cost, less control and choice, less continuity and consistency |
| Finding an independent caregiver |
Lower cost, more control and choice, more continuity and consistency |
Lower quality and reliability of service, more risk and liability, more hassle and stress |
| Relying on family or friends |
No or low cost, more trust and comfort, more communication and involvement |
Lower quality and reliability of service, more guilt and resentment, more conflict and tension |
To choose the best option for getting some help at home, you should consider the following tips:
- Assess your needs and preferences. You should identify what type of help at home you need, how often, how long, and where. It would be best to consider your personal preferences, such as your budget, personality, lifestyle, or culture.
- Do your research. You should gather information about the different options for getting help at home, such as their services, costs, coverage, qualifications, experience, references, or reviews. You can use various sources like the internet, directories, agencies, referral services, or word-of-mouth.
- Ask for referrals. It would be best if you asked for recommendations from people you trust, such as your doctor, nurse, social worker, case manager, or other health care professionals, or your family, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances, who may have used or know someone who has used some help at home.
- Interview candidates. You should interview potential help at-home providers in person, by phone, or by video call, and ask them questions about their services, costs, availability, qualifications, experience, references, or anything else important to you. You should also check their background, credentials, and reputation and verify their references and reviews.
The Costs and Coverage of Some Help at Home
Another factor you should consider when getting help at home is the cost and coverage of the service. The cost and coverage of some help at home may vary depending on the type, frequency, duration, and location of the service and the provider, agency, or program you choose. You should know the costs and coverage of some help at home and how to pay for them or get assistance.
The costs of some help at home may include:
- Hourly rates. This is the most common way of charging for some help at home, where you pay a fixed amount per hour of service. The hourly rate may range from $15 to $40, depending on the type and level of service, the provider or agency, and the location.
- Flat fees. This is another way of charging for help at home, where you pay a fixed amount per day, week, month, or year of service. The flat fee may range from $100 to $10,000, depending on the type and extent of service, the provider or agency, and the location.
- Sliding scales. This is a way of charging for help at home, where you pay a variable amount based on your income, assets, or expenses. The sliding scale may range from $0 to $40 per hour or $0 to $10,000 per month, depending on the type and level of service, the provider or agency, and the location.
The coverage of some help at home may include:
- Medicare. This is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, disabled or have certain diseases. Medicare may cover some help at home if you meet the following criteria:
- You are homebound, meaning that you have difficulty leaving your home without help or that leaving your home requires a considerable and taxing effort.
- You need skilled care, meaning that you need the services of a nurse, therapist, or other health care professional.
- You have a doctor’s order, meaning that your doctor has prescribed some help at home as part of your care plan.
- You use a certified agency, meaning that you get some help at home from an agency that meets Medicare’s quality and safety standards.
- Medicaid. This is a joint federal and state health insurance program for people who have low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid may cover some help at home if you meet the following criteria:
- You are eligible for Medicaid, meaning that you meet your state’s income and asset limits.
- You need personal care, meaning that you need assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting.
- You have a doctor’s order, meaning that your doctor has prescribed some help at home as part of your care plan.
- You use a qualified provider, meaning that you get some help at home from a provider that meets the qualifications and regulations of Medicaid.
- VA benefits. This federal program provides benefits and services to veterans and their families. VA benefits may cover some help at home if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a veteran, meaning that you served in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
- You have a service-connected disability, meaning that you have a disability caused or aggravated by your military service.
- You have a non-service-connected disability, meaning that you have a disability that was not caused or aggravated by your military service but that affects your ability to function independently.
- You have a VA rating, meaning that the VA has assigned you a percentage of disability based on the severity of your condition.
- You use a VA-approved provider, meaning you get some help at home from a provider with a contract or agreement with the VA.
- Long-term care insurance. This type of private insurance covers some or all of the costs of long-term care, such as some help at home. Long-term care insurance may cover some help at home if you meet the following criteria:
- You have a policy, meaning you purchased and paid for long-term care insurance from a reputable company.
- You have a benefit, meaning that your policy includes an advantage for some help at home and that you have not exhausted or exceeded your benefit limit.
- You have a trigger, meaning that your policy has a trigger for some help at home, such as needing assistance with a certain number of activities of daily living or having a cognitive impairment.
- You use a licensed provider, meaning you get some help at home from a provider with a license or certification from your state.
- Community programs. These programs are funded or sponsored by federal, state, local, or private sources and provide some help at home to eligible individuals or groups. Community programs may cover some help at home if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a member, meaning you belong to a specific group or category the program serves, such as seniors, low-income, disabled, or rural residents.
- You have a need, meaning that you need some help at home not met by other sources, such as Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, or long-term care insurance.
- You have an application, meaning that you have applied and been accepted for some help at home from the program.
- You use a contracted provider, meaning you get some help at home from a provider with a contract or agreement with the program.
The following table shows some examples of the sources of funding or assistance for some help at home and how they can benefit you:
| Source |
Examples |
Benefits |
| Medicare |
Home health care, hospice care |
Covers skilled care, medical care, pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement support |
| Medicaid |
Personal care, home, and community-based services |
Covers personal care, homemaking, companionship, and other services that help you stay at home and avoid institutionalization |
| VA benefits |
Homemaker and home health aide, respite care, hospice care |
Covers personal care, homemaking, companionship, respite care, hospice care, and other services that help you cope with your disability or illness |
| Long-term care insurance |
Personal care, homemaking, companionship, hospice care |
Covers personal care, homemaking, companionship, hospice care, and other services that help you maintain your independence and well-being |
| Community programs |
Senior services, disability services, rural services, volunteer services |
Covers personal care, homemaking, companionship, and other services that help you meet your specific needs and preferences |
Many sources provide information on the costs and coverage of some help at home, such as:
- The National Association for Home Care and Hospice provides information on the costs and coverage of home health care and hospice care, as well as a directory of home care and hospice agencies.
- The Eldercare Locator provides information on the costs and coverage of various types of help at home, as well as a locator of local resources and programs for older adults and their families.
- The Medicare website provides information on the costs and coverage of home health care and hospice care and a tool to compare and find home health and hospice agencies.
- The Medicaid website provides information on the costs and coverage of personal care and home and community-based services and a tool to find and contact your state Medicaid agency.
- The VA website provides information on the costs and coverage of homemaker and home health aide, respite care, and hospice care, as well as a tool to find and contact your local VA office. ###The Impact of Some Help at Home on Quality of Life Some help at home benefits your physical health and comfort, your loved one’s emotional well-being, and your emotional and social well-being. Some help at home can positively impact your quality of life by providing opportunities to interact with help-at-home providers, enjoy meaningful activities, and express your feelings and preferences.
Some help at home can improve your quality of life in the following ways:
- Providing opportunities to interact with helpful at-home providers who can offer you companionship, conversation, listening, empathy, and support. Help-at-home providers can also engage you and your loved one in reminiscence, storytelling, music, games, or other activities that stimulate memory, cognition, and creativity.
- Providing you with opportunities to enjoy meaningful activities, such as eating and drinking, can give you a sense of purpose, pleasure, and satisfaction. Help-at-home providers can also help you and your loved one celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or religious events, by preparing or providing festive foods, drinks, decorations, or gifts.
- Providing you with opportunities to express your feelings and preferences, such as your likes and dislikes, fears and hopes, regrets and gratitude, or wishes and goals. Help-at-home providers can also help you and your loved one make decisions about your care, such as advance directives, living wills, or do-not-resuscitate orders, by providing you with information, guidance, and respect.
The following table shows some examples of how help-at-home providers can interact with you and your family during the services and how these interactions can improve your quality of life:
| Service |
Interaction |
Impact |
| Personal care |
Asking you or your loved one what you would like to do or suggesting some options based on your preferences and needs |
Giving you or your loved one a choice and a voice, and respecting your autonomy and dignity |
| Homemaking |
Sitting with you or your loved one and doing the tasks with you, or encouraging you to do the tasks with your family or friends |
Providing you or your loved one with companionship and socialization, and enhancing your sense of belonging and connection |
| Companionship |
Offering you or your loved one small bites or sips, or using a spoon, straw, or syringe, depending on your ability and comfort level |
Providing you or your loved one with comfort and care, and relieving your pain or discomfort |
| Hospice care |
Praising you or your loved one for your achievements or efforts, or reassuring you if you have any worries or doubts |
Providing you or your loved one with positive feedback and encouragement and boosting your self-esteem and confidence |
Some help at home can also benefit your family and caregivers by reducing their stress and burden and allowing them to spend more quality time with you and your loved one. Family and caregivers can also participate in some help at home by helping, watching, or learning from help-at-home providers or by sharing their stories, memories, or emotions with them. Help-at-home providers can also provide family and caregivers with education, guidance, support, and respite as they cope with the challenges and changes of caring for you and your loved one.
Many sources support the impact of some help at home on your quality of life, such as:
- A study by the National Institute on Aging found that some help at home can improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of older adults and their caregivers and reduce the risk of institutionalization, hospitalization, or mortality.
- A study by the Family Caregiver Alliance found that some help at home can increase the satisfaction and well-being of older adults and their caregivers and decrease the stress and burden of caregivers.
- A National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization study found that hospice care can improve the comfort and dignity of older adults and their caregivers and reduce their pain and symptom distress.
