Home Health Care vs Home Care: The REAL MONEY PIT

 People I meet who have older parents, tell me all the time they were surprised by the cost involved taking care of their parents. They were under the assumption Medicare, and/or their parents part C plan would cover these expenses. This is, why we are discussing Home Care and Home Health Services. 

When you decide to take care of someone, or have someone take care of you, there are many considerations to ponder. If you have a child, remember when that child was incapable of taking care of themselves? You took them from point A to point B.  You filled their drinking cup and put a lid on it so they wouldn’t spill it all over.  You also probably fed them until they could hold a spoon. I’m sure you dressed them at least once a day and bathed them. Then there is that part most people find repulsive, toileting. Offensive foul odors beginning to come to mind now? That child had no concept of privacy only that his needs were met.

Now let’s turn the tables. You have been caring for yourself for 70 years or longer and your child has been taking care of himself/herself for 48 years.  You are no longer able to walk, hold a cup of coffee, or food on a spoon, and you need to relieve yourself. They have promised solemnly to take care of your every need except they have never seen you in such an infantile way. There is also the matter of taking care of their family. They live 200 miles away and both work. Do you move in with them or do they take time off? Additionally, they don’t have the credentials to provide skilled care. What do you do? Do you get HOME CARE, HOME HEALTH CARE, or something else?

First, the above scenario is typical designed to get you and your family to talk about events post retirement.  Home Health Care is what happens after you leave from a service in the hospital. CMS states, “Home health care includes skilled nursing care, as well as other skilled care services, like physical and occupational therapy, speech -language therapy, and medical social services. These services are given by a variety of skilled health care professionals at home. The home health staff provides and helps coordinate the care and/or therapy your doctor orders. Along with the doctor, home health staff create a plan of care, which is a written plan for your care. It tells what services you will get to reach and keep your best physical, mental, and social well-being. The home health staff keeps your doctor up-to-date on how you are doing and updates your plan of care as needed, as authorized by your doctor” Does Medicare cover this or your part C? Possibly!