When is the Right Time?
When it comes to caring for parents at home there are so many things to consider.
Kim & Mike Barnes, Parenting Aging Parents, took your questions to Jennifer Prescott.
Jennifer is a nurse and owns Blue Water Homecare to talk about when is the right time to bring in care at home. She also explains the difference between home care and home health care.
Read the full transcript
Transcript of Interview: “Understanding Home Care”
Mike Barnes:
When we start thinking about wanting to help provide care for our loved ones, our aging parents, and their desire to stay at home, there are so many questions to ask. The most important thing to start with is understanding what is needed because terms like home care and home health care can be confusing. They sounded similar to me, but they are actually really different.
Kim Barnes:
There is a lot of confusion, even with terms like assisted living and independent living. These differences are significant, and it’s good to go to an expert to find out what’s real and what’s not. Today, we’re introducing Jennifer Prescott, who has a company called Blue Water Home Care. She has extensive experience in caring for aging parents and elderly people as a nurse and as someone running companies. We’re so glad to have you with us today, Jennifer.
Jennifer Prescott:
Well, thanks for having me. Let’s start with understanding the difference between home care and home health care.
Kim Barnes:
Yes, because we want to talk about when is the right time to bring people in, but before that, we need to know what kind of care we need and what we are bringing in. So, help us understand the difference between home care and home health care.
Jennifer Prescott:
I appreciate that question. So, home health care is a Medicare benefit covered by Medicaid as well. It involves a skilled need, like after surgery when you might need help with occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, a social worker, or a nurse. Medicare covers almost 100 percent of it, but you have to have a skilled need. On the other hand, home care, which is what our agency Blue Water Home Care provides, is considered non-medical. It includes help with bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, doctor’s appointments, and laundry. Medicare does not pay for non-medical home care; they consider it custodial care.
Mike Barnes:
So, it’s important to find the right people to navigate this for you. Many people think they can’t afford home care to help take care of their parents.
Jennifer Prescott:
That’s one of the biggest struggles. People think Medicare will pay for it, but it doesn’t. Long-term care insurance is an option; most policies will pay for home care. Another option is to collaborate with family members to share the cost. Some agencies will bill multiple people instead of just one, which can make a huge difference in keeping seniors aging in place.
Kim Barnes:
We’ve gotten questions from our viewers. One person asked, is there a different cost for overnight rates versus daily rates?
Jennifer Prescott:
For home health care, they don’t provide overnight care. For home care, some agencies charge more for overnight care and some don’t. We don’t charge more for overnight care, but there may be a decrease in cost if you have someone for more hours. Sometimes, there’s a differential for weekend care. We are in a caregiver shortage, so as agency owners, we have to be creative in hiring and paying caregivers well.
Mike Barnes:
When is it the right time to go through an agency, and when is it better to find someone on your own?
Jennifer Prescott:
The benefit of working with an agency is that they have full background checks, education, and training. You know there’s support when someone is sick or has a family issue. Agencies have a backup plan, which is crucial. When hiring someone privately, you save money but need to ensure you dig deep into their experience and references.
Kim Barnes:
I think that scares a lot of people—opening up your home to someone. How much do you need to investigate and protect yourself?
Jennifer Prescott:
It’s crucial to ask friends for recommendations and check the agency’s background checks. In Texas, agencies are required to do background checks, but we go a step further and do national checks. I’m a proponent of video cameras, which can help you see what’s going on and ensure safety. If an agency is hesitant about you having cameras, you might need to look elsewhere.
Kim Barnes:
How do you know when it’s the right time to bring in either home care or home health care?
Jennifer Prescott:
For home health care, which is skilled care, the most common trigger is hospitalization. It’s needed for conditions like congestive heart failure, post-surgery, or new medications. For home care, which is non-medical, look for changes in balance, ability, or function. Also, changes in the home environment, weight loss, or dents in their car might indicate it’s time for help.
Mike Barnes:
Great tips. When to bring in home care or home health care can be confusing, but understanding these differences helps. Thank you, Jennifer, for giving us the tools to ask the right questions.
Jennifer Prescott:
You’re welcome. Have a good day.
Kim Barnes:
It’s crucial to ask questions because you need to understand what a company can do for your parents. You don’t want surprises, especially when helping your parents stay at home.
Mike Barnes:
Absolutely. If you have suggestions or ideas for topics you’d like us to cover, let us know.
Kim Barnes:
We’ll bring on experts and hopefully help you with the answers.
*This transcript is auto-generated. Please excuse any typos or mistakes.