At some point, many people need some type of home care if they plan to stay in their home as they age. Home care is designed to assist seniors in living independently. However, not all types of home care are created equally. In-home care is commonly provided through private duty home care or by government funding via Medicare or Medicaid. The type, frequency, and quality of care you receive varies depending on how you pay for your in-home care.
Below, we’ll cover private duty home care and how it differs from government-funded care.
Private Duty Home Care Explained
Private duty home care is a blanket term that covers all types of home care services. This includes care from in-home caregivers, live-in caregivers, physical therapists, nurses, and more. The main objective of all private duty caregiving is to increase the quality of life for a senior as they continue to live independently in their home.
That said, private duty home care usually only applies to caregiving covered by long-term care insurance or paid for directly by the family of the care recipient. However, it may also be paid for through other means or a combination of payment methods like Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance.
Private Duty vs. Medicare & Medicaid Home Care
The primary distinction between private duty home care and something like Medicare home care is in the services provided. Private duty caregivers act more like live-in companions. They attend to household chores, cook meals, and provide grooming, shopping, transportation, and other services that allow the patient to live comfortably at home.
Private duty caregivers do not need to be skilled in medicine or any medical field for that matter. They can be family members or members of an at-home caregiving agency.
Medicare home care, also known as “skilled care,” normally lasts over a period of 60 days. Visits from medical professionals occur two to three times a week and are 100% covered by Medicare. If your loved one needs more care than that, that’s where private duty picks up the slack.
JEVS Care at Home is a Medicare partner. We’ll help you apply for Medicare so your at-home caregiving services are not coming out of your pocket entirely. For individuals on Medicaid, ask us how your insurance may pay for caregiving services and how we can help you enroll in the program if you’re not enrolled already.
Services Provided by Private Duty Caregivers
The services provided by private duty home caregivers are nearly identical to those performed by traditional caregivers. These services include:
- Transportation
- Companionship – Vital for reducing senior isolation, which can be detrimental to the health of a senior.
- Homemaker services – Cleaning, laundry, and bill paying.
- Medication reminders
- Personal Care – Bathing, proper hygiene, skin care, and transfers
Benefits of Private Duty Home Care
Compared to Medicaid and Medicare, private duty home care is much less restrictive and offers more opportunities for seniors to get the care they need. Caregivers that work for a home care agency are able to provide full-time care, additional services like homemaker services and companionship services, and more. Through private duty home care, you’ll have access to less-restrictive care.
In addition, you can expect higher-quality care services through more thorough care, proper supervision, companionship, medication assistance, and much more. Private duty home care is a comprehensive option to ensure that no matter what you or your loved one’s needs are that you’ll find support and adequate care.
How In-Home Care Agencies Help
When you work with an in-home care agency like JEVS Care at Home, you’ll find that we strive to provide the best care possible for our clients. We staff a highly trained team of caregivers, Home health aides, and certified nursing assistants to ensure we’re able to provide the exact care you or your loved one needs.
To learn more about how JEVS Care at Home helps finding a highly-qualified private duty caregiver simpler, contact us today!
