Home Health Care with Bayada

Most seniors want to stay in control and remain at home for as long as possible. One way for families to help seniors maintain this independence is to hire home health care. Often, families do not know when to hire help, are unsure if they need it, or are unsure whether they can afford it.

This past week on our radio program, “Asset Protection Today,” on TalkRadio 850 WPTK (AM) with Attorney Bill Alexander, we were delighted to welcome Shannon McCarson, the Regional Director of Bayada Home Health Care. Bayada offers home health care for a range of needs. Bayada performs criminal background checks and extensively trains and supervises its employees to ensure that you can trust them in your home. Most importantly, Bayada is one of the few companies that contracts with the VA to provide home health care for veterans.

Families often ask us whether there are certain signs to look for to determine whether it’s no longer safe for their loved ones to remain at home alone. If you see your loved one only periodically and happen to be visiting, look for unsteadiness in their gait, drastic weight loss, as well as whether they are regularly taking their medications. Note also whether the senior seems confused due to memory loss.  If you think that your loved one is unsafe, have a company like Bayada or a geriatric care manager complete an independent in home assessment to determine whether they need assistance. This will be money well spent, as home health care helps seniors stay at home for as long as possible.

Families also wonder how much home health care costs and whether they can afford it. The cost of home health care varies based on the needs of the individual and who is providing the care. For example, it would be difficult for most families to afford to privately pay for a loved one with advanced health care needs, as this could require an RN at $45-50 an hour; generally you will find assisted living care homes less expensive than aggressive care at home.  Most senior only need a limited number of hours of care to remain safe in the home.  Some companies, like Bayada, also offer “wake up” and/or “tuck in” services where employees are sent to check on the senior and assist them with getting dressed and/or ready for bed. Finally, live in 24-7 care provided by a CNA, which can cost around $6,000 a month, may be less expensive (or better care) than some assisted living facilities. Long-term care insurance, VA Pension benefits, VA Medical benefits, Medicaid, or Medicare may all be resources that can help pay for the cost of your loved one’s home health care. Contact an experienced Elder Law attorney today to learn whether you qualify for some of these government assistance programs.

If you or a loved one think that you may benefit from an in home care assessment, call on a Geriatric Care Manager or call a Home Health Provider that does home assessments. Bayada is a home healthcare provider that does home assessments.  Bayada can be reached at (888) 995-0788, or visit their website at www.bayada.com. While W.G. Alexander & Associates is not affiliated with Bayada, it is one of several accredited service providers that our firm recommends to clients. If you think that you may qualify for Veteran’s benefits or Medicaid, or if you have questions about long-term care insurance, be sure to call W.G. Alexander & Associates – we offer a unique blend of asset protection, Elder Law and estate planning.  You can also attend our free seminars and learn more through our website at www.wgalaw.com or call us at (919) 256-7000.

Attorney Bill Alexander discusses these issues and more every Tuesday morning on W.G. Alexander & Associates’ radio program, “Asset Protection Today,” on TalkRadio 850 WPTK (AM). Be sure to listen tomorrow  from 9:00-10:00 AM.  To listen to last week’s show, please visit WPTF’s on demand show blog by clicking here.