Options For Caregiving At Home

There are resources to help you keep your older loved one living in the community instead of a long-term care facility such as assisted living or a nursing home. Often, these options depend on your finances and how much support you can contribute as a family caregiver. Caring for a loved one at home can be messy and overwhelming. That’s why, as I talk about options to keep your older loved one at home, we need to keep in mind that sometimes the best thing you can do for you and your loved ones health is to consider an assisted living community or a nursing home. With that being said, let's unpack some of the options for keeping your loved one at home.

One option to consider is a PACE program, which is also known as a Program For All Inclusive Care For The Elderly. PACE programs are located throughout the United States and are intended for people age 55+ who need a nursing home level of care and want to remain living in their own home or with you in your home. What I love about PACE programs is that they give you a whole healthcare team such as a team of social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, nursing assistants for personal care, and a primary care physician. Some PACE programs want you to come to their day center to receive your care, and you go home outside of that, and then some PACE programs prefer to come to your home to give you your care. When you become a member of a PACE program, they take over your Medicaid and Medicare insurance in exchange for you having their services. They can also provide transportation to and from the center and recreational activities while you’re there.

Another national program is the dementia care program known as GUIDE. This program is for people living with dementia who have traditional Medicare as their primary insurance and need occasional respite care throughout the year that is covered by this program. The family caregiver gets access to a 24 hour nurse line as being a part of this program.

Similar to the day centers that PACE programs often have, adult day centers and adult day healthcare centers are also located throughout the United States. Having your loved one attend an adult day center during the day is one of the most affordable options that can also give you a break during the day if you either have to work or just need a break from family caregiving. Some of these centers do provide transportation and they highlight their meaningful activities that they provide throughout the day. Often, these centers are closed on the weekends. pricing really varies with these centers and you can usually find them for around $100 a day or less and some of them do take Medicaid, veterans benefits, and long-term care insurance. While both adult day centers and adult day healthcare centers tend to provide personal care such as assistance with toileting and eating, adult day healthcare centers can provide more services such as therapy, access to nurses, and dialysis.

Most people don’t want to live in a facility setting like assisted living or a nursing home. However, the right decision is highly dependent on your care needs, your caregiving budget, and the well-being of the caregiver. Part of the reason why I don’t accept referral fees is because I really want to give guidance that is the most helpful for each client I work with. I’m not going to suggest an assisted living, a nursing home, or an adult day center if I do not truly believe that it is the right choice for your situation.

If you need guidance with caring for your older loved one or thriving as an elder yourself, call AgeWell Advocacy at 803.486.5322.