IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2016 | Page 19

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

E

AGING IN PLACE

veryone wants to live in the place that makes them the most
comfortable. This is especially true for those who are aging. When
caring for the home and maintaining personal needs become
challenging, people may think that the only solution is to go to a
nursing home.
That’s just not true! Staying at home and “aging in place” has been
found to increase quality and add years to a person’s life. Remaining in
the home eliminates the risk of “relocation trauma” or living in a place
that is not familiar or welcoming.
One option for those who need help in the home is asking family
members to help out. But, caring for a family member takes its toll on

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both people. The elder adult may feel like a “burden” to the family. The
caregiver may need to reduce work hours and neglect personal health
and other family needs. The most
devastating effect is the loss of
income. An estimated 350 million
dollars per year of income is lost for
those who reduce work hours to
care for family members.
This situation may appear dire;
however it really is not. One thing
that can be done to make sure that
the older person is able to stay
safely at home is to hire someone
to fulfill the role of caregiver.
A personal care assistant or certified home health aide would be
ideal for supporting the activities of daily living – such as help with
bathing, toileting, meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping,
and laundry.
When “shopping” for a personal care assistant, keep the following
questions in mind:

• Is the home health care agency licensed with the Board of Health
in the state of Pennsylvania?
• Does the agency have insurance?
• Have background checks been completed on each caregiver?
• Are the caregivers bonded?

Some home health agencies schedule episodes of care in threehour increments. A few provide care in shorter time increments. Ask if
the agency has a minimum number of hours for each episode of care.
Payment for personal care aides can be done out of pocket by cash,
check, or credit card. Some agencies accept long-term care insurance
and other private insurances. Others accept Medicaid but remember
that Medicare will not cover the cost of services provided by a
personal care aide.
Another option is to investigate the Veterans Administration’s Aide
and Attendance Benefit. This benefit is available to veterans and
spouses of veterans but the application can be lengthy. Ask the home
care agency if it offers any assistance with completing the application.
One last thing is to find out if the agency is a franchise or
independently owned. Independently owned agencies often
have more flexibility with staffing,
scheduling, fees, and payment options.
And, the owners of independently
owned agencies usually are health care
professionals.
Remember: nursing home care is
not inevitable. The best plan is to find
someone who will help you or your
loved one stay at home and select an
agency that cares about you and your
needs.
Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 17