Living Well 60+ September-October 2014 | Page 28

28 SEPT/OCT 2014 Senior Care: person in one of their homes. Oftentimes the caregiver is unable to work full or part time at an outside job due to the time and energy demands of caregiving. There is relief for those families who are not able to shoulder this economic burden. Medicaid offers Cash and Counseling grants in Kentucky that pay a small stipend to the caregiver. Visit www.cashandcounseling.org or www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp for more information. In-home care and home-health care allow someone to remain in his or her own residence while receiving varying degrees of assistance. Home-health care requires a physician to deem it medically necessary; in-home care does not. Medicaid may cover some or all in-home care costs. Medicaid waivers may be received through DAIL. Numerous national franchises, private companies, volunteer and free programs and individuals offer in-home and home-health care locally. In-home care providers offer personal care services such as bathing, meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, errand services, grocery shopping and companionship. They also provide live-in services with 24-hour care, respite care, health monitoring technology and private-duty nursing care. Pricing varies according to the level of service needed with a median of $18-$19 an hour. Home-health care is more expensive because it requires a medical healthcare professional who can dispense medications. The assisted living community is the