Whether your loved one has recently been diagnosed or their symptoms are progressing, you may be wondering how to care for Alzheimer’s at home or when to seek in-home care services for dementia. Not only is your loved one likely to be more comfortable staying at home as long as possible, but long-term care facility residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are at greater risk of other chronic issues(1).

There’s a lot to learn about home care for Alzheimer’s patients. 

How much does it cost? 

Does Medicare cover dementia home care? 

What are the different types of Alzheimer’s home care services? 

Types of In-Home Memory Care

In general, there are four different types of in-home memory care (2). Home care companies may offer one or more of the following services:

• Companion services: Help with visiting, supervision, or recreational activities.
• Personal care services: Assistance with dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, exercise, and other personal care.
• Homemaker services: Help with shopping, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
• Skilled care: Medical care at home. Assistance with injections, wound care, physical therapy, and other medical needs by a licensed healthcare professional.

Home Health vs. Home Care for Dementia: What’s the Difference?

While home health and home care for Alzheimer’s sound like two terms for the same thing, the services are quite different. Home care includes non-medical care such as companionship, transportation, housekeeping, and assistance with activities of daily living.

Home health encompasses medical services provided by healthcare professionals such as wound care, injections, physical therapy, and other medical concerns.

What Services Are Offered by In-Home Care Agencies Like Clear Path Home Care?

In-home memory care may include things like:

• Supervision to prevent the person from wandering
• Companionship to prevent loneliness
• Light housekeeping, cooking, making sure they take medications on time
• Assistance with activities of daily living (such as dressing, bathing, toileting, and feeding)
• Transportation to and from doctor appointments or shopping

Does Medicare Cover In-Home Care for Alzheimer’s?

Medicare does not cover homemaker or personal care services if that is the only care you need (4). However, they may cover these services as part of an overall care plan if a doctor certifies that your loved one with Alzheimer’s is homebound and requires intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology.

Supplemental Medicare or other insurance plans may cover care that regular Medicare does not.

How Do I Know If My Loved One Needs In-Home Care for Dementia?

Since Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are progressive, there will likely come a time when your loved one will fail to care for themselves properly. Here are some signs that your loved one may benefit from home care (5):

• Changes in behavior, such as failing to maintain personal hygiene or pay bills on time
• Disorientation and confusion that puts their physical safety at risk, such as wandering away from home or forgetting the rules of the road while driving
• Decline in physical health, such as losing weight because they forget to eat or aren’t taking medication properly
• Death or deterioration of their primary caregiver, such as a spouse
• Incontinence is a problem you may not want to handle on your own

-According to Dr. Elaine Healy, a geriatrician and vice president of medical affairs and medical director of United Hebrew of New Rochelle in New York, “Someone very independent may suddenly be apprehensive about driving, decline social invitations and become withdrawn.”

Finding the Right In-Home Alzheimer’s Care Services for You

Choosing the best dementia home care service can be stressful. Here are some questions you should ask as you search for the right memory home care service for your loved one (6):

• What type of employee screening do you do?
• Are you licensed by the state?
• Does the home health aide have a good attitude?
• How do you handle billing and expenses?
• What procedures do you have in case of emergencies?
• Will you get a written care plan before services begin?

Next Steps: Finding Alzheimer’s Home Care Near You

If you feel that you or a loved one is in need of in-home care, there are many resources you can reach out to for assistance.

From choosing an appropriate care provider to figuring out how to pay for in-home services, there are dedicated professionals who can guide you through the process to ensure your loved one gets the support they need.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s home care services in Abilene, TX, please call the friendly staff at Clear Path Home Care. We serve 75 counties throughout Texas. Call now: 325-244-0877

References

1. Michael Mileski, Kimberly Lee, Curtis Bourquard, Belinda Cavazos, Kristopher Dusek, Kristopher Kimbrough, Linda Sweeney, Rebecca McClay, Preventing The Abuse Of Residents With Dementia Or Alzheimer’s Disease In The Long-Term Care Setting: A Systematic Review, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31695349/
2. Alzheimer’s Association, In-Home Care, https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/in-home-care
3. Genworth, Cost of Care Survey, https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html
4. Medicare, Home Health Services, https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services
5. US News and World Report, 5 Signs It’s Time for Memory Care, https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/signs-its-time-for-memory-care
6. Mayo Clinic, Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609