Senior Care: Assisted Living vs. Home Health Care

Senior Care Options (SCO) is a short-term health insurance plan for dual eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients aged 65 and over. No one is forced to enroll in Senior Care Options. However, enrollment is voluntary. In addition to receiving health care coverage, members can also receive Home Care Services from BayPath Elder Care. All benefits are subject to the financial availability of the policy holder.

There are various benefits provided under Senior Care Options, which includes, but are not limited to, in-home care services, personal assistance with daily living activities, emergency assistance, respite care, transportation and therapy. In order to determine whether you are eligible for a Senior Care option, you must contact your local Medicare or Medicaid office. A licensed agent will help you understand the terms and limitations, as well as the procedure to enroll. If you decide that you would like to enroll, you will be required to complete an application filled out by you and the representative from the company offering Senior Care options.

When considering Senior Care, it is important that you carefully consider the cost of the policy. Many companies offering senior care options charge a monthly fee for their products, but there are also a number of companies that only require a percentage of your daily income to be spent on the product. Because these plans often cover more than just medical expenses, if you are experiencing financial difficulties, it may make sense to enroll in a Senior Care option, such as a life care plan, for your loved one. Your loved one’s dependents may be able to see improvement in their condition with the help of this type of plan, as well as being able to afford the cost of treatment.

The term in-home care services refer to the services which are offered in the home. While a medical professional can provide treatment for your loved one at a hospital, most in-home care services provide help with activities of daily living. Things like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation may become simpler with the use of in home care services. For example, if your loved one requires assistance to get dressed, a caregiver can help out with this task. They may also be responsible for helping your loved one brush their teeth, take a bath or get ready to go out.

Some seniors prefer to remain in their own homes, even after receiving medical treatment. However, if this is not possible, sometimes in home care is the only option available. Massage, physical therapy and speech therapy may provide some relief for the symptoms of arthritis, diabetes and other conditions that limit mobility. If your loved one requires in-home care, there are many options from which you may select. For example, some health care providers offer the combination of medication treatments and home health care for seniors, while others focus on one or the other.

With assisted living, there is often limited social interaction. Instead, seniors are left to their own devices to make day to day decisions like, when to eat, how to bathe and what to do with personal belongings. In some cases, specialized care is necessary for seniors who experience severe disabilities. The services include but are not limited to, bathing, toileting and getting dressed. Another service which can be provided by a specialized elder care provider is emotional and spiritual support. When these services are included in the program, seniors tend to stay in their homes longer, and often live longer.