How Much Does It Cost for 24-hour Home Care?

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More and more older adults desire to age in place, opting for in-home care rather than moving to an assisted living facility. The choice between the two relies on a number of factors, but 24/7 in-home senior care can be a happy medium.

As you research elder care solutions, you may ask yourself,  “How much does 24/7 in-home care cost?” In this blog, we answer that question and more. Learn the differences between home health care and in-home care, what 24/7 in-home senior care is, and a resource that will help you calculate the cost of 24/7 care at home.

Let’s begin by differentiating two common types of care: home health care and in-home care.

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Home Health Care vs. In-home Care

For families considering home care for their aging loved ones, the terms can get confusing. Home health care and in-home care both help older adults stay independent, enabling them to live at home. Though similar, there are notable distinctions between the two types of care for seniors.

Home Health Care

Home health care provides clinical or skilled care by a registered nurse (RN) or therapist. The services provided by a 24/7 home health aide are focused on medical care as opposed to general activities of daily living (ADLs). They can certainly help with ADLs, but that isn’t their primary role. 

Depending on your loved one’s condition and doctor’s order, a home health aide may only visit a few times per week. Home health care cost is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans.

In-home Care

In-home care provides non-medical assistance by professional caregivers. The role of an in-home caregiver is flexible. It includes helping an elderly person bathe, get dressed, use the bathroom, and do other ADLs, but does not involve medical care. 

Unlike home health care, in-home caregiving can continue for as long as your elderly parent needs assistance. In terms of cost, home care is usually paid for by the patient themselves or by long-term care insurance. In some situations, Medicaid may also cover the cost of home care. 

Consult with a geriatric care manager to learn more about home health care and in-home care options for seniors.

What Is 24/7 In-home Senior Care?

There’s another level to home health care and in-home care called 24-hour skilled nursing at home. It’s a combination of the two types of senior care.

24/7 in-home senior care is when a rotation of caregivers supports your elderly parent day and night. These around-the-clock caregivers support elderly individuals 24 hours a day so they can safely age in place. 

In the daytime, a caregiver may help your loved one with ADLs. In the evening, another skilled caregiver will relieve the daytime caregiver to provide overnight care. If your aging parent has needs that arise at night, such as getting up to use the bathroom, a 24/7 home health aide is there to assist.

Unlike live-in caregivers who are permitted 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per 24-hour period, overnight caregivers don’t sleep while caring for geriatric patients. To stay alert, 24-hour caregivers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, keeping your loved one in good hands 24/7.

How Much Does 24/7 In-home Care Cost?

People are living longer than ever before, causing adult children to consider how to best care for their parents as they age. There’s a 70% chance that a 65-year-old will require some type of long-term care. Given that statistic, it’s likely that your elderly loved one will need care at some point. If that’s the case, you may start asking the question, “How much does it cost for 24-hour home care?”

As you can imagine, the cost of care varies on numerous factors: 

  • Geographic location
  • Care setting
  • Level of care required

Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey tool is a great way to calculate the average cost of 24/7 care at home for seniors across the U.S.

Once you know the answer to “How much does 24/7 in-home care cost?” it’s natural to wonder how to offset the expense. 

There are nuances to both Medicare and Medicare Advantage that may help. For instance, both cover intermittent home health care costs, but not 24/7 in-home senior care. However, if even some of the services your senior loved one needs count as intermittent (e.g., physical therapy), those services may be eligible for coverage. 

For seniors who don’t require 24-hour skilled nursing at home, consider part-time in-home care options such as companionship care instead of paying the cost of 24/7 care at home.

Contact Stowell Associates for Help Navigating Home Care

You don’t have to navigate the nuances of elder care alone. If you’re looking for guidance and support from an industry expert as you explore the different types of geriatric care, contact a geriatric care manager

At Stowell Associates, our team of expert care managers develops tailored care plans for older adults and their families. Our care managers collaborate with families and caregivers, ensuring the plan is followed to best support the needs of your aging loved one.

Our geriatric care managers support families with logistics while our partner, TheKey, provides home care assistance to aging adults. Whether your loved one needs 24/7 in-home senior care or general help at home, we have a care solution for them.

In-home elder care solutions in Southeastern Wisconsin

Contact us for a free consultation

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