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It is difficult to accept, but the older you become, the more assistance you need with day-to-day living. Some senior citizens are unable to take care of themselves and must move into a nursing home or retirement community. These locations are meant for seniors who need consistent care. If you are able to take care of yourself with minimal outside assistance, you are considered aging in place. When you are aging in place, you get to stay in your own home while receiving minor assistance through in-home senior care.
There are many different types of in-home senior care services available. Some groups help you maintain your home, while others help with personal tasks, such as traveling to the store or medical appointments. It is common for seniors to use multiple types of in-home senior care options, based on their personal needs. Some groups bundle in-home senior care services, while others focus on specific types of assistance.
Transport Services
One of the most common types of assistance is transportation. As you get older, it becomes harder to safely drive. There are many conditions that either affect your vision or response time, which makes it difficult to operate a vehicle. Other seniors are able to drive during the day, but have a difficult time in the evening. While some seniors are able to rely on public transportation or friends and family, this is not always an option.
With senior transport services, you can either arrange a ride in advance, or get an on-demand ride. GoGoGrandparent is an on-demand service, similar to Lyft or Uber, but only for senior citizens. While you can pay on a per ride basis, you can also sign up for a monthly subscription plan. There are several tiers available, starting at $9.99 a month. If your insurance covers transportation services, you can get free rides to medical appointments from Veyo.
Household Maintenance
Another type of general in-home senior care is household maintenance. Household maintenance is a broad category, providing assistance in numerous areas. This includes physically taking care of the house by helping with laundry, gardening and general cleaning. There are also options to help with scheduling bill payments. With these services, you receive reminders or work with an assistant to schedule automatic payments, but you do not receive any direct financial assistance.
Household and Outside Maintenance for Elderly (HOME) is one of the largest senior assistance programs. HOME focuses on keeping your home safe and offers either a one-time or reoccurring service. If you need to make changes but are unable to afford repairs, you can request financial assistance from your county’s Area Agency on Aging. Other groups, such as Visiting Angels, provide assistance with cleaning and meal preparation. The costs for these services varies based on the group, but typically cost between $13 to $20 an hour. On average, seniors need two to three hours of service each week.
Personal Care
Personal care, sometimes classified as custodial care, shares some similarities with household maintenance. These services focus on daily living, helping with dressing, bathing and meal preparation. Because there are overlaps with household maintenance, some senior services either bundle the two packages together, or offer personal care as an extension to household maintenance. The costs are typically the same for household maintenance, but if the two services are packaged together, you can expect to pay between $15 to $30 an hour instead.
Recovery Care
Recovery care is a specialized version of personal care. Recovery care is available to seniors who are temporarily unable to take care of themselves and need assistance until they heal. It is most commonly used when you are recovering from surgery. Recovery care is more involved than traditional personal care, with the caregiver often spending extra time to make sure your needs are fully taken care of while you recuperate. The costs greatly vary depending on the level of care you need, on average ranging from $100 to $500 a week. Your insurance may cover some or all of the costs of recovery care.
Choosing the Right In-Home Senior Care Services
There are many in-home senior care services to choose from. While it is good to have so many options, it can also be overwhelming. In-home services play an important role in maintaining your independence. To get the most out of in-home care services, you must be honest with your needs. Unlike other services, senior care is customizable. The majority of businesses create individual plans for each client. You must feel comfortable telling your caregiver exactly what you need.
Do not be afraid to ask questions when you are signing up for in-home services. This includes asking questions about rates and payments. If you need a service but are worried about the cost, let the agency know. Many agencies have options for lower-income seniors. They can also recommend you to nonprofit groups or other organizations that assist with senior living costs. Free services are available to those with low income. Please, do not wait!