My 75yr old father recently fractured neck in 3 place…. wanted to get him a home health aide.
Q) My 75yr old father recently fractured neck in 3 place had a bypass and hip surgery all this year. I live in Georgia and wanted to get him a home health aide. He gets meals on wheels but need more help at home. How do I sign him up?
A)
I understand that you are looking for help in getting a home health aide for your father. Here are some steps you can take:
- Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The AAA is a government agency that provides information and assistance to older adults and their families. They can help you find a home health aide and answer any questions you have about the process.
- Ask your doctor for a referral. Your doctor can write a referral letter for a home health aide. This letter will help the AAA or home health agency assess your father’s needs and determine if he is eligible for services.
- Gather your father’s medical records. The AAA or home health agency will need to see your father’s medical records in order to assess his needs. Make sure to have copies of his most recent doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, and any other relevant medical records.
- Apply for Medicaid. Medicaid is a government program that provides health insurance to low-income individuals and families. If your father is eligible for Medicaid, he may be able to get home health services at no cost.
- Contact a home health agency. Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, you can contact a home health agency. The agency will send a nurse or social worker to your father’s home to assess his needs. If your father is eligible for services, the agency will schedule home health visits.
Here are some additional tips for getting a home health aide:
- Start the process as soon as possible. There can be a waiting list for home health services, so it is best to start the process as soon as possible.
- Be prepared to provide documentation. The AAA or home health agency will need to see documentation of your father’s medical needs in order to assess his eligibility for services.
- Be patient. The process of getting a home health aide can be time-consuming, so be patient and be prepared to provide the necessary information.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
NOTE: In most states Medicaid will pay for a home health aid. within each state there are multiple Medicaid programs that offer different home care benefits. States have a “Medicaid State Plan”, sometimes referred to as Regular Medicaid and they also have “Institutional Medicaid” (which by definition does not cover home care) and there are Medicaid Waivers which are offered as an alternative to Institutional Medicaid. These are sometimes called Home and Community Based Services, HCBS Waivers, 1915 Waivers or Demonstration Projects. Please call your local medicaid office and request information on how to sign up for a home health aide. for you father.
Medicaid State Plans (Regular Medicaid), in most but not all states, will pay for home care in the form of Personal Care Services (PCS) or Personal Attendant Services (PAS).
Institutional Medicaid is provided in long term care institutions (nursing homes and intermediate care facilities) and therefore does not pay for home care.
Medicaid Waivers, which are offered as an alternative to nursing homes, pay for home care and often pay for other related in-home support services to help the elderly remain living at home.
Source: https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/medicaid-waivers/home-care.html