Home Care FAQs

When might I or my family need home care?

Whether you need care for a short or extended period of time on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, home care can benefit you or a loved one in a variety of ways.

After a severe or sudden medical emergency

If you or a loved one has experienced a serious medical emergency such as a major surgery, heart attack, or fall, home care may be suggested by your physician. Many medical facilities require an individual to schedule professional home care support prior to being discharged from their medical facility. With home care support provided by a caregiver, rehabilitation and recovery can be prioritized within the comfort of an individual's own home environment.

For an ongoing or chronic condition

Home care is also beneficial when caring for you or a loved one with a chronic or ongoing medical condition. This type of individualized care can provide many benefits not just for the individual but for their family: Assistance with care needed throughout the night, assistance with lifting or transferring, aid in medication reminders, as well as the management of symptoms due to illness and the management of side-effects. Establishing quality and individualized home care for you or a loved one with a chronic or ongoing medical condition can allow that individual to live a more enjoyable, safe, and healthy life.

After the passing of a spouse

Home care can be very beneficial if you or a loved one experiences the death of a spouse. The individual who experienced the loss may feel alone and want companionship or need assistance with daily activities previously performed by the spouse that passed. Home care can assist by preparing meals, household tasks, transportation, as well as provide means to stay in touch and active with friends and events.

Payment Options

What is long-term care insurance?

Long-term care insurance helps to target a wide range of services that may not be covered under a regular health insurance plan. This includes coverage for services such as activities of daily living: like light cleaning, bathing, and getting in and out of bed.

Additional benefits of long-term care insurance

Employer-based health coverage will not pay for daily, extended care services. Medicare on the other hand may cover a short period of in-home care, but only under strict and limiting conditions.

Long-term care insurance is designed to help offset the cost of care when you have a chronic condition, illness, or disability such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Many policies will reimburse you for provided care received in a variety of places such as:

• An assisted living facility
• A nursing home
• Your home

How do I apply for long-term care insurance?

Similar to other insurance policies, you will need to fill out an application with the company of your choice. The application will request basic contact information and policy-specific medical questions. Most long-term care policies have a maximum payout amount that would limit both daily as well as lifetime payouts received under the policy. Based on this, you will want to select a plan that best fits your needs based on the tradeoff of coverage offered and the premium charged for the policy.

Once the application is filed and approved, you will receive your effective policy and begin paying premiums towards your coverage.

When is it too late to apply?

While it is truly never "too late" to apply for long-term care insurance, as the premium starts to increase as you age. Additionally, the longer you wait to apply, the more likely you are to be denied. Of applicants aged 70+,45% of applicants have their applications denied, compared to less than 18% denied for those younger than 55. At a certain age, the premiums charged may begin to outweigh the benefits offered by the insurance policy. There is a large benefit to purchasing long-term care insurance early in life rather than later.

When can I file a claim?

Though there is no designated filing time, the best moment to file a claim is the moment you or a loved one is showing signs of needing care. Most long term care insurance policies involve "elimination periods" or waiting time frames prior to pay outs. Additionally, this elimination period can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, meaning the payments for home care services will have to come out-of-pocket until it is reimbursed by the insurance policy.

Additional factors contributing to the cost

There are many factors that can affect the cost of long term care insurance for you or your loved one other than simply age. Some additional factors that play a role in your cost of premium include:

• Current Health
• Marital Status
• Insurance Company Chosen
• Type of Coverage Chosen

What is a Caregiver?

The answer to this question can be very different for each individual depending on their need of care as well as the avenue which a caregiver is hired – through an agency, an online marketplace or referral agency, or an independent caregiver.

Which method is right for me?

The options for finding an individualized caregiver can be confusing and have their own respective pros and cons. We have provided some insight to help clarify the options available to you in your search.

When your needs involve non-medical care, and you are working with a reputable home care agency, your caregiver will be trained, knowledgeable, and experienced in one of three avenues:

Which Caregiver is right for me?

At Care Indeed, we have a highly knowledgeable and diverse team of caregivers available with a shared passion of caring for others. With such a vast group spanning different cultural backgrounds, ages, experiences, and languages spoken, we ensure that we provide you with the right caregiver to match your needs.

Each of our caregivers are skilled professionals that have been highly screened prior to joining our team to ensure we provide the best care to our clients. Care Indeed matches a caregiver with you that is the best fit for both you and your needs.

Professional Caregivers You Can Trust.

Whether a caregiver has gained their knowledge and expertise while performing the job, or completed training within a classroom setting, we value both approaches at Care Indeed. Regardless of certification, level of training, or experience, every Caregiver on our team has been thoroughly screened in-person, background checked, as well as verified on their skillsets, and knowledge of the industry before earning a spot on the Care Indeed team.

Learn more about Care Indeed and our thorough screening process.

Do you have more questions?

Are you still unsure about what a caregiver is? Do you have other questions we might not have addressed?

What is Home Care?

Home care is based on the belief that older adults should be able to age at home with the level of care they need to be safe and comfortable.

It is the goal of your home care provider to ensure that you are able to live as independently as possible while receiving the care you need to maintain the highest quality of life you deserve.

As our population continues to age, there becomes an increased need for varying care options, particularly when 8 out 10 older adults express the desire to "age in place", or receive care in their own homes. In its simplest terms, home care provides assistance with daily living and household tasks.

Additionally, home care can also provide support through meaningful companionship for older adults and peace of mind for their families.

While home care is commonly thought of as a service to assist aging seniors, it is also a valuable resource when an individual of any age experiences an accident, surgery, or injury – or is suffering from a chronic illness.

Home care can refer to two different types of care:

Medical Home Health Care

Involves a registered nurse and can be just as effective as care received in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF). Types of services provided include wound care, pain management, IV therapy and injections, or mobility training.

Home Health page

Non-Medical Home Care

Involves experienced caregivers or home health aides (HHAs) that can assist with activities of daily living (ADLs). Types of services provided include assistance with bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, and toileting. Additional services include cooking, light cleaning, laundry, and transportation.

Non-Medical page

Not sure what type of care would be best for your need?

Care Indeed can help you with that too.

We know that many new clients aren't certain on the type of care they can benefit from or how many hours they may need services for. Our client services team is here to help and can provide valuable input over the phone or through a scheduled assessment that works best with your schedule.

During your assessment, an experienced and knowledgeable client services team member visits your home for an hour. During that hour time frame, our assessor will get to know your living environment, your needs, and most importantly you to discuss the best care options that fit your needs. The process is 100% transparent and you are in full control. Family is always welcome to be present during an assessment as well.

My Home Care Needs Checklist

To help you determine the type of care you or a loved one might need, utilize this checklist to create a list you can share with us as well as family or loved ones. This will not only help determine the needs you or a loved one might have, but also help us at Care Indeed provide the best fit with a caregiver.