Caring for a loved one with a disability can take many forms. From managing appointments and household chores to helping out with personal care tasks such as bathing and transfers, a wide range of tasks can fill a caregiver’s day. Finding reliable home care for disabled adults helps ensure that they can retain both their independence and their quality of life while at home. There are many types of home care services available, so it’s essential to understand what kind of services your loved one needs and also how to access them.
What are the benefits of home care for disabled adults?
One of the chief benefits of home care is knowing that a loved one is safe and well cared for. Whether your loved one has a cognitive or physical disability, disrupting routines can be stressful to anyone. Staying in a familiar environment often fosters feelings of safety and comfort.
However, depending on a person’s disability, their condition likely will change with age. They may eventually require more assistance with activities of daily living and possibly medical-based care. For someone with cerebral palsy, for example, they may lose mobility or have increased pain in their muscles as they age. As adults with Down syndrome grow older, medical issues may develop or increase in severity, including an increased risk of dementia.
As a loved one’s care levels fluctuate, home care can help meet new or increased needs. This may mean reassessing needs and providing additional support, such as nursing care. Involve your loved one in their care decisions by asking them what activities they have the most trouble with, in addition to making your own assessment of their needs.
Caring for a loved one every day can be time consuming as well as physically demanding and mentally stressful. For someone who is disabled, home care can help ensure their needs are met while also minimizing the strain on their family caregivers.
What at-home services are available for people with disabilities?
Essentially, home care services fall into two distinct categories: medical (or home health care) and nonmedical. Home health care usually involves caring for wounds, monitoring vitals, and providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, if needed. Home health care can be provided by a registered nurse (RN), or a team of licensed medical practitioners when multiple kinds of therapy or care are necessary.
Nonmedical home care for people with disabilities can cover services such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet.
Read: Home Care vs. Home Health: What’s the Difference?
What programs are available to help with in-home care costs?
According to Genworth’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, the median cost of nonmedical in-home care was $26 to $27 an hour in 2021. Affording home care for adults with disabilities can be daunting for families, but there are some programs available to help.
Adults with disabilities are eligible for Medicare coverage if they've been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months. Medicare Part A and Part B will usually pay for home health services as prescribed by your loved one’s doctor, including skilled nursing care, durable medical equipment, medication administration, and needed therapy.
Many physical and cognitive disabilities qualify for Medicaid coverage. However, what conditions are covered, and financial eligibility requirements, vary by state. In general, all states must cover individuals receiving SSDI benefits. Also, depending on your state, as well as the age of your disabled family member, they may be eligible for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). PACE is designed to prevent or delay admission to a nursing home. It helps to pay for in-home services for those who are eligible. PACE also covers adult day care for seniors and adults with disabilities, which provides opportunities for socialization and can help prevent loneliness and isolation.
Additionally, certain veterans may be able to receive in-home care services and even financial benefits through the VA. There are eligibility requirements that need to be met, though, and some services are not offered in all areas.
Read: How to Pay for Home Care
When is at-home care not enough?
For someone living with a disability, home care can help provide independence and normalcy. But it may not always be the best option to maintain their quality of life. Residential care may be the right choice when a loved one requires extensive physical or mental health care and wants to live in a more community-based setting.
While making home modifications and using durable medical equipment may provide the necessary living adjustments for some disabilities, home safety can be an essential component in whether residential care is the right next step. When there is a risk of falls, or the home is otherwise unable to meet care demands, it's often time to consider other options. Residential care may also be the best choice when caregivers are unable to provide the consistent level of care that is needed. Deciding on which option is best for your loved one and your family can be difficult, but there are many resources to help when deciding between senior living and home care.
Finding the right care
In addition to researching in-home care for disabled adults near you, word of mouth is one of the best ways to find reliable care. If you or another family member know someone who has utilized a home care provider, ask them about their experience. They may be able to point you towards someone they trust or to steer you away from anyone less reliable. You can also use an agency, which offers benefits such as pre-screening candidates, liability protection in the event the caregiver is injured while working for you, and reliable backups for when the caregiver is not available.
Before hiring, make a list of must-haves (e.g., needing a caregiver who speaks a second language). When hiring someone, try to interview them alongside your loved one as it is important that you both feel comfortable with the person. If you go with an agency, ask if potential caregivers can meet with you and your loved one first.
From understanding your loved one’s budget to their home care needs, many factors go into finding the right home care for disabled adults. Contact a Care Advisor to help you find a local home care provider.
Reviewed by dementia care expert Adria Thompson, M.A., CCC-SLP.
Sources:
Cost of Care Survey (https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html)
PACE Programs as an Alternative to Nursing Homes for Medicaid Beneficiaries (https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicare-pace-programs/)
Home health services (https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)
VA nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care (https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/long-term-care/)