New York Home Care: Common Terms, How to pay for Home Care, Licensing and Questions to ask
Anyone interested in being in the hub of culture and life comes to New York to experience the richness of the city. There are benefits for seniors in New York, which may add to the appeal. Social security, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and the Senior rent increase exemption are all added benefits of being an aging adult in New York. It is understood that as seniors and retirees continue to age, some may require care at some point. Most of the time, when people think of senior care the first thing they envision is a nursing home. This couldn’t be further from the truth: There are many different types and levels of care for our population of people 65 and older. Typically, people prefer to age in place as long as possible, rather than move into a senior living community – but the challenges of aging may cause living at home to become increasingly difficult. The focus of New York home care is to keep people healthy and safe.
New York’s population is over 8 million, abut 15% of which are seniors and retirees. To accommodate, there are several cities of note in New York state where our loved ones can receive quality healthcare: New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Ithaca, Rochester, among many others.
- New York Home Care: Common Terms, How to pay for Home Care, Licensing and Questions to ask
- What is home care in New York?
- How do you know it may be time for Home Care?
- What are the different Home care options?
- Laws and regulations for home care in New York
- How much does home care cost in New York?
- Questions and inquiries about home care
- Resources and Links for Home Health, Home Care and Hospice
- Search other areas for Home Care
What is home care in New York?
Home Care (or In home Care) is suited for seniors who may only require some basic assistance at home. Care plans can be customized for each individual. The home aides may support with activities of daily living (ADLs), which include medication reminders, assistance with bathing and eating. Home Care may be an excellent care options for family members if they must leave town or just need a break from caring for their loved one. The Home Care aides bring a sense of personalization, providing companionship and socialization, a sense of connection.
Home care and aging in place
In home care services include assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), for which financial assistance may be available. These in-home aides may assist with personal care and monitoring like they would receive in a long-term care community. All while they remain in the comfort of their own home.
How do you know it may be time for Home Care?
What are the signs to look for?
I your loved one’s home is in disarray? Maybe they usually shown signs of tidiness or regular cleanliness, and now the home is disheveled and dirty. In Home Aides can come into the home and assist in normal household maintenance like dusting and sweeping, cleaning the kitchen or doing laundry.
Have you noticed your loved one is spending less and less time managing their hygiene or personal appearance. They may stop brushing their teeth or let their facial hair grow in an unkempt fashion when they didn’t before. Are they going longer periods of time in the same clothing, or neglecting relatively scheduled eating habits? Grooming and hygiene live under the umbrella of ADLs, and as such a Personal Care Assistant may help with these tasks.
Is your loved one forgetting things more frequently? Typically, people forget things sometimes, but if you notice they are forgetting simple tasks they normally perform regularly, this may be a a sign that assistance is necessary.
It is not uncommon for elderly adults to experience trouble walking, getting up from a seated position or need help getting in and out of bed. Signs like this can be dangerous. The risk of a fall increases as mobility declines. The aide of a home care caregiver may assist with moving around the house safely.
Services included in home care:
Often times, people think of nursing homes or retirement homes as the only places for senior care. As we’ve discussed earlier, there are multiple care options. And even within home care, there are levels of care suited for an individuals needs. The specific services offered in home care will vary state by state.
What are the different Home care options?
The various care services and options
Personal Care Assistant
- Companionship as well as assistance with activities of daily living, (non-medical personal care) toileting, dressing, grooming, and bathing.
- They can help with grocery shopping and meal preparation.
- A personal care assistant can help with family difficulties. If a family caregiver must leave town or be away from the home overnight the caretaker can stay with the individual and monitor and assist as needed.
- If a spouse is too heavy, a personal assistant can be a great asset in helping the individual move without risk of injury.
- These care assistants cannot perform any medical care.
Companion Care
- These companions spend time with older adults. Providing companionship is especially relevant for people who live alone, or do not leave the house due to cognitive impairments or frailty.
- These companions are there to look after the person, keep a watchful eye, act as an extension of the person to help with mobility and general physic functions.
- They may drive the person to appointments, prepare light meals and snacks. They may even play games or read and listen to music together.
- Companion care is a great way to bring social interaction and assistance to a person who may otherwise spend long periods of time alone.
Home Health Care
- Home health is the only type of home care associated with skilled nursing or any therapy services.
- This type of care is of a much higher-level medical care and therapy.
- Home health aides must have a nursing degree or certification or go through specialized training.
Laws and regulations for home care in New York
Licensing
Licensing for home care in New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Health. They regulate all in home care across the state. Licensed agencies in New York may Home health aides, personal care services and some nursing services at the client’s home.
Staffing
All home care agencies in New York are required to do a criminal background check on any potential employees prior to hiring. And staff must complete state required continued training and education.
Grievances
Any suspected abuse or complaints may be reported directly to the Department of Health Hotline. The contact number is 1-800-628-5972 or online at homecare@health.ny.gov
How much does home care cost in New York?
The average cost of non-medical in home care in New York is $5,350 per month. This is higher than the national average of $5,000 per month. Typically, healthcare options in the northeast region of the United States may be more expensive than other parts of the country.
- National average cost of in home care per month: $5,000
- New York State: $5,350
- New Jersey: $5,550
- Massachusetts: $5,925
- Vermont: $5,750
- Pennsylvania: $4,990
There are several economic regions of New York state where the cost of in home care will vary. Costs across the state are affected by these economic conditions.
- Rochester: $5,750
- Manhattan: $5,550
- Ithaca: $6,000
- Syracuse: $5,925
- Utica: $5,000
Questions and inquiries about home care
Agency Information
- Is the agency RN operated?
- Is the agency a franchise or locally owned and operated?
- Is the agency licensed by WA State Department of Health?
- Is the agency licensed for both home care and home health?
- Does the agency have liability insurance?
- Can the agency respond to you 24/7?
Caregiver Information
- Are employees licensed, bonded & insured? Or are they independent contractors?
- Does the agency test skills, conduct behavioral interviews and verify caregiver credentials?
- Are caregivers required to have current certifications for First Aid, CPR, and TB?
- Are caregivers provided continuing education/training?
- Can authorized individuals monitor care and make requests online in real time?
- Does the agency offer caregiver replacement when the “fit” may not be right?
Documentation and Supervision
- Does an RN/MSW/Care Manager conduct a free home care assessment?
- Does an RN/MSW/Care Manager create a home care plan?
- Does an RN/MSW/Care Manager supervise the caregivers?
- Do caregivers receive client orientation before arriving at a client’s home?
Policies and Cost
- Can services be cancelled with a 4-hour notification?
- Does the agency offer flexible scheduling, custom care plans, and a continuum of care?
- Does the agency have weekly or monthly minimums?
- What is the hourly minimum per shift?
- Does the agency offer home care discounts?
- What is the required deposit?
- Will the agency accept long-term care insurance?
Resources and Links for Home Health, Home Care and Hospice
Eldercare Locator is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings.
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Hospice Foundation of America is to provide leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the U.S. health care system and the role of hospice within it.
National Association for Home Care & Hospice is a trade association that represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice organizations and the caregivers who provide in-home health and hospice services.
New York State Center for Elder Law and Justice supports residents of New York age 55 and older with healthcare issues that may arise.
The New York State Department of Health keeps New York residents informed with all the information they need regarding the licensing and regulations of home care agencies in the state.
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