How to Pay for In-Home Care and Technology

In-Home Care and Technology Working Together

Many families do not want to consider sending their loved one to a nursing home.  The alternative is in-home health care which can be very expensive.  Families may not be aware that technology can be used in conjunction with in-home care to reduce costs, but still ensure a loved one is monitored at all times. Technology cannot help with a bath, change bed linens, or cook a pot of soup; but it can alert family members when there has been a possible fall or change in normal activity during a loved one's "down hours" at night or day.

Cost For Technology

Technology can be purchased and used for less than $10 a day in most cases.  Compared to $10-$30 an hour for 24/7 in-home care, using technology with part time in-home care can cut costs while still allowing a loved one to remain at home safely, but at a more affordable rate.  Like in-home care, technology can be paid for in most states by Medicaid, long term care insurance, private pay, as well as, VA benefits for veterans.  We encourage you to consider how our products and services may address your priorities for independent living.  We welcome any questions you may have.  Please contact us @ 1-828-877-684-3581 or www.simply-home.com. Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.

- Izaak Walton

How to Pay for In-Home Care

By Joseph L. Matthews, Caring.com Author

Last updated: May 05, 2011
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What to expect

The cost of in-home care usually ranges between $10 and $30 an hour, depending on the location (urban areas tend to be more expensive), the type of care needed (simple help around the house is less expensive than skilled help with bathing, toileting, and safely getting in and out of bed, for example), and whether the caregiver comes from a licensed home care agency (more expensive) or is an independent home care worker (less expensive).

Here are some of the options you can explore to help pay for in-home care:

Look into public benefit programs

If your loved one has very low income and few assets other than the home he or she lives in, some public benefit programs -- including Medicaid, PACE, , and Cash and Counseling -- pay a limited amount for care. Explore public benefit programs.

Consider private insurance options

There are at least two options worth looking into: If your loved one has a long-term care insurance policy, it may include coverage for in-home care. He or she might also consider converting a life insurance policy into cash to help pay for in-home care. Explore private insurance options.

Use personal and family assets

Like most families, you'll probably have to rely on your loved one's and other family members' personal assets to pay most in-home care costs. There are several ways personal and family assets can be used help pay for in-home care, including tapping into the equity in your loved one's home and gathering contributions from those family members who aren't actively helping with daily care. Explore personal asset options.

Get creative

In addition to public benefits, private insurance, and personal assets, you might want to explore some other avenues to help fund paid in-home care, including assistance from local churches, high schools or colleges, and adult daycare centers. Find supplemental sources of support for in-home care.