Latest / Home Care Powered By AUAF / What Are Home Care Services? Types of Home Care Explained

Transcript

What Are Home Care Services? Types of Home Care Explained · Home Care Powered By AUAF

• 0:13
  SPEAKER_01: Today, we're answering a simple question that confuses a lot of families.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_01: What are home care services and what types are there?
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Elena.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm Brooks.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: If you're starting to worry about a parent living alone, this one's for you.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: Let's start with a definition.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: Medline Plus describes home care as care that lets a person with special needs stay in their own home.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Which is a pretty wide definition.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: The help can come from family members, friends, neighbors, or a professional agency.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: So when people search for home care, they usually mean paid non-medical help.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: A caregiver visits on a set schedule and helps with daily tasks.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: And the big win is that the senior stays home.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: Same routines, same neighbors, same belongings.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: Let's talk about what that help looks like for older adults.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: It starts with what professionals call the activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, eating, moving around, and using the toilet.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: Then there are the household tasks: laundry, shopping, and cooking.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: And you'll hear people call all of this home help or home-based care.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: It means the same everyday support.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: In practice, a lot of seniors start small, with just a few hours a week.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so let's break down the main types.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: The article groups them into four non-medical categories.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Number one is personal care.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: That's help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, homemaker services.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Laundry, shopping, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: Number three is companionship, conversation, activities, and outings that ease loneliness.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: That one matters more than people think, especially for a parent who lives alone and feels isolated.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: And number four is respite care.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_01: That's a short break for a tired family caregiver, even for just a few hours.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Then there's a fifth thing people mix up with home care, and that's home health care.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, and this is the most important difference in the whole episode.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: Home care is non-medical help with daily life.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Home health care is skilled medical care, like nursing or physical therapy, and a doctor orders it.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: And AUAF, the agency behind this show, provides the non-medical types of care, not home health care.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: So if your parent also needs nursing, the article suggests asking their doctor about a home health agency.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: Now, why does that difference matter so much?
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_01: Money.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Medicare covers home health care for homebound patients who need part-time skilled services, and a doctor has to confirm that.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: But according to Medicare.gov, checked in October 2026, Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care at home or for home meal delivery.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: And it doesn't cover custodial or personal care when that's the only care you need.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: So a senior who only needs help with bathing, meals, and housework usually pays another way.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Which brings us to Illinois.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: How do families there pay for home care?
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_01: The big one is the Community Care Program, run through the Illinois Department on Aging.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: Its goal is to help older adults who might otherwise need nursing home care stay at home instead.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: Here's how it works: a local care coordination unit assesses each person and arranges the services.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: And what are the rules to qualify?
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: According to the Department on Aging, a person has to be 60 or older and live in Illinois.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: As of October 2026, non-exempt assets have to be$17,500 or less.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: The home, car, and furnishings don't count.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: They also need to be a U.S.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: And they need to show a need for long-term care on the state's determination of need assessment.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_01: Plus, they apply for Medicaid and enroll if they're eligible.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: If they're approved, they can get in-home service, adult day service, and emergency home response.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_01: And AUAF is a state contracted provider through the Illinois Department on Aging.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: The article also lists a few free resources.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: The Illinois Senior Helpline is one of them.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_01: That number is 1-800-252-8966, and it's open weekdays from 8 30 a.m.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: to 5 p.m.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: There's also the Family Caregiver Alliance Guide to Community Resources and Meals on Wheels, which serves over 2 million seniors.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: Let's talk benefits.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Why do families choose home care in the first place?
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: First, seniors keep their independence and stay in a familiar home longer.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: Second, a trained caregiver takes over tasks that have become unsafe or tiring.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: And you get social contact for seniors who live alone, regular breaks for family caregivers, and care that changes as needs grow.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_01: So, how do you choose an agency?
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: Ask about caregiver training, background checks, schedules, and how they cover a missed shift.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: And ask whether they accept state programs or private pay so you know what you'll pay.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: One more question people ask: What's the difference between a home care aide and a family caregiver?
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: A home care aide works for an agency which trains and supervises them.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Family caregivers are relatives or friends who help, often without pay.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: And plenty of families use both.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: An aid covers set hours, and relatives fill the gaps.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_01: You'll also hear other names for home care: in-home care, home help, or non-medical home care.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Whatever the name, the help happens in the senior's own home instead of a facility.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: The full article on homecareaid.com has the table of care types and the program rules.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, this is general information, not personal medical or legal advice.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: So talk with the right professional about your own situation.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_01: This episode uses AI generated host voices.