The Need for Homecare in Philadelphia Continues to Grow

Need for Homecare in Philadelphia Continues to Grow

As a whole, people in the world are living longer thanks to medical advancements. Most folks will need some type of home care services in their lifetimes, for various reasons. It’s estimated that a whopping 80% of seniors will need one year or more in a nursing facility unless they take advantage of professional caregiving services. In either case, Medicaid is paying about 45% of all claims, Medicaid 23%, and the rest is out of pocket. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that homecare in Philadelphia continues to grow. Roughly 7% of the state’s population are elderly, frail, or otherwise disabled. In the next decade, the demand for home care aides will be growing rapidly. Families don’t like the idea of their loved ones being in a facility where they cannot be certain of what’s happening when they cannot be present. In-home services fix that.

Using Medicaid and Medicare for Homecare in Philadelphia

Not everyone is in the position to pay for professional care at home. Medicaid is a joint Federal and State program that helps low-income people who would not otherwise have access to adequate care.

Need for Homecare in Philadelphia Continues to Grow

Begin or Continue a Successful Career in Home Healthcare

The need for empathic, attentive people for home care is growing by leaps and bounds. AmeriBest Home Care is currently hiring individuals who can provide support to seniors and their families. We don’t require experience as we will give you paid training so you’re ready to work in no time.

If you want to make a positive impact on lives, this is a very rewarding way to do so. You’re allowing people to maintain comfort and security in their own home instead of a care facility filled with strangers.

At AmeriBest we value our staff and show it by providing a wide array of benefits including:

  1. Sick, vacation, and personal time
  2. 7 paid holidays annually, with time and a half when you work them
  3. Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  4. Life insurance for full-time employees
  5. 5 days of maternity leave

And so much more.

We believe that your happiness positively impacts the lives of our clients every day. Better still, AmeriBest offers ongoing training so you can continue with career development in areas of personal interest.

Are You Right for the Job?

Caregiving is not for everyone, but for those who have a natural ability for nurturing, strong empathy, and good instincts it could prove ideal. You will be giving an individual companionship and socialization. Plus, the job is far more flexible with hours than many other positions. AmeriBest HR works with you to find a match suited to your situation.

The families for whom you’ll work truly appreciate the help you’re providing. You are their eyes and ears when they cannot be present. Knowing a home care aide is in place alleviates a lot of fear and stress.

If you are interested, we are always in need of personal care assistants, home health aides, and family caregivers. If you’d like to learn more, call our Philadelphia office at 215-925-3313. You can also email us at info@ameribest.org, or use our online contact form for further information.

How To Apply for Home Care Assistance in Harrisburg PA

How To Apply for Home Care Assistance in Harrisburg PA

When the time comes for home care assistance, a million questions come up, all of which are important. As you ponder the changes, make a list of your most important questions so you can ask about them with your doctors and navigators whose job it is to make your life easier. Let’s face it, there is a ton of paperwork involved in applying for home care assistance in Harrisburg, PA, but we are here to help!

Medicare can help you find professional in-home caregivers in Harrisburg PA, such as AmeriBest Home Care. The State of Pennsylvania offers various senior services, including not only home care assistance, but home modifications, durable medical equipment, and personal response systems, as well. Beyond that, your chosen agency should be able to help you apply for personal care services

How to Apply for Home Care Assistance in Harrisburg PA

If you are 65 or older, or under 65 with a qualifying disability, you are eligible for some form of help from Medicare and Medicaid. You may have personal insurance that handles some percentage of professional caregiving like AmeriBest offers.

Social Security

The process for Medicaid begins at Social Security. It is by far the fastest way of signing up. Better still, you can do it online. You can do this yourself or get someone you know and trust to help with making your account and signing up for benefits. If you prefer to talk to someone, call 1-800-772-1213, or you can make an appointment at your local social security office.

The Benefits

Medicare will cover some level of in-home services when ordered by a physician. However, it must be medically necessary. Assistance with daily living needs will not be covered unless they are part of a skilled services plan of care.

Thankfully, Pennsylvania offers home and community-based waiver services (HCBS). This program provides greater support for caregiving beyond medically necessary options. The idea is to keep people in their community and home rather than in long-term care facilities. Note that there are several HCBS programs, and you can only utilize one at a time.

Long-Term Insurance

If you purchased and maintained a long-term insurance policy, stick with it. The benefits vary, but it’s a great way to plan ahead before you reach the age of 50. Beyond the age of 60, it becomes far more difficult to obtain this coverage that could help with in-home care.

Life Insurance

If you have a life insurance policy, it may be possible to use it in order to pay for home care. You can take a loan from it or surrender it for its cash value. It is important to review the stipulations of your policy plan with your insurer, so you know the best actions to take, and when.

There is also life insurance conversion. Instead of getting a lump sum, you will receive a specific amount for elder care services such as long-term care. This is a separate account that can only be used for home care services. When used properly, this option will not affect your eligibility for Medicaid.

How To Apply for Home Care Assistance in Harrisburg PA

Why AmeriBest for Home Care Assistance in Harrisburg, PA?

The professionals at AmeriBest Home Care stay on top of the ever-changing face of caregiving services. We can share with you the latest programs or revisions to old ones. If you are a veteran, you may qualify for VA benefits as a payment option. Or, you might look to a pension, personal savings, a reverse mortgage, or Supportive Service through the Older Americans Act, which is indented to provide funds for resources they might not otherwise afford.

We are happy to review all your options so you can make the best choice for you and your family. Use our online contact form, email info@ameribest.org, or call 1800-HOMECARE today!

Agency Home Care Near Philadelphia

Agency Home Care in Philadelphia

A 2018 AARP survey concluded that ¾ of Americans age 50 and older would prefer to remain in their current home as long as possible as they age. The idea of “aging in place” has become a growing movement. There’s a sense of comfort in one’s own home. You know your neighbors and the mailman. Senior communities are the alternative, but they don’t provide the same sense of connection. The top choice for aging in place is agency home care near Philadelphia.

Professional home care enables individuals to retain some level of independence while having an on-call line of services they need daily. Safety is certainly a priority. And for busy families, they go to work knowing their loved one has extra eyes and hands at the ready.

How do You Determine the Timing for Home Care?

There are certain criteria that signal the need for home care. These include problems with:

  • Bathing
  • Depression
  • Driving (the need for transportation)
  • Falling
  • Housekeeping
  • Hygiene
  • Isolation (this is emotionally devastating)
  • Meal preparation
  • Mental Health
  • Memory
  • Mobility
  • Motor Skills (unable to handle daily household tasks)
  • Showering
  • Spoiled food
  • Toileting
  • Unpaid bills

In truth, many seniors face more than one of these problems at the same time. Having someone they trust standing by with a helping hand is a great relief.

Agency Home Care in Philadelphia

Traditional Home Care near Philadelphia

There is more than one type of home care. One is a traditional agency like AmeriBest Home Care. We have verified workers paid through our agency. Before beginning services, we work with you on a schedule of days and hours, including coverage for call-ins. If you have issues, your case manager will help resolve them.

So, say Aunt Annie has a problem preparing meals, keeping up with dusting, and going grocery shopping. Her arthritis hinders fine motor movements. Hiring a caregiver from an agency such as ours lets Aunt Annie accomplish those things, while her family is free to tend to their own responsibilities.

The process begins by assessing your needs. Your loved one’s medical team can help with this. You will also have a home assessment to determine what may be best based on the housing and the individual’s needs. Why housing? There are a plethora of safety issues most people never recognize. Professionals point them out!

Finding a Reputable Agency

You do a search for home care agencies near Philadelphia. Hundreds of results pop up. How do you choose? Word of mouth is always a good start, but once you’re interviewing agencies there are certain topics you should broach. It’s okay to be picky!

10 Questions for Potential Caregiving Agencies

  1. Do they perform background checks on employees, including confirming certifications they claim on their resume?
  2. What kind of training does the staff receive before going into a home?
  3. Does staff have first aid and CPR training?
  4. If you have a need, does the agency have varied language or cultural capacities?
  5. Do they have the proper certifications to operate in PA?
  6. How often are staff evaluated?
  7. Can you meet more than one caregiver to find someone right for your family?
  8. Will the agency help you navigate insurance applications?
  9. Can they provide you with references or referrals?
  10. How do they individualize a Plan of Care?

At AmeriBest Home Care we have professionals standing by to answer your questions at any time. You can call our office at 1-800-HOMECARE, email us at info@ameribest.org, or fill out our online form. Don’t be shy. This is one of those situations where every question and answer matters deeply.

Home Health Aide Services in Harrisburg PA

Home Health Aide Services in Harrisburg PA

The time has come to consider home health aide services in Harrisburg, PA. You need an agency close to home, and one on which you can rely. But you probably have a million questions about finding professionals, paying them, and determining who can become a caregiver in your home. Keep note of those questions, they’ll help you a lot as the process moves along.

Medicare covers personal care aides based on medical needs, including long-term care. If a person has significant needs requiring 24-hour care, only a certain number of hours may be covered. Or, you may be advised to consider a nursing home.

You may have to begin the process of applying for home assistance at Social Services. If so, they offer navigators to guide you through what seems like endless paperwork. You are going to need a lot of documents including financials to prove you have monetary needs for coverage. Other items include:

  • Driver’s Licence or Non-Driver ID
  • Proof of residence
  • Utility bills
  • Mortgage statement with taxes detailed

Don’t let this deter you. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has multiple resources available to help you in your certification and search.

One thing most people may not realize is that there is the option of hiring a family member to care for them. While this person cannot be a spouse, other relations like a child, niece, nephew, etc. can apply and be paid for their help. You can utilize a home health service agency to handle all financials and timekeeping. You just get to enjoy the benefit of having someone who knows you and tends to your needs.

Home Health Aide Services in Harrisburg PA

Accessing Home Health Aide Services, Harrisburg PA

Not all services are created equal, and some may have specific areas of expertise. For example, one group may focus on offering registered nurses or hospice care. AmeriBest, by comparison, has RNs but also focuses on home and community services.

Skilled nursing services include things like wound care, injections, replacing feeding tubes, catheter irrigation, blood pressure monitoring, etc. Home health services encompass things like:

  • Chores
  • Transportation
  • Meal preparation
  • Companionship
  • Socialization
  • Safety checks

A professional caregiver in Pennsylvania may require a license or certification depending on the services provided. There is a certification available for home health aides (HHA) or certified nursing assistants (CNA).

Some of the characteristics you should look for in an aide include:

  • Cleanliness
  • Compassion
  • Facilitation
  • Flexibility
  • Organization
  • Patience
  • Strong communication skills
  • Structure

Who can Benefit from Professional In-Home Caregiving?

When someone lives with medical, physical, or mental challenges simple things you did all the time become daunting. Receiving in-home services from AmeriBest Home Care in Harrisburg fills in the gap where you (or your loved one) just need a helping hand.

If you’re ready to hire a service or want to ask pressing questions about what this means for you and your loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our office personnel can explain the vast array of services AmeriBest Home Care offers, and what you can expect in terms of setting up a personalized plan suited to your needs and goals.

There are three ways to reach our Harrisburg, PA office. Call (717) 545-2920. Email info@ameribest.org, or use our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.