What is Non-Medical Home Care?
Home Care (Non-Medical) offers support with housekeeping, cooking, help with bathing, dressing or toileting, and companionship. Learn how non-medical home care can provide support while keeping your independence!
Key Takeaways
Non-medical home care offers services such as cooking, housekeeping, help with dressing, and companionship.
The national average cost for non-medical home care is $5,720/month (based on 44 hours per week).
Over 5,000 non-medical home care providers can be found on Senior Care Finder.
What is Non-Medical Home Care?
Non-medical home care, also sometimes referred to as companion care or private duty care, provides assistance with daily living activities in the comfort of your own home. It differs from Medicare-certified home health and long-term care communities in that it does not provide medical support.
Non-medical home care provides support with daily tasks such as cooking, housekeeping, help with bathing, dressing or toileting, and companionship. Care plans are tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of each individual.
When is it Time for Non-Medical Home Care?
Non-Medical Home Care can be beneficial for many seniors who need some support, but not enough to move into an assisted living community. Some signs it might be time to explore your options would be: However, some signs that non-medical home care might be beneficial include:
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Difficulty getting groceries or cooking meals
- Needing assistance with getting dressed, bathing or toileting
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Difficulty managing medications
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Recovering from an illness, surgery, or hospitalization
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Needing assistance with transportation or errand
How Much Does Non-Medical Home Care Cost?
The cost of non-medical home care can vary depending location, hours required, level of care needed and experience/qualifications of the caregiver. In general, the national average cost of non-medical home care is around $20 to $25 per hour. To ensure you get an accurate estimate of home care in your area, be sure to contact them directly and ask about hourly rates, schedule or care and any additional fees that may not be included in the hourly rate.
Non-Medical Home Care Services & Amenities
Non-medical home care providers offer a wide range of services, depending on the agency and the specific needs of the client. Here are some common examples:
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Personal care assistance: Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and using the restroom.
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Companionship: Social interaction, conversation, and emotional support.
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Household chores: Light housekeeping, laundry, and errands.
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Meal preparation: Grocery shopping, cooking meals, and assistance with eating.
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Transportation: Assistance getting to appointments, shopping, or social events.
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Reminders: Reminders to take medications, appointments, or other important tasks.
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Respite care: Provides temporary relief for family caregivers.
Two Types of Home Care
As you begin exploring home care, you may come across two different kinds: Medicare-certified & non-medical. It's important to understand the difference to ensure you choose the provider that's right for you. Below is a quick look at the different types of services each can provide.
- Medicare-Certified Home Care: is provided by a medical professional (skilled nurse or qualified home health aid). These providers offer services like medication administration, therapy services, hospice care and wound care. These types of providers must be licensed and receive patient ratings through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). You can see these ratings on our listings as well as on Medicare.gov. Learn more about Medicare-certified home care.
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Non-Medical Home Care: does not need to be provided by a medical professional. These providers offer services like cooking, cleaning, companionship, and help with grooming, changing or bathing.
Choosing the Right Provider
Finding the right non-medical home care provider can be tough decision. When considering providers, here are a few things to consider. Interview several agencies and choose one that listens to your needs and preferences and provides caregivers you feel comfortable with. Ask for references from past clients or their families to hear about their experience. Finally, get recommendations from friends, family, or your doctor!
Find Non-Medical Home Care
If you have ever considered home health, start your search at www.SeniorCareFinder.com. Senior Care Finder is the only online resource that allows you to search, compare, and find best option for you or a loved one. Start your search today!