Comforts of Home

Aging is not always an easy aspect of life to face. It can lead to the need for extra assistance or nursing care. But that doesn’t always mean people have to leave their homes.
According to Cathy Thompson, director of older adult services for Family Service of Roanoke Valley, home-based services – such as home care and home health care – allow for independent living right at home.

“There is a growing demand for home care services,” she says. “Demographic shifts, shorter hospital stays and advances in technology all contribute to this growth. Much of what can be done in the hospital, assisted living facility and/or nursing home setting, can be done in the comfort of one’s own home.”

Remaining at home allows individuals to maintain independence and dignity. Plus, Thompson adds, community-based services prove to be economically feasible. Local agencies differ in the care they provide (see the list on pages 28-29), but Thompson shares examples of typical home care services.

“Home health services provide physical, medical and emotional support to those with a medical need in their homes. Persons receiving home health services typically need help with bathing, dressing and transferring from a chair or bed,” she explains. “A physician must order home health care and, as such, Medicare will pay for persons who qualify as long as services are medically reasonable and necessary.”

For folks who qualify, Medicaid will cover certain home health services, Thompson adds, and some long-term insurance policies will pay a portion for services as well.

Home care services, which do not require a physician’s order, include assistance with personal care, light housekeeping, light meal preparation, companionship, respite for the caregiver and incidental transportation, says Thompson. Medicare does not cover these services.

Thompson recommends planning for the unexpected – including the need for home care – by researching options and payment sources.

Added Comfort

Think OnStar for your home. With ResCare’s Rest Assured monitoring system, seniors living at home have a special caregiver who – thanks to advanced technology – can provide assistance when needed.

According to the ResCare HomeCare Web site, Rest Assured services “have been specifically designed to support adults who have cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to help them grow, develop and enhance the quality of their lives, and seniors who are looking for an alternative to 24-hour live-in support.”

A joint effort between ResCare (which has a Roanoke office) and the Wabash Center of Lafayette, Ind., this real-time monitoring system uses electronic sensors (which can detect falls or unusual activity), speakers, microphones, tele-cams in common areas, smoke and temperature detectors and personal response systems to link a person’s home to caregivers.

“Should an individual need assistance, a Tele-Caregiver is immediately available to assess the situation and provide supportive prompts,” the Web site reads. “If necessary, an on-call person can be dispatched to provide quick on-site assistance or emergency services may be contacted.”

For more information on the system, call ResCare at 772-0085.

Home Care With a Twist

A new alternative to long-term care recently debuted in Roanoke. Created by Salem resident Kenneth Dupin, founder of N2Care, the MedCottage is a portable, modular medical home designed to make it possible for families to take care of loved ones on their property.

According to a press release, the structure measures 12×24 feet and features three rooms – a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Technology and amenities include web cams, medication monitoring/notification, air filtration, a lift to carry a person from the bedroom to the bathroom, and a UV and disinfectant system. A MedCottage can be purchased ($65,000-$75,000) or leased ($2,000 per month) and it connects to a single-family home’s electrical and water supplies.

For more information on MedCottage, visit medcottage.com or call 888-797-5818.