Home Care - Non-Medical
Non-medical home care services are sometimes also called companion or sitter services. These are NOT nursing services, so care givers do not administer medications, manage intravenous (I.V.) medications, clean and dress wounds, manage catheters or perform other medical services. The cares non-medical home care services do provide, however, can be of tremendous assistance to an individual who needs help, but who does not require a nurse in the home, and to family care givers. These services are provided at a lower cost than medical home care services. Non-medical care givers can prepare nutritious meals, can share that meal with the care recipient (most of us eat better when we have company) and can clean up afterwards. If the care giver is in the home for a limited number of hours during the day, the care giver can also prepare an additional meal that the care recipient can easily eat later (for example, the care giver can make a dinner that does not need to be heated or, if the individual can microwave safely, can prepare something healthy that only needs to be warmed up later). The care giver can perform light housekeeping tasks, such as laundry, changing linens and making beds, dusting and doing dishes, all important to keep the house tidy and healthy. While a non-medical care giver cannot administer medications (this is a licensing issue), the care giver can be provided with the individual’s medication schedule and can remind the care recipient of when to take needed medications. If the individual needs a driver or assistance when going out, the care giver (depending on agency rules) can generally drive the individual, or can accompany the individual, to medical appointment, visits with friends or family, to church or when shopping. The care giver can provide companionship, which is incredibly important for someone who may be fairly isolated at home because of illness or mobility problems, and/or supervision, which may be helpful for an individual with dementia. The care giver can help the care recipient keep social skills intact (for example, the ability to interact appropriately and keep up a conversation) and can provide cognitive stimulation (conversing or doing puzzles or crafts, instead of watching TV reruns, can keep the brain active). The care giver can assist the individual with dressing, a task easy for most of us, but often quite difficult for an individual with limited mobility or arthritis. The care giver can provide “stand-by” assistance when the individual bathes, gets in or out of a bed, chair, or car, or uses the toilet; this means that the care giver is not expected to provide hands-on assistance, but can be there to lend help, if needed, to prevent a fall. The care giver can go for walks with the care recipient or encourage other low-risk forms of exercise. The care giver can also note changes in the individual’s condition and can alert doctors or family of concerns, as appropriate. Read More
HYGIENE: Hygiene is an issue for many older individuals. Getting in and out of a bath tub can be quite difficult. Even climbing over the side of the tub in order to shower is challenging, particularly for those with mobility problems or who are a little unsteady on their feet. Some individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias have trouble with depth perception, again making tubs very dangerous, and find the force, noise or temperature of the water alarming. Individuals with memory problems may forget to bathe. Isolated individuals may think regular bathing, or changing to fresh clothing, doesn’t matter if no one will see them. Reminders and stand-by assistance for bathing, or having a bath aide (who can provide hands-on assistance in bathing) can make bathing a safe routine again. The use of shower and tub benches, hand-held showers, walk-in showers or modified tubs also makes bathing easier and safer. For some dementia patients, the white on white color scheme of many bath rooms makes seeing edges very difficult; painting the walls a bright color, using colored rugs against the tub or shower, or outlining edges in a bright-colored tape may help the individual see the shower, tub, toilet or sink more easily.
WHY USE A HOME CARE AGENCY? There are many experienced agencies who provide non-medical in-home care givers. Their employees have had background checks, are trained (particularly so if the care giver will care for an individual with dementia) and are bonded; this is for the protection of the care recipient. Ask the agency about those points. The agency should provide worker’s compensation coverage for the care giver in case of injury. Because of the training, security and insurance issues, care givers hired through an agency may charge more than a neighbor who offers to help out for a low hourly rate. Sometimes having friends and neighbors help works out well, but there is often greater security in knowing that the agency care giver has undergone a criminal background check, is bonded and has been trained for the job. When working with an agency, if the usual care giver falls ill or has a family emergency and cannot work that day, the agency will find another trained replacement quickly; when a neighbor needs a day off, the individual is often left alone or family members must cover.
PAYMENT: How does the individual or family pay for in-home non-medical care? These are generally private pay agreements, meaning that the individual or the family agrees to personally pay the costs for the care giver. Before beginning care, the home care agency will assess the individual’s needs to ensure they can provide the appropriate types of care and will ask the individual, or, if the individual is incapacitated, the agent under a power of attorney or the guardian, to agree to payment terms. It is quite common for the agency to ask for a retainer payment when first beginning care (for example, the first week’s estimated care costs paid up front); this enables the agency to meet its payroll and the agency can then bill weekly or at whatever intervals the agency and client agree upon.
If the individual has a long-term care insurance policy (this is different from Medicare or a Medicare supplement; it is a separate insurance policy intended to pay for long-term care), and if the individual needs assistance with the activities of daily living (ADL’s - see our section on Long-Term Health Care Options for definitions), the policy MAY cover some or all of the costs of in-home non-medical care. When purchasing a long-term care policy, the individual contracted for coverage for certain types of care; the policy terms must include home care before it will pay out benefits for this type of care. Many policies written in the last few years include skilled nursing care, assisted living and home care, for the benefit amounts specified in the policy. Read the policy and any riders to see what is covered; if you are still unsure, call the agent who sold the policy, of the insurance company, to ask about benefits, or ask an elder law attorney to examine the policy.
Unfortunately, Medicare and Medicaid supplements generally do NOT cover non-medical in-home services. If an individual qualifies for a Medicaid waiver program (a program designed to keep older individuals out of nursing homes by providing alternative services, qualification is based on medical and financial need), there may be some limited assistance for in-home non-medical care. Check with the Medicaid case worker to learn what help might be available. Also check with the agency you wish to use to see if they can accept Medicaid payments, not all can.
FLEXIBILITY: Some home care agencies supply both non-medical and medical care. If the needs of the care recipient involve a mix of medical and non-medical needs, an agency that does both may be able to put together a cost-effective schedule of care that helps the individual and family only pay for the services they truly need, when they need them.
Currently Displaying Listings 1 - 24 of 24
- Legendary Care, Inc
-
4351 Voss Hills Place
Dallas, TX 75287
Phone: (214)556-4184
Legendary Care helps you stay in your own home by offering personal assistance and care ranging from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. We are proud to offer the services of a geriatric care manager, also a registered nurse, who develops an individual care plan to ensure that you receive the right care at the right times. The quality of our care is our greatest strength.
Our vision:
We will be a committed partner and supporter in improving your quality of life at home.
Our promises:
- Professionalism and expertise of care
- To respect you and your home
- To keep our focus on you
- To be there when you need us
- To be dependable
- To work out issues that require immediate and pleasant resolutions
Legendary Care also offers respite care when family caregivers need time away for business or for family events, when caregivers need to focus on their own health needs, or whenever family caregivers need a well-deserved break!
We offer care in north Dallas, Plano and the surrounding areas. Our friendly caregivers speak English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian.
Legendary Care, Inc., is locally owned and operated.
- Parent Check
-
1112 Lilac St
Fort Worth, TX 76110
Phone: (817)350-4931
Parent Check is a "Check-in Service" for distant or busy families that can't always check in on their aging loved one frequently. We are NOT a medical service.
Web site: www.ParentCheck.net
Toll-free number: (800) 506-8775
How can Parent Check help you?
Family communication
Parent Check helps families stay organized and in communication with each other while our Advocates keeps you up to date on the status of your loved one. ParentCheck.Net provides families with an efficient way to keep up with the fast paced senior life style. Our on-line family work groups feature a discussion board, to-do list, calendar, emergency contact info and secure document storage to help organize your family's "care plan" and the activities for your senior loved one.
Quality of Life Advocates
Parent Check's Quality of Life Advocates visit each of our members on a regular basis to ensure that each member has everything he or she needs and that the living environment is free of hazards. Our Advocate will print out and review the on-line family calendar with your loved one. This helps him or her remember birthdays, doctor appointments, and things to do without having to ever touch a computer. Our Advocate will call the primary family member after each visit and give a verbal report on the loved one's status (with the senior's permission).
Quality of Life Report
After each visit, the family will receive a "Quality of Life Report" with details of what is going on with their loved one and ways to improve his or her live. This report addresses basic observations that the family would see if only they could be there in person. This report answers questions like," Is she checking her mail, is the fridge stocked, are there any hazards in the home, is she getting out of the house enough, is the home well lit, is everything in the home working properly?" and addresses many similar topics indicating overall health and activity levels.
Service management
We work with you to identify a combination of products and services that make caring for aging loved ones less stressful on the family. The "Service Plan" will consist of household and convenience services and products that will make life easier and safer. We may refer a doctor, care manager or nursing service to consult for medical care needs. Parent Check is not a medical service.
Service areas: Parent Check is based in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. We work primarily in Tarrant County at this time, but will also accept clients anywhere in the DFW metroplex.
Languages: We have Advocates to serve families in both English and Spanish.
- Aging Gracefully Senior Care
-
3767 Forest Ln
Dallas, TX 75224
Phone: (972)222-1500
- Apple Care & Companion
-
P.O. Box 703802
Serving Dallas, Collin and Denton Counties
Dallas, TX 75287
Phone: (469)619-5474
- At Home Personal Care
-
7557 R ambler Rd
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: (214)540-7205
- Augustine
-
8523 Thackery St
Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214)265-9022
- Care2Give
-
1333 W McDermott
Allen, TX 75013
Phone: (972)517-2273
- CareStaf
-
1341 W Mockingbird Ln
Dallas, TX 75247
Phone: (214)630-8844
- Caring C ompanions
-
13800 Montfort Dr
Dallas, TX 75240
Phone: (972)776-0000
- CNC Home Care
-
8111 Preston Rd
Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214)540-5942
- Comfort Keepers - Irving/Grand Prairie
-
1106 N Hwy 360
Serving Irving and Grand Prairie areas. English and Spanish-speaking caregivers.
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Phone: (972)602-4413
- Family Staffing Solutions
-
8070 Park Ln
Dallas, TX 75231-6432
Phone: (214)363-1001
- Heaven at Home
-
4141 Blue Lake Circle
Dallas, TX 75244
Phone: (972)245-1515
- Home Care 4 Seniors
-
4016 Creek Valley Blvd
Carrollton, TX 75010
Phone: (214)621-1969
- Home Helpers
-
12900 Preston Rd
Serving North Dallas, Richardson, Addison and Park Cities
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: (972)233-6636
- Home Instead Senior Care
-
1450 Preston Forest Sq
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: (972)239-3934
- Homewatch Caregivers of N Dallas
-
12700 Hillcrest Rd
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: (972)960-9999
- On Call Home Care
-
1349 Empire Central
Dallas, TX 75247
Phone: (214)951-0698
- Paradigm Home Health Services
-
6033 Melody Ln
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: (214)378-8484
- Professional Caretakers, Inc
-
8214 Westchester
Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214)691-4411
- Ray of Sunshine Sitting Service
-
Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Bedford, Keller, N Richland Hills, Watauga
Hurst, TX 76054
Phone: (817)996-9317
Serving NE Tarrant County
- ResCare Home Care
-
6777 Camp Bowie Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Phone: (817)263-8840
- Senior Helpers
-
2300 Valley View Ln
Irving, TX 75062
Phone: (972)823-1333
- Visiting Angels
-
2011 N Collins
Richardson, TX 75080
Phone: (972)231-4822
