Home Care Services Covered by Medicaid

Home Care Services Covered by Medicaid: Elderly people who want to continue to live at home know that; as we age, certain things get more difficult. And we’re not just talking about keeping up with current music (who are all these teenagers and why are they always so sad?) Keeping your home clean, shopping for groceries, even personal care activities like bathing and dressing can get more difficult when we get older.

Maybe your family lives too far away to provide help. Or they’re too busy with their jobs and their own kids to be of any day-to-day assistance. Being on a fixed income means you couldn’t possibly afford to pay for home care. The good news is help is available, and it may come at no cost to you or your family.

At-Home Care Services and Medicaid

Seniors with income limits who need an at-home caregiver can get the help at home they need; through programs funded by the government, including Medicaid. In Illinois, the Community Care Program helps provide seniors, who qualify, with in-home caregivers at no cost to them.

Home care agencies administrate the Community Care Program, home care agencies help seniors with the necessary paperwork and schedule caregivers to provide in-home care services.

How Seniors Can Qualify for At-Home Caregivers from Medicaid

It’s simple for seniors to qualify for at-home care services. Most importantly, your home care agency can help you navigate the process. To qualify for the Community Care Program, a senior must:

• Be age 60 or older
• Be a resident of Illinois and either a US citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less (your home, care and personal furnishings do not count toward this maximum)
• Have a need for services as assessed by the state

Above all, it’s important to note that, as the person receiving services, you’ll be able to choose your own caregiver and if you would like a family member to be your paid caregiver, they may also qualify.

Services Covered by At-Home Caregivers Through Medicaid

So what services do at-home caregivers provide? The list of homecare services is designed to help seniors with activities of daily living (ADLs) that can be difficult or impossible for seniors as they get older. In addition to the personal care services mentioned above, services offered also include:

Light housekeeping

Sweeping, dusting, cleaning the bathroom and cleaning up in the kitchen can be exhausting for seniors. Most importantly, it keeps your home clean, as it can improve both your physical and mental health. An in-home caregiver can help you keep your place clean.

Laundry

While many wouldn’t think of doing laundry as a strenuous activity, seniors know that lifting and bending and carrying things can wear them out. At-home care aides can wash, dry, iron and fold your laundry to ease the burden.

Meal preparation and planning

Many seniors are too tired to cook at the end of the day, and may instead either skip meals or rely on frozen dinners. Further, having fresh, healthy meals available is important, and a home care aide can make sure you have meals available. From grocery shopping to preparation to cleanup, home care caregivers make sure you have nutritious meals.

Errands

Seniors know how difficult it can be to leave the house, even just for small errands such as picking up a prescription or returning a library book. Meanwhile,  an at-home caregiver can help by running those small errands for you.

Companionship and Social Interaction

Being a senior living at home can be lonely, and the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all that companionship is extremely important. Similarly, the effects of isolation are no joke, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that social isolation was associated with a higher risk for heart disease, stroke and dementia.

Organization and technology

Having a cluttered home can not only increase anxiety, it can also be a safety hazard. Loose rugs or cords are a significant fall risk. Stacks of old magazines or newspapers can be dangerous as well. An at-home caregiver can help you organize the clutter. In addition, they can assist with technology that may baffle seniors. Setting up a tablet for video calls with your family, or helping to work a particularly complicated remote are just a few ways in-home caregivers can help.

To sum up, these in-home care services are designed to help seniors live at home more comfortably, and to thrive without having to move to assisted living or nursing home facilities.

Home Care Powered by AUAF Provides Home Care Services Funded by Medicaid

The professional caregivers and staff at Home Care Powered by AUAF have one goal in mind;  providing the highest quality home care services to you or your elderly loved ones. Get the peace of mind of knowing that you’ve got the help you need to continue to live at home. Learn more, call us at 773-274-9262 or contact us