Home health care can be costly and sometimes insurance cannot cover the bulk of the medical expenses. When this happens, families make allowances, which means there are unmet health care needs that put the patient in a precarious situation.
The effects of unmet health care needs can be devastating and include:
- Tendency to become lonely and depressed
- Insomnia, sleep and nutrition problems
- Development of poor hygiene habits
- An “I don’t care because I don’t matter” attitude, which could mean skipping medication, over or under-dosing
Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act of the Obama administration, which was optional in 2013, is still not available in 19 states. California is not one of those states but there are several issues that hound the system, especially when it comes to serving its customers. There are multiple cases in the state where a single clerical error leads to an avalanche of problems with no end in sight. They call it growing pains. Meanwhile, the patient, your loved one, needs attention and professional care.
Here are some ways you can lower your home health care costs and ensure that professional nurses attend to the medical needs of your family member.
Apply for Financial Assistance
There are as many as 400 programs offering financial assistance to seniors needing medical home care. These programs cross between federal, state, local, and private agencies, charities, churches, and organizations willing to provide financial help. You will just have to carefully avoid getting entangled in a bigger problem by not reading the fine print (if any) of an assistance package.
Modify your Home
Did you know that you can apply for grants or construction assistance to modify your home to make it more accessible to the sick or elderly? In fact, the University of Southern California has a database of the home modification groups in the state you can talk to once you get approved for your grant. With a modified home, you can lower the costs of having home health care because you make the home safer, easier to move around, and perhaps reduce the number of days or hours that you need a professional nurse at home.
Modifications can also lower utility bills while providing a pleasant room temperature for the patient.
Invest in Modern Technology
If you cannot have a professional nurse 24/7 because of the cost involved, invest in new technology. One of the latest to come out is a companionship program. For a reasonable monthly fee, you get a digital companion, tablet and the online program. You will need an Internet connection. This type of technology is best for patients who spend time alone. It helps them stay entertained with an animated character who is a real person behind the scenes who can talk, ask questions, and answer questions from the patient. More importantly, the digital companion can monitor the patient. Family members can share photos and stories and get a report of the events that transpired during the day. As this type of program becomes more popular, you can expect the cost to drop even more.
Instead of closing your doors to professional home health care, consider these options and provide your family member with the best possible care at home.