Senior home care is designed to allow individuals to remain independently in their own homes, receiving care and assistance as needed. This can range from general housework, assistance with medication management and one's general wellbeing, or even 24-hour medical attention. Home care is a flexible option that can be tailored to you or your elderly loved one's needs. Currently, there are about 544 agencies in Colorado with an average monthly cost around $4,195.
Generally speaking, licensed medical professionals work under the direction of a physician, with non-medical paraprofessionals working alongside other professionals in many cases. When seeking a home health care aide for you or your loved one, it’s important to understand one’s individual needs for care. Home care can provide services such as housekeeping, general shopping, and medication management, to full-on nursing care and medical attention. Depending on what will be required on the job, the cost of this care will vary from each city to the next.
There are a number of cities throughout CO that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly costs range from:
City Homemaker Services Monthly Costs Home Health Aide Monthly Costs Boulder $4,814 $4,624 Colorado Springs $4,195 $4,671 Denver $4,385 $4,576 Grand Junction $3,813 $3,813 Greeley $2,097 $2,097 Rest of State $4,814 $4,814
Attractions of Colorado include Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, Seven Falls, Wild Animal Sanctuary, and much more. Seven Falls is located in Colorado Springs, it has seven waterfalls cascading down a cliff and is considered the grandest mile of scenery. The Garden of the Gods is a collection of sandstone, conglomerate and limestone rocks that formed as horizontal but have since moved vertically causing an impressive formation of nature’s beauty.
Depending on your mobility, you may want to consider senior centers throughout the state that provide senior-oriented activities such as game tournaments, movie nights, help with technology, and exercise classes. Specialized senior trips are also available near and far to locations like the Denver Botanical Gardens or Pikes Peak.
Colorado's climate allows it to be one of the sunniest places in the country receiving approximately 300 days of sun every year. In the mountainous regions, 300 inches of snow can be expected with less in lower elevations. Significant snow can be expected to begin in September, but there are areas that get snow almost every month of the year. The temperature in the summer reaches 86 degrees while in the winter, temperatures often fall below zero. Lighter-weight clothing should be worn during the summer with a jacket for the evening and very heavy clothing with layers should be worn during the winter and cold months.
Natural wonder and beauty are at the heart of it all in Colorado, with many people devoted to their lives of ski-slopes and backpacking. Colorado has long been a state built by the hands of gold miners, ranchers, and those bound for the frontier. This love of all things natural has led Colorado to be among the first states to legalize cannabis, an emerging billion-dollar industry that's now part of everyday life. No matter where you go, Colorado will be sure to impress you with its intensely beautiful terrain and kind people.
Sperling’s Best Places ranked Colorado 43 on a scale of 100 (1 being the lowest crime) for violent crime and 42 for property crime; the United States overall ranked 41 for violent crime and 44 for property crime. Colorado has the Colorado Crime Prevention Association that offers the necessary training for people to prevent crime and be able to stop it. Colorado also has the Colorado Community Crime Prevention, which offers services of security and advice on what type of security someone may need. Colorado also has neighborhood watches and police officers that make sure every resident feels protected.
Location Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Dacono 0.22 0.22 Eaton 1.31 0.65 Fort Lupton 0.39 3.13 Rocky Ford 0.51 3.84
(source: safewise.com)
A total of 34 states and the District of Columbia require the minimum federal standard of 75 hours of training, along with 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 month period.
Medicare-certified home health agencies are required by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to only employ health aides who are trained and evaluated by programs approved by their respective states. Federal regulations also outline the qualifications for approved trainers and define the competency evaluation process in tangent with state specifications.
Paying for home care is possible through a variety of different methods, with some more financially plausible than others. After you’ve determined the general price of home care near you, understanding how to pay is next.
To start, Medicare does not pay for home care aides, and only covers medical home health care very selectively. The benefits of medicare just do not apply to non-medical care, period. Regardless, Medicare Supplemental Insurances do cover Medicare copayments and deductibles for medical home care, as long as it is determined to be necessary.
U.S. veterans can receive assistance for home care by using the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. To apply for these benefits, contact your local Veteran’s Association or Area Agency on Aging for more details and eligibility requirements.
Most seniors will choose to pay privately to avoid the hassle of maintaining insurances and other qualifications. Besides using one’s own savings to pay for care, others may choose to pay through a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit or by converting their life insurance policies. If you had purchased long-term care insurance earlier in life, this option is also very viable.
Finally, Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that can be used to pay for non-medical home care, home health care, and other home support programs. Since Medicaid rules are state-specific, your eligibility and benefits will change based on location. Care received outside of a nursing home is generally referred to as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
As a senior receiving home care from a Medicare-approved home health agency, you retain various guaranteed rights and protections. When you start with your care, it is required that the home health agency’s caretaker must provide you with a written copy of your rights. Caretakers are to treat you and your personal property with respect at all times, minding your preferences for privacy when necessary. You are also encouraged to make decisions about the services medical or non-medical you are to receive. Notably, you are entitled to choose your own home health agency, although if you are on a managed care plan your choices may be fewer.
Some may reach a point where they are unable to make decisions regarding their own medical care — luckily, a family member or legal guardian can step in as an advocate on their behalf. It is also important to note that your Constitutional rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights are retained throughout your care. If you believe a violation of these rights has occurred, reach out to an elder law professional to understand what actions should be taken.
Seniors receiving home care in Colorado have the right to obtain copies of their medical records and other protected health information. Although it’s a common misconception that this information cannot be disclosed due to privacy laws, the fact is that you can submit a written request to your health care provider and actually receive copies or digital versions of this information. You are not required to provide a reason as to why you are making this request, although it is likely you’ll be charged a fee to receive your records.
This protected health information will detail information relating to your physical and mental health, including medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other documents used in making decisions about your health care. In some cases, your information can take up to 30 days to be fully processed and available to you, with healthcare providers allowed one extension of an additional 30 days. If this limit is exceeded, you must be provided with a written statement as to why the delay occurred.
