Home care in New York is individualized to the specific patient’s medical needs. Caregivers can provide physical therapy for a few hours per week, or they can also be on call 24 hours per day. The intention is to allow seniors to independently live at home for as long as they are able. There are about 1177 home care agencies found throughout the state of New York with an average monthly cost around $4,385.
Home care is needed for a wide range of situations which may include recovering from an illness, surgery, or could be due to dementia-related needs among others. To get the professional help you or your loved one needs, you’ll have to decide whether a licensed medical professional or a non-medical paraprofessional would be a more appropriate fit. With the latter option, services are more likely to include things like housekeeping and linen services, general shopping, transportation, meal prep, and help with other instrumental activities of daily living.
In many cases, these two positions do overlap, so when interviewing a caretaker be sure to understand what their role will require. There are a number of cities throughout New York that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly cost ranges from:
City Homemaker Services Monthly Costs Home Health Aides Monthly Costs Albany $4,528 $4,576 Binghamton $4,433 $4,528 Bronx $4,004 $4,004 Buffalo $4,185 $4,481 Ithaca $4,195 $4,671 Long Island $4,195 $4,242 Rochester $4,433 $4,767 Syracuse $4,528 $4,624 Rest of State $4,099 $4,528
When you hear the words New York you can't help but think about the bright lights and a life of chasing dreams in the city. And while attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park may top your list of places to see in New York City, the rest of the state also has much to offer.
Near the town of Ithaca, Taughannock Falls State Park has one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. The park offers many hiking and nature trails, beach swimming, fishing and more. There are also many wineries and a group of 11 narrow lakes in the Finger Lakes region.
Located in upstate New York, the Niagra Falls State Park is home to one of North America's favorite natural wonders. At the park, you can ride the Maid of the Mist and explore the falls or visit the 230-foot overlook observation tower.
New York has a lot for seniors to do throughout the state. There are senior centers throughout the state that provide senior-oriented activities such as book clubs, exercise classes, crafts, and movies. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway, or Niagara Falls.
The climate in New York supports four seasons with warm and sunny summers and cold winters. The weather in New York City is usually different than other parts of the state because of the effect of smog and the tall buildings. Ozone alerts are not uncommon during the summer with the high temperatures and humidity. Winters are usually cold with snowstorms, freezing rain, and winds. Areas upstate, including Buffalo, get more snow than Anchorage, Alaska because of the lake effect that takes place off of Lake Erie. The summers are warm and relatively humid depending on where exactly in the state you are. Both spring and fall are milder. Across the state as a whole, the average summer high temperature is 82 degrees and the average winter low is 17 degrees. Over 133 days of measurable precipitation, NY receives 41 inches of rain and 58 inches of snow annually.
New York’s culture is very diverse with the multi-ethnic population that resides in and around the Big Apple. Theater, dance, music, art, literature, and food are all very important aspects of the culture. A large number of the city’s residents were born in another country, so there's a common sentiment to just consider everyone a New Yorker. New York City is fast paced although the rest of the state is more relaxed with natural and outdoor recreation being very popular for everyone.
When searching for home care in New York, it can help to know which areas are safer compared to others. Overall, New York ranks 45 on a scale of 100 (1 being the lowest crime) for violent crime and 32 for property crime. Receiving home care in a safe environment benefits the patient and anyone who may come to visit them. Here is a list of some of the safest cities found throughout New York:
Location Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Malvern 0.47 2.46 New Castle Town 0.11 4.31 Cornwall 0.10 4.40
(source: safewise.com)
According to federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36), Medicare-certified home health agencies are required to employ only health aides who have been trained and evaluated by the approved programs of their state of practice.
These regulations ensure that each medical professional or non-medical paraprofessional has received a federal minimum of 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training and an additional 12 hours of training every following year.
Seniors paying for home care can do so in a variety of different ways, each with its own advantages based on your unique financial and health situation.
First off, seniors may look to Medicare to receive coverage for their copayment and deductibles for medical home care through the Medicare Supplemental Insurances program. However, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover non-medical home care whatsoever. If this is an issue, it may be necessary to look to the other remaining methods of payment.
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 of the time, seniors will choose to pay for their home care privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions. If these options are unavailable to you, it may be reasonable to consider paying through a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting your life insurance policy to cash.
Medicaid is another joint federal and state insurance program available to seniors and their families with low income. The rules, eligibility requirements, and benefits of Medicaid are state-specific and will vary based on your location. This program refers to care received outside of a nursing home as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
Medicare-approved home health care guarantees you a series of rights and protections designed to provide you with the best experience possible. As you move forward with your care, it is required that the agency staffing your caregiver provides you with information regarding your rights. You are entitled to participate in decisions regarding your care and can choose the home health agency pending your managed care plan (if applicable). At all times, your privacy, property, and individual autonomy must be respected by your caregiver within the parameters of the care provided.
If there comes a point when you are unable to make decisions regarding your own medical care, you have the right to entrust this responsibility to a family member or legal guardian. Remember, you also retain your Constitutional rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights as a citizen of the United States. If you believe that you have experienced a violation of your rights, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer familiar with elder law or have someone advocate for you.
As a senior receiving home care in the state of New York, you have the right to obtain copies of your medical records by submitting a request to your healthcare provider. Although health care workers may mistakenly argue that these records cannot be released due to privacy laws, this is a common misconception. Even if they ask, you don’t need to provide a reason for the request. You will likely be charged a fee and the request may be required in writing, but your records belong to you.
Your protected health information details information regarding your physical and mental health and can also include medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other private documents. Receiving these records can take up to 30 days, or as long 60 days if your healthcare provider utilizes their single extension period. Beyond this point, it is required that you receive a written statement detailing the delay or denial of your records.
