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Aging-in-Place is a concept in which individuals choose to live in their home for as long as
possible.

Home care involves both skilled home health services and non-skilled home health services which are provided in the care recipient’s home.  Skilled home health services requires a doctor’s order, are a higher level or care, and reimbursed by insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.  Non-skilled care does not require a doctor’s order and is usually paid for by the care recipient.  

The activities of daily living is assistance with personal care and the instrumental activities of living pertains is assistance with custodial care.

The Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

• Eating – assist with feeding recipient
• Bathing – assist care recipient in/out the bathtub/shower, bathing/drying, sponge bath
• Transferring – assist care recipient move from bed to wheelchair, from wheelchair to sofa
• Ambulating – providing physical support to enable care recipient to move about
• Personal Hygiene/Grooming – assist with oral, skin and nail care
• Dressing – assist care recipient put on/take off clothing
• Toileting – assist care recipient get on/off the toilet, bedpan
• Assistance with Self-Administered Medication – Assist care recipient manage/take medication (prescribed/over-the-counter) on time

The Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)

• Healthy meal planning and preparation
• Emotional support through companionship
• Reminders to take medications
• Shopping and running errands
• Transportation and escorting to/from appointments
• Light housekeeping to make the environment safe
• Personal laundry care
• Help with caring for “non-aggressive (friendly)” Pets

1. You or your love one is no longer able to successfully manage the ADL like personal hygiene or the IADL like gathering and opening mail or paying bills
2. You or your love one is forgetting to take or fill prescriptions for medications; taking medication different from the prescribed dosage
3. Depression, loss of interest in pleasurable hobbies and activities sets in
4. Noticeable decline in grooming habits, personal care, or unpleasant body odor becomes apparent
5. You or your love one become confused when performing once-familiar tasks
6. Important medical and other appointments are missed
7. Unexplained bruising, cuts or abrasions
8. You or your love one begin to experience difficulty in walking or balancing
9. Dramatically increased forgetfulness occur
10. You or your love one start to see bugs or rodents; increase in clutter or dirty laundry

Skilled home health services require a doctor’s orders and non-skilled does not.  Skilled care, which is a higher level of care than non-skilled care is furnished by trained clinicians such as licensed nurses (registered, vocational), therapists (physical, speech, occupational), social workers, registered dietitians, etc.  Skilled care is also covered by insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.

Non-skilled care, also called non-medical home care, does not require a doctor’s order, is provided by caregivers who are unlicensed (certified nursing assistants, home health aides, homemakers, companions, and sitters), and depending on circumstances is not usually covered by insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.  However, beginning in 2019, certain Medicare Advantage Plans will start to cover non-medical home care.

Non-medical home care can assist the individual with the ADL and IADL.

Why Should I Register With the Special Needs Shelter Registry?

The Special Needs Shelter (SpNS) is for “someone who during periods of evacuation or emergency, requires sheltering assistance due to physical impairment, mental impairment, cognitive impairment, or sensory disabilities.”

Home health agencies are required to collect registration information for special needs patients who will need continuing care or services during a disaster or emergency.  Ability Homecare assist care recipients in completing and submitting their Special Needs Shelter registration form to their county Emergency Management office.  If you would like to complete the Special Needs Shelter registration, click on the following link.

During an emergency or disaster you may have to be power and will need to evacuate.  If you live alone or require medical assistance you should consider going to a Special Needs Shelter.  Ability Homecare will do everything possible to continue providing home care services to care recipients, however, depending on the severity of the emergency disaster, they might have to suspend operations and care.

Patient and family centered care involves collaborating with the care recipient and his/her family or legal representative to develop an individualized Plan of Care.

It depends on what type of home care services are needed and at what level (independent, needs supervision, needs assistance, needs total help).  Ability Homecare offers free individual consultation with a care-coordinator.  After the assessment the care coordinator will explain the benefits of our services, recommend a plan of care, and give you the cost of our services.

• Hourly Care
• Around-the-Clock Care (24-Hour Care)
• Live-in Care
• Respite Care
• Long Distance Care
• Holiday and Weekend Care

Insurance and Medicare

If the doctor writes a script for non-medical homecare, it is covered insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.  Non-skilled home care services will be allowed as a supplemental benefit for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in 2019.  For more information contact a Medicare specialist.

Medicaid

Provides benefits for individuals requiring assistance with the activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.

Veterans Affairs Benefits

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound may be eligible for additional monetary payment.

For more information go to Veterans Affairs.

Ability Homecare caregivers are professionally trained, skilled and experienced in providing non-medical home care services to adults and seniors. Caregivers are registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), certified nursing assistants (CNA), certified home health aides (HHA), homemakers, companions and sitters.

Every caregiver is thoroughly background screened and must pass rigorous checks and balances before hired by our agency.

The patient or his/her family (legal guardian) choose the caregiver.  Information obtained from the individual consultation and assessment questionnaire is used to match the patient and caregiver.

Ability will introduce a maximum of three caregivers for interview by the patient.  The caregiver interviewing process is a great opportunity for the patient to learn more about the caregiver and for the caregiver to learn more about the patient’s unique situation and what type of care is needed.  Care begins after the patient makes his/her caregiver selection.

In compliance with the home health agency licensure requirements, Ability Homecare has professional and general liability insurance.

Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties