Indiana home care is designed to provide specialized medical care to seniors in their own home, as well as more general non-medical assistance and companionship. The goal is to allow individuals to remain as independent as possible while receiving care in a familiar setting. Currently, there are about 648 home care agencies in Indiana with an average monthly cost of $3,718.
Home care is needed for a wide range of situations which may including 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 IN that have senior home care agencies, but the median monthly cost ranges from:
City Homemaker Services Monthly Costs Home Health Aide Monthly Costs Bloomington $3,647 $3,813 Columbus $3,981 $3,981 Evansville $3,527 $3,743 Indianapolis $4,052 $3,813 Lafayette $3,956 $4,004 Muncie $3,813 $4,099 Rest of State $2,860 $3,623
Indiana offers many historical attractions and reasons to enjoy yourself throughout the state. Once a flourishing Native American territory, Indiana has an extensive collection of art reflecting indigenous cultures and its eclectic western influence displayed in The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. This museum is also surrounded by the White River State Park, offering a unique array of cultural and outdoor activities. Vistors and residents can also enjoy places like the White River Gardens, Indiana State Museum, and Marengo Cave which offers walking tours and gem mining.
In Indiana, seniors have an endless supply of activities available to them. There are senior centers throughout state that provide senior oriented activities such as holiday celebrations, games, social activities, and classes. Specialized senior trips are also available near or far to places such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Horseshoe Hammond Casino, or the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
The climate in Indiana varies between the northern and southern regions of the state, but it is considered to fall in the hot-summer, humid, continental climate category. There are four seasons, high levels of humidity, and precipitation. The low temperature averages around 17 degrees during the winter with significant snowfall in the north. The summer averages high temperature is 86 degrees, but heat waves are common and the humidity can make the environment feel hotter than it is. IN averages 41 inches of rain and 25 inches of snow annually. The spring, March-June, produces storms that sometimes result in tornados. Lightweight clothing should be worn during the summer, and bundled, heavy clothing should be worn in the winter.
Indiana is known for a classic midwestern sense of hospitality, conservative values, and its hardworking men and women who keep the state's strong agriculture and other industries alive. This state is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway featuring the history of racecar driving which is now over 100 years old!
The safety of a surrounding community can help your home care be as effective as possible. Whether you're planning on moving to Indiana or have lived in the state all of your life, there are some areas that are safer than others. Here are a few of the safest cities found throughout Indiana.
Location Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents Ligonier 0.23 2.74 Zionsville 0.23 5.83 St. John 0.32 6.36 New Whiteland 0.35 6.56
(source: safewise.com)
As determined by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36), each Medicare-certified home health agency may only employ home care professionals who meet the state-approved training program requirements. These regulations ensure that each medical professional or non-medical paraprofessional practicing in Indiana 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.
Paying for home care is possible through a variety of different methods, with some more financially plausible than others.
Firstly, Medicare does not pay for non-medical in-home care services. Mostly, it is used for its Supplemental Insurances to cover Medicare copayments and deductibles. In order to qualify for Medicare coverage for in-home care, it must be deemed medically necessary.
For veterans of the U.S., the Improved Pension and Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension may be used to help pay for or cover the entire costs of home care. To apply for these benefits, contact your local Veteran’s Association or Area Agency on Aging for more details and eligibility requirements.
Besides paying with one’s own savings, seniors may choose to pay with 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, you'll most likely be pretty secure when it comes to care options.
Finally, Medicaid is a joint federal and state insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that in most cases can be used to cover the costs of home care if it is deemed medically necessary. Each state has its own rules, requirements for eligibility, and specific benefits that will vary depending on where you go in the United States. This program refers to care received outside of a nursing home as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). For more information on your state’s Medicaid requirements, you can click here.
Seniors receiving home care from a Medicare-approved home health agency retain a series of guaranteed rights and protections with the intention of keeping your needs met. Before receiving home care in any form, it is required that the home health care agency provides you with information detailing your rights. You’ll be informed that you reserve the right to choose your own home care agency and to decide what services (medical or non-medical) you want to participate in. At all times, your privacy, property, and individual autonomy must be respected by your caregiver within the parameters of the care provided.
For some, a time may come when decisions must be made by family members or legal guardians. It is important to realize that seniors still retain their Constitutional Rights and those afforded by the Bill of Rights. If you believe these rights have been violated, don't hesitate to contact a lawyer versed in elder law.
In Indiana, medical records should be kept confidential, but may be released for transfer to another health care institution, law, third party payment contract, resident, or legal representative. Health care facilities do have the right to withhold records from those they believe the information may be detrimental to.
