West Virginia senior home care agencies and services directory

West Virginia Home Care

Home care in West Virginia is designed to provide home-bound seniors with a wide range of care options and services ranging from weekly assistance to 24-hour skilled nursing care. The goal is to allow seniors to remain as independent as possible while receiving the right care. Currently, there are about 207 home health agencies in West Virginia with average costs around $3,051 per month.

Home Care in West Virginia - Cost Comparison

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.

Generally speaking, licensed medical professionals work under the direction of a physician, with non-medical paraprofessionals working alongside other professionals in many cases. 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 West Virginia that have senior home care agencies and the median monthly cost ranges from:

Highest Cost: Parkersburg Area $3,552
Lowest Cost: Wheeling $2,860

City	Homemaker Services Monthly Costs	Home Health Aide Monthly Costs
Beckley	$3,194	$3,194
Charleston	$2,860	$2,860
Huntington	$3,241	$3,241
Morgantown	$3,766	$3,766
Parkersburg	$3,909	$3,909
Weirton	$2,860	$2,860
Rest of State	$2,479	$2,860

Recreation & Attractions in West Virginia

The Seneca Caverns and the Organ Cave are great places to visit, allowing visitors to explore the caves with diverse rock formations and incredible history. For those who love everything about the great outdoors, the Summersville Lake is a fantastic place for fishing, boating, rock climbing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Other popular attractions include Graceland, a Victorian Mansion Inn with antique rooms and breathtaking mountain views.

Seniors in West Virginia have a large variety of activities available. There are senior centers throughout the state that provide senior-oriented activities such as crafts, exercise classes, movie nights, and technology seminars. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, Appalachian Glass, or Bloomery Plantation Distillery.

West Virginia's Climate, Geography & Culture

West Virginia’s climate has four seasons with hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters. The average summer high temperature is 85 degrees and in terms of humidity, West Virginia moderately comfortable. The winter low temperature is 22 degrees. With 139 days of measurable precipitation annually, about 44 inches of rain and 30 inches of snow can be expected.

West Virginia remains as an honest representation of Appalachian culture, originating around the time of the American Civil War. Irish and Scottish settlers brought folk music to the region which eventually meshed with African-American blues, creating a unique sound featuring fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer arrangements. West Virginia prides itself in its artisanal craft making, producing some of the country's finest woodwork, quilts, pottery, food, and much more.

Crime & Safety in West Virginia

When searching for home care in West Virginia it can be helpful to know which areas are considered to be safer than others. Luckily, West Virginia's crime rates are lower than the national average in terms of both violent and property crime. A crime-free environment will help one's home care be the most effective it can be, especially in these safest places:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Kingwood	0.34	0.00
Weston	0.00	0.97
Grafton	0.19	1.54
Ripley	0.00	3.69

(source: safewise.com)

West Virginia's Home Care Regulations & Laws

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 provide the subject areas and required skills, as well as the qualifications for trainers approved to administer the competency evaluation process.

34 states in total along with the District of Columbia require a minimum federal standard of 75 hours of training. Additionally, 16 hours of supervised clinical training with 12 hours of continuing education every 12 month period are required to maintain a certification.

Payment Options for Home Care in West Virginia

Although many seniors choose to pay privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions, there are other options available.

To start, Medicare does not cover non-medical care and can only be used for home health care very selectively. Mostly, Supplemental Insurances provides coverage for Medicare copayments and deductibles.

U.S. veterans can receive assistance for their home care through the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. Contact your local Veterans' Association or Area Agency on Aging for more details and eligibility requirements.

Medicaid is another insurance program for low-income seniors and their families 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).

No matter your financial situation, there is sure to be an option that can work for you!

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in West Virginia

As a patient receiving home care in West Virginia via a Medicare-approved home health agency you are afforded a series of rights and protections. Before you receive any care it is required that these rights are made clear to you. Your personal privacy and property are to be respected at all times and you are entitled to choose which services you want to participate in.

If at some point you are unable to make decisions about your own care, you can appoint a family member or legal representative to do so in your place. Remember, you still retain your Constitutional Rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights. Contact a lawyer familiar with elder law if you suspect a violation has occurred.

WV Home Care: Medical Records Rules & Regulations

Receiving any type of medical care in West Virginia entitles you to request your medical records and information at any time. By submitting a request to your health care provider you can receive your records within 30 days. Beyond this point, it is required that a written statement be provided explaining the delay or possible denial of your information.

Although it may be argued that this is not possible due to privacy laws, this is simply not the case except for a few instances. Details of your mental and physical health are included in your protected health information which includes medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other private documents.

By reviewing your information you’ll always be able to make any corrections needed with the supervision of your healthcare provider and ensure the overall accuracy of these records.