Health & Well-Being » In-home Services
Why It's Important
In home services that provide assistance with activities of daily living are necessary
for some older adults to age-in-place. For moderate and low-income seniors, supportive
services like in-home personal assistance are expensive and government assistance
is limited. Medicare only pays for personal care provided by home health aides on
a part-time or intermittent basis when the patient is also receiving skilled care
(i.e., nursing care or other therapy). Medicare does not pay for homemaker services
such as shopping, cleaning and laundry. Older adults who meet income and other eligibility
requirements can receive Medicaid and/or other government funding for supportive
services, but may face long waiting lists.
See Data By: Richmond MSA | Virginia
| National
How Richmond Is Doing
According to Genworth's Cost of Care Survey, 2009:
- The hourly cost for in-home care for non-Medicare-certified workers rose a half-percent
to $18.50 from a year ago and increased 1.7 percent annually over the past five
years.
- In Richmond the median rate is $19, which represents an annual growth rate of 5
percent since 2005.
(GENWORTH, COST OF CARE SURVEY, 2009)
How Virginia Is Doing
According to Genworth's Cost of Care Survey, 2009:
- The hourly cost for in-home care for non-Medicare-certified workers rose a half-percent
to $18.50 from a year ago and increased 1.7 percent annually over the past five
years.
- The cost ranges from $15 to $21 in Virginia.
(GENWORTH, COST OF CARE SURVEY, 2009)
How the U.S. Is Doing
According to AgingStats.gov and the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics,
some older Americans living in the community have access to various services through
their place of residence. Such services may include meal preparation, laundry and
cleaning services, and help with medications. Availability of such services through
the place of residence may help older Americans maintain their independence and
avoid institutionalization.According to AgingStats.gov and the Federal Interagency
Forum on Aging Related Statistics, some older Americans living in the community
have access to various services through their place of residence. Such services
may include meal preparation, laundry and cleaning services, and help with medications.
Availability of such services through the place of residence may help older Americans
maintain their independence and avoid institutionalization.
- In 2005, 2 percent of the Medicare population aged 65 and over resided in community
housing with at least one service available. Approximately 5 percent resided in
long-term care facilities. The percentage of people residing in community housing
with services and in long-term care facilities was higher for the older age groups;
among individuals age 85 and over, 7 percent resided in community housing with services,
and 17 percent resided in long-term care facilities. Among individuals age 65-74,
98 percent resided in traditional community settings.
- Among residents of community housing with services, 86 percent reported access to
meal preparation services, 82 percent reported access to housekeeping/cleaning services,
70 percent reported access to laundry services, and 45 percent reported access to
help with medications. These numbers reflect percentages reporting availability
of specific services, but not necessarily the number that actually used these services.
- More than one-half (54 percent) of residents in community housing with services
reported that there were separate charges for at least some services.
(AGINGSTATS.GOV FEDERAL INTERAGENCY FORUM
ON AGING RELATED STATISTICS, 2009)
Data & Information Sources
AgingStats.gov, Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics, Indicator
37, Residential Services, 2009)
http://www.agingstats.gov/Agingstatsdotnet/Main_Site/Data/2008_Documents/Health_Care.aspx
Genworth Financial, Cost of Care Survey, 2009
http://www.genworth.com/content/products/long_term_care/long_term_care/cost_of_care.html
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/