The Growing Home Care Industry

The Growing Home Care Industry

Recently, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a jobs report demonstrating the continued rapid expansion of the home health care industry. In fact, the report claims that the industry accounts for almost a full third of all new health sector job creation for August 2013. In the U.S, the home care industry serves about 8.6 million patients ranging in all levels of care from primary care to hospice and palliative care. As part of this important industry, Progressive Home Care provides employment to the people of New York City.

The BLS report goes on to say that the home health care sector has strengthened America's economy by adding in excess of 90,000 jobs over the past 12 months. In August alone, the industry contributed 9,500 jobs out of a total 32,700 in the entire health-care economy. According to the report by 2020, the ranks of home health and personal care aides will have swelled by more than 1.3 million—a 70 percent increase from 2010. People from the large and aging baby-boomer generation continue to demand health care in the comfort of their own home as opposed to nursing or assisted living facilities, both of which can incur a high cost. If you would like to read more about the expected growth in the home care industry please see ABC News recent coverage on this topic.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/boom-predicted-home-care-industry/story?id=19015511

To read the full report from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics please see the link below:

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311011.htm

If you are interested or know someone who is interested in becoming a home health aide, please call us at Progressive Home Health Services, Inc. at 212-273-5500 or visit our website at www.phhs.com.

Financial Benefits of Home Care

As the American population gradually ages, more and more people will require assistance to carry out day-to-day activities. In fact, in the next four decades, the overall number of people 65 and older is projected to double from just over 40 million currently to more than 88 million. With the help of reputable companies like Progressive Home Care, the new population of senior citizens can remain in their homes longer maintaining their independence and saving on the high costs of health care.

When examining the costs of long term care, moving into a nursing home can cost roughly $75,000 per year. Those that choose to reside in an assisted living facility can expect to pay just under $40,000 annually. Compare that to hiring a home-health aide at the rate of $20 an hour, which comes to about $31,000 per year, if the aid is brought in five days a week for six hours per day. This is just one example of how much families can save with the home care option.

If you would like to learn more about the financial benefits of home care, please see the link below to the Joint Commissions’ informational brochure,” Home- The Best Place for Health Care”.

 http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Home_Care_position_paper_4_5_11.pdf

If you are considering Home Health Care for yourself or a loved one and would like to discuss your option, contact us at Progressive Home Health Services, Inc. at 212-273-5500 or visit us at www.phhs.com.

Home Care for Patients with Alzheimer’s

Home Care for Patients with Alzheimer’s

 How do you know when it’s time for home care?  This can be an extremely difficult question to answer.  However, there are some signs to look out for when determining when a person with dementia can no longer live independently.  If there are any drastic changes in mood, personal hygiene, social activity, daily routine, cleanliness of the house, payment of finances, or something more obvious like forgetting to turn off the stove, it may be time to start looking at care options.

Home health care can have tremendous benefits for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  Their home is a familiar and comfortable place where routines can be maintained or more easily shaped.  Home health care services typically include help with personal care, such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting.  Home care agencies can also provide help with meal preparation, household chores, and activity planning.  Nursing care — such as help with medications, wound care, and medical equipment — is also available, if needed.  The home health aide can provide daily physical and mental stimulation by playing games, going on walks, or assisting in travel to a senior center where a person with dementia may like to socialize.  If your loved one is currently in or decides to move to an assisted living facility, the home health aide can continue to provide services for your loved one at the facility.

If you have any questions regarding home care or other care options for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, kindly give us a call at Progressive Home Health Services, Inc. at 212-273-5500 or visit our website at www.phhs.com.

For more information on Alzheimer’s and care options please see the below helpful links:

http://www.alz.org/nyc/in_my_community_17493.asp

http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-in-home-health.asp

 

Why Work With A Home Care Agency?

Why Work With A Home Care Agency Over Hiring Your Home Health Aide Privately?

 

Assistance from a home health aide can help a loved one maintain their independence as well as their happiness by allowing them to remain in the comfort of their home. Home health aides provide a wide range of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, grooming, assisting with ambulation or transferring, toileting, feeding, and providing medication reminders. In addition, home health aides help with what professionals call, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as shopping, meal preparation, making medical appointments, transportation, laundry, and companionship.  Though paying privately can seem expensive, especially if your loved one needs around-the-clock care, hiring a home health aide that is not employed by a licensed or certified home care agency can lead to much greater expenses.

Tax Issues:

If you decided to privately hire a home health aide, you will need to pay Social Security, unemployment, and payroll taxes unless the home health aide can represent themselves as an independent contractor.  However, you will need to make sure that the home health aide truly is an independent contractor and therefore paying their own taxes.  If taxes are not being paid, then the financial responsibility falls on the employer.  These liabilities could include paying interest on back taxes, civil fines, and possibly criminal penalties.  We strongly suggest that you work with a lawyer to assure proper hiring practices with respect to federal tax laws.

Workers’ Compensation:

If the home health aide is injured on the job, the employer would be responsible for paying the workers’ compensation.  This can include the cost of all medical expenses and any disability payments that might become applicable.

Criminal Background Checks and References:

It is mandated by state law that New York State Licensed Home Care Service Agencies and Certified Home Health Agencies conduct criminal background checks as well as check personal and employment references.  This can help protect your family against fraud and other forms of elder abuse.

Nursing supervision:

Through the supervision of a registered nurse, agencies provide clear boundaries for the aides, letting them know which tasks they are and are not qualified to perform and which tasks can only be provided by a licensed professional.

Access to other aides and to a care coordinator:

If the relationship between the home health aide and the patient changes, perhaps due to the progression of a disease that affects cognitive abilities, the family has access to a care coordinator and replacement aides.  The care coordinator can help in assisting the family and the aide understand why these changes are occurring and discuss how the aide can meet the changing the needs of the patient.  If for some reason the current aide cannot help to meet these new needs, the agency can quickly provide a replacement aide.

If you would like more information about home care services and why working with an agency could be a better option for your family, contact us at Progressive Home Health Services, Inc. at 212-273-5500 or visit our website at www.phhs.com.