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Home health care helps you get better, regain your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible. Whether you are looking for yourself or a loved one, finding a quality home care provider can be a stressful process. To help you overcome this challenge, we’ve created a helpful checklist below that can help guide you through the process of both determining your needs, and finding a home care agency that will be the best fit for you and your family. The Department of Health and Human Services enforces regulations for home care in the state of Maine. These rules control how in-home care agencies and home health organizations may operate.
Home health care services require the supervision of medical professionals such as a doctor, registered nurse or nurse practitioner and may include skilled nursing care. MaineHealth Care at Home offers a full range of skilled healthcare services in a home setting. Whether you’re leaving the hospital after an illness or have a newborn needing special care, our home health services help patients recover from illness, regain strength and live more independently in the comfort of home. Our providers include local and trusted nurses, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, nutritional counselors, and home health aides. They support the needs of patients recuperating from surgery, or dealing with a chronic condition or illness. Home health care services in the Northeast are considerably more expensive than the national average.
V. Free Resources for Aging in Place in Maine
Thankfully, there are other ways to make home care more affordable for you and your family. For more information about your other options, read our section on Other Ways to Pay for this guide. We have a range of home health services that keep adults independent and living at home. Measures may include the use of masks and personal protective equipment when interacting with patients. It’s okay to ask your agency directly what actions they’re taking to protect you and your loved ones. It’s important to fill out your application correctly to prevent delays in receiving your benefits, but the application may be confusing for some people.
While care in Maine costs almost $700 per month more than the national average of $4,957, it’s one of the least expensive states for care in the region. Home health care costs $6,197 in New Hampshire and $5,911 in Massachusetts, while costs in Vermont are about the same. Nationally and in each state, in-home care costs the same or slightly less than home health care. The state is home to over 294,000 residents over the age of 65, accounting for 21.8% of the entire population. The state offers some cost savings for retirees since both the cost of living and sales tax are lower than the national average by 3.5% and 1.8%, respectively.
Home Health | MaineHealth Care at Home
When deciding whether to age in place at home or seek care in a residential senior living facility, it’s a good idea to compare costs. Home care is comparable to assisted living, but saves seniors around $145 per month. Seniors can be with peers in a supervised day program while getting the assistance they need with personal care as well as light medical support. For those who need more medical care than a home health nurse can provide a few hours a day, nursing home care is an option, but costs about $4,700 more than home health care each month. There are two primary forms of care available for seniors who need assistance but wish to avoid being placed in an assisted living facility or nursing home. In-home care is non-medical care focused on helping with tasks such as personal grooming, household chores, transportation, meal preparation and medication routines.
In-home services are funded through MaineCare – the State of Maine’s Medicaid program – or through state-funded programs. These services are designed to assist an older adult or an adult with disabilities to remain independent in their community of choice. The choice to age in place helps preserve your independence and keep you connected with your community. There are local and state resources available to help you, and many of these programs are offered free of charge or affordably priced so you can access them on a limited budget or fixed income. While the above programs can be a great way to make home care affordable for many people, they are not the right solution for everyone.
Home Care Department of Health and Human Services
For over a century we have been caring for patients in their homes throughout Southern and Mid-Coast Maine. Our dedicated team includes home health nurses, rehabilitative therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, nutritional counselors, and home health aides. To be eligible for the following waivers, you must qualify for Medicaid Maine. These waivers provide residents more control over how they choose to receive care and the option of selecting their care providers. Caregivers may benefit from waivers if they’re named as personal care providers. Medicare doesn’t pay for non-medical home care, but it can cover the cost of the medical version of home care, called “Home Healthcare” in some situations.
MaineHealth Named One of America's Best Large Employers by Forbes The not-for-profit health care provider ranked 13th among the 500 companies with 1,000 or more employees cited by the magazine. Get an overview of our services from the nurses, therapists and care team members that make it all happen. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, the home health agency will schedule an appointment and come to your home to talk to you about your needs and ask you some questions about your health. The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress. It’s important that home health staff see you as often as the doctor ordered.
How to Apply
In order to be eligible, you need to be homebound and have a referral from your doctor for the specific type of medical care that is needed. The Office of Aging and Disability Services offers several home care programs that provide supportive community services to older and disabled adults in order to avoid or delay nursing home placement. Hospice care, including home-based hospice care, is available for patients and their families in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties. We provide hospice care whether you are in your own home, or reside in an assisted living or long-term care facility. Inpatient hospice care also is offered at Pen Bay Medical Center or at the Sussman House on the Pen Bay Medical Center Campus in Rockport.
Services may be provided through an agency or be directed by the consumer, if allowable under the program. The State of Maine requires an assessment to determine an individual’s functional and financial eligibility for most in-home services. Control and evaluate the progress made on improving the health and well-being of residents of Maine. Assessments help individuals and families understand what services are available to them and to plan for service needs.
Maine’s health care costs are about 5% above the national average but still less than its New England neighbors. Medicaid can reduce your cost of care by covering medical expenses, but it doesn’t pay for non-medical services that in-home care companies usually provide. The good news is that waivers are available to cover the cost of home care, including HCBS waivers, the Consumer Directed Attendant Services Waiver and coverage for personal care via the Family Provider Service Option.
The quality ratings gives you an indication of the care Mainehealth Care At Home give to their patients incomparison to other home health agencies. This quality rating is based on process quality measures and patient outcome measures survey conducted by CMS. According to the latest data from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, in-home care and home health care cost $5,720 monthly in Maine.
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