[This article was written by Elizabeth A.
White, CELA* an attorney with Marshall,
Parker and Weber].
Is
a personal care home the same as a nursing home? This is a common question for
families looking into care options for themselves or their loved ones. The
answer is, no, although sometimes the two get confused.
Personal
care homes are residences that provide seniors support with instrumental
activities of daily living and/or activities of daily living. Assistance with instrumental
activities of daily living can include help with housekeeping and laundry,
medication management, shopping and meal preparation, using the telephone, and
making appointments. Examples of activities of daily living that personal care
homes may provide assistance with include eating, toileting, personal hygiene,
and bathing. Each personal care home can provide a description of what services
they provide to their senior residents. Usually there are more and more varied
activities available to seniors in personal care homes than to those in nursing
homes, because personal care residents are better able to participate than
those living in a nursing home setting.
Although
nursing homes also provide assistance with many of the activities listed above,
seniors needs in a personal care home do not meet the higher level of services
provided in a nursing home. While seniors in personal care home environments
need some help with care, this help can successfully be provided in a more
community like setting.
Personal
care homes are licensed by the Department of Human Services to protect the
health, safety, and well being of the residents. There is staff available at
personal care homes at all times in case of emergency, but not necessarily
medical staff. Personal care homes are not reimbursed by Medicaid, and
therefore you cannot apply for Medicaid benefits to pay for living in a
personal care home. Options for payment include private pay and Veterans
benefits. Generally, personal care home level of care is less expensive than
nursing home level of care.
Nursing
homes provide a higher level of care than personal care homes. Like personal
care homes, nursing homes are also licensed and inspected, but under a
different set of standards. Skilled nursing and certain medical treatments are
provided in nursing homes and medical supervision is available 24/7. Nursing
homes do accept third party reimbursement though benefit programs such as
Medicare and Medicaid.
It
is difficult decision for a senior to move from their home. Well intentioned
children or family members often think that their parent or loved one needs to
move from living independently to a nursing home. A personal care home may be a
good in-between to provide the required services to the senior, but allow the
senior more autonomy than they may have in a nursing home setting. Detailed assessments of a senior’s assistance
needs can help to determine the best place for a senior to thrive.
____ __________________ *Certified Elder
Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation under authorization of the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
No comments:
Post a Comment