Over the past 10 years, the number of adults over 65 living in the Bay Area has reportedly increased by 48%. In 2060, the older adult population in the area is projected to increase by 120%.
If you have a parent who is part of this population, chances are their safety and well-being are real concerns that may always be in the back of your mind. Maybe they aren’t as safe or independent as they say.
Perhaps you live nearby but can’t be there for them every day. You may have already tried to bring up the conversation about their care, but have been struck down because they want to hold on to their independence.
Your parent may already have agreed to let a professional care for them, but perhaps their safety is your concern; “Can I actually trust someone I don’t really know to be constantly in my parent’s home?”
All these concerns are valid. It’s perfectly natural to worry about their well-being, and there’s nothing wrong with exploring your options.
This article aims to help you determine when home care is the right choice, and how to best bring up the conversation without damaging your relationship with your parent. Specifically, it will:
- Explain the often-missed signs that an older adult needs in-home support
- Illustrate how home care and home health work in San Jose, including what’s realistic, what’s not, and what’s essential when choosing a care plan for your parent
Read on to learn how professional in-home care can actually protect their independence, and not take it away.
Common Reasons Families Seek Home Health Care in San Jose
Approximately 15% of the population in San Jose is 65 and older. While the median age in the city is 38, senior care in San Jose is still a real concern as those numbers are predicted to increase in the coming years.
So why do families resort to home care or home health services? Here are some common reasons why:
- Older adults want to live at home as long as possible, even if their circumstances may get in the way of their autonomy.
- Home care services allow aging in place in San Jose, or in a familiar setting rather than an institutionalized one.
- Social circumstances like personal finances, living conditions, and housing ownership may also influence an older adult’s decision to consider home care services.
- Some adult children consider this option to avoid causing family issues, like disagreements between couples, conflict between siblings, and lack of time and resources to fulfill both work- and care-related responsibilities to their elderly parents.
- Families in neighborhoods like Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, and Downtown San Jose may also choose home health care to avoid long hospital commutes.
What “Home Health Care” Means in California
Home health care refers to services involving visiting older adults in their homes to help reduce the effects of a disability, disorder, or disease, and to maintain their health.
This type of service aims to aid individuals over 65 to help them function better in a home environment that may have become unfriendly to them due to physical or mental changes.
It involves a variety of services ranging from skilled home health to non-medical home care.
Skilled home health care can be provided in the client’s home by licensed medical professionals like nurses and doctors. In contrast, non-medical home care services can be performed by professional caregivers who are not required to have a medical license.
Not all agencies are allowed to provide home health care services. There are federal laws in place. For instance, 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 484 details the home health care policies agencies should adhere to to ensure patient care quality and safety.
Licensing, Oversight, and Care Standards in California
While federal regulations are focused on guidelines to help home health practitioners participate in the Medicare program, California has more comprehensive policies regarding licensure.
For instance, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is responsible for issuing licenses to home health agencies. Meanwhile, home care organizations are evaluated and licensed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
Healthcare agencies and facilities need to undergo the CDPH’s Licensing and Certification Program.
The CDPH is responsible for managing and regulating the licenses of over 11,000 healthcare facilities in California. The department aims to put the safety, well-being, and quality care of all patients and citizens first.
Even a previously licensed home health agency is subject to a comprehensive license renewal process to ensure that it is compliant with state and federal regulations.
Meanwhile, the CDSS’ Home Care Services Branch (HCSB) oversees the licensing of home care organizations.
Some of the branch’s duties include processing applications, receiving and responding to customer complaints, and conducting investigations and unannounced visits to ensure that home care agencies are compliant with federal and state regulations.
The HCSB is also responsible for processing home care aide applications and maintaining the home care aide registry.
Types of Home Health Care Services Available in San Jose, CA
There is a range of home health services clients can receive at home; it all depends on their situation and the extent of care their case requires.
With the help of a doctor, your loved one can get an assessment on which care plan best fits their case and the home health care service required.
Here are some of the home health care services available, depending on the provider and your location:
Skilled Medical Home Health Services
Doctor Care
Doctors may visit your home to diagnose or treat your loved one. They may also occasionally assess your loved one’s home health care needs.
Nursing Care
This involves skilled nursing at home services and is the most common form of home health care. After a consultation with the doctor, a registered nurse (RN) will arrange a care plan for your loved one.
The service encompasses a range of needs, including the following:
- Intravenous (IV) therapy
- Wound dressing
- Ostomy care (surgical operation involving the intestinal or urinary tract and the abdomen)
- General health monitoring
- Pain control
- Miscellaneous health support
Physical Therapy
Following an injury or illness, some individuals may require assistance relearning how to perform daily duties. A physical therapist is responsible for developing a plan of care aimed at helping a patient regain or strengthen their use of muscles and joints.
Occupational Therapy
If the older adult in your family is living with developmental, physical, social, or emotional disabilities and may need help relearning basic functions like bathing, dressing, and eating, they can rely on an occupational therapist to help with their care.
Speech Therapy
Some individuals may experience speech and language impairments following an illness or injury. A speech therapist is trained to help them with their speech issues and relearn their ability to communicate clearly.
Medical Social Services
If the senior in your family needs counseling or locating community resources to help them with their recovery, a medical social worker is one of the best people to handle their case.
Some of these experts also serve as a case manager if the medical condition involved is complicated and the care plan involves the coordination of multiple services.
Laboratory and X-ray Imaging
For individuals who are unable to go to clinics or hospitals, they have the option to undergo laboratory tests, such as urine and blood examinations, in the comfort of their home.
In cases where diagnostic imaging is involved, lab technicians may bring portable X-ray machines to perform such services at the patient’s home.
Pharmaceutical Services
If your elder family member needs services that require medicines or medical equipment to be delivered at home, this is an excellent option. Some examples include injections, medication management, or IV therapy.
Some patients may get training on how to take medicines or even use the equipment.
Non-Medical In-Home Care
Basic Assistance or Homemaker Care
During the period your loved one is undergoing medical care at home, an individual (known as a homemaker) may help with chores or tasks to maintain the household.
Their responsibilities may include doing the laundry, preparing meals, buying groceries, or keeping a checklist of housekeeping items.
Companionship
Older adults who are living alone may need a companion to help assist with their activities of daily living (ADL) or simply to get comfort and companionship.
Some of these professionals may also perform duties around the home. In-home senior care involves services like companionship.
Nutritional Support
This type of service falls under the non-medical in-home category as long as the scope is limited to meal planning, eating encouragement, and grocery shopping.
It should not involve clinical nutrition therapy or dietary assessments or plans as a skilled dietitian or nutrition specialist is required for more comprehensive nutritional support.
Volunteer Care
This type of service involves volunteers from communities or nonprofit organizations who can provide basic comfort to individuals in need of companionship, transportation, and help with personal care, emotional support, or even tasks like paperwork.
Home-Delivered Meals
In some communities, this service is known as Meals on Wheels and is available to individuals who cannot leave their home and are unable to cook for themselves. The extent of this service depends on the person’s needs.
For instance, hot meals can be delivered to the patient’s home multiple times throughout the week.
Transportation
Some organizations assist patients who have no means of transportation to and from a medical facility or clinic for physical examinations or treatment.
Specialty Services
Home Health Aide Care
This type of service involves personal care with limited health-related tasks that require nurse supervision.
What to Look for in a Senior In-Home Care Provider
According to the National Institute on Aging, before signing an agreement with a home care agency in San Jose or with any other healthcare provider, you should ensure the following:
- Local and state licensing and accreditation
- The year the agency was established (how long have they been providing care management services?)
- Services
- Schedule and hours
- Continuity of care (will a small, consistent team take care of your loved one?)
- Care provider’s background and experience (those with referrals are better)
- Care team’s training
- Care provider’s emergency response (is the agency available in case your loved one undergoes an emergency? What emergency care types can the team provide?)
- Communication (how will the agency communicate the needs of your elderly loved one with you?)
- Point of contact (whom should you seek if you want to get in touch with the care provider?)
- Contract cancellations (how much notice is required if the older adult in your life no longer needs in-home care services?)
Be thorough when evaluating a potential care provider. Ask around your neighborhood, check the company’s credibility online, and look through reviews from third-party websites.
If you’re looking for quality care for your loved one in San Jose, consider trusted in-home senior care providers like Care Indeed.
With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, we’ve been the go-to provider of over 5,000 customers and over 100 partner facilities. We offer hourly, daily, and 24/7 home care options depending on your loved one’s needs.
Still unsure? You can read through what our satisfied clients and partners have to say.
Costs, Insurance, and Payment Considerations
If you’re wondering about home health care costs in San Jose, according to a Cost of Care survey, the hourly median fees of in-home care range from $43 to $44. However, it all depends on your loved one’s healthcare needs.
For cases involving conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia, personalized care may start at $45 per hour.
Meanwhile, a care plan that requires more skilled and licensed professionals like nurses, the minimum hourly cost may be $110.
Still, these costs can be mitigated by checking if your loved one has a long-term insurance plan.
You may also explore other options like government-funded “entitlement programs” that may help pay for a percentage of the home care services available for a select target group of seniors.
Consult your local area agency on aging if there are any active programs available in San Jose or in other areas in Santa Clara County.
Elderly veterans or their spouses may also have options to help them pay for home care services. A representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs may help determine if your family member qualifies for this benefit.
Alternatives to Home Health Care
If you’re still unsure about in-home care, you may consider assisted living in San Jose if it’s more suitable for your senior family member.
Assisted living is a type of residential care for seniors or individuals living with disabilities and are in need of assistance with activities of daily living and require access to medical care while maintaining their independence.
This living arrangement is suitable for individuals who prefer some degree of independence and access to help as needed. These facilities are designed to simulate a residence, veering away from the clinical look of hospitals and nursing homes.
Residents may choose to stay in the facility in the short- to long-term.
How Families Can Start Evaluating Options
Choosing home health care for your loved one in San Jose should be a well-thought-out decision that isn’t made as a reaction to a crisis. Hence, careful planning and consideration should be done ahead of time.
If possible, it’s also important to seek your elderly loved one’s agreement so that you arrive at a mutual decision borne out of love and respect.
However, if you’re noticing the following, it’s best to seek the attention of a care professional:
- Changes in behavior, hygiene, physical conditions, or even cognitive health
- A decline in your loved one’s health
- Problems related to driving or mobility
- Sudden loss of financial control
- Frequent manifestation of wounds and injuries
- Issues taking medications
Care Indeed provides licensed home health and in-home care services to families throughout San Jose and the greater Santa Clara County area. We are dedicated to helping you and the older adults of your family navigate this stage in your lives with compassion and grace.
Get started by contacting us or taking a care assessment to determine the appropriate care for your loved one.
