If your loved one suffers from dementia or another condition, he or she might need help with completing daily tasks. Many seniors benefit from receiving custodial care. Here is some information from Elder Care Direction about custodial care and what you might expect.
What is custodial care?
Non-medical people provide custodial care. These professionals assist elderly adults who have mental, physical, or medical conditions with completing the daily tasks that they would have trouble completing by themselves.
Custodial care may be provided by caregivers who do not have formal training in personal care as well as by professionals. The tasks that are involved with custodial care include routine things such as bathing, eating, mobility assistance, and toileting. Because the tasks are routine, formal training is not required.
In-home caregivers or assisted living aides often provide custodial care. Insurance or Medicaid sometimes pays for the costs. However, this type of care is normally covered only when the patients are in nursing homes.
What are the duties of caregivers who provide custodial care?
Custodial caregivers do not typically offer medical care. Instead, they help with routine daily tasks. Some of the tasks that you might expect your loved one to receive from custodial care include the following:
- Meal preparation and grocery shopping
- Mobility assistance to help seniors to get around their homes and other places
- Transporting seniors to their appointments
- Help with dressing
- Help with toileting and bathing
While companion care is focused on providing emotional and social support, custodial care involves helping with additional tasks.
Skilled care vs. custodial care
Patients who require medical care will need skilled care. These people may be recovering from illnesses or are receiving end-of-life care. The people who provide skilled care services are often nurses and are able to provide more in-depth care. They might administer medication, care for wounds and catheters, provide physical therapy, and give injections.
If a patient only needs help with daily tasks, skilled care might be unneeded. Custodial care is meant for long-term, daily care for seniors.
How much does custodial care cost?
It is important for you to understand the costs of custodial care if you believe that your loved one might need it. Several different things can contribute to how much custodial care costs.
The cost will be impacted by the amount of care that your loved one needs. For example, if your loved one needs full-time, live-in care, it will be more expensive than if he or she only needs care on an as-needed basis or part-time. You might also expect to pay more if you get help from an agency to find someone who is qualified. Other factors that can influence the cost will include whether your loved one needs in-home care, care in a residential facility, or if he or she simply needs adult day care. If your loved one has a memory disorder, custodial care may also be more expensive.
In 2017, the average cost for non-medical care providers in the home was $3,994 per month. For home health aides, the average cost was $4,099 per month. Finally, the average cost of adult day care was $1,517 per month.
Paying for custodial care
Custodial care is normally not paid for by health insurance. It may be difficult to pay for this type of care out of your pocket. However, there are some ways that might help you to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
If custodial care is prescribed by your loved one’s doctor, Medicare will cover the cost for custodial care that is provided by Medicare-licensed caregivers for up to 100 days. Medicaid will pay for custodial care if it is provided in a nursing home. If you are wanting in-home care, you will have to find a different option to pay for it. In-home care may be covered by long-term care insurance. If your loved one has long-term care insurance, it will help to cover custodial care. It can help to pay for custodial care in your loved one’s home.
Whether custodial care is provided for your loved one by a family member or as a portion of comprehensive long-term care, it is an important part of the care that he or she receives. Many families find that caregiving in the home can be a practical solution for their loved ones’ care needs.
Get help from Elder Care Direction
As your loved one grows older, he or she might need help with routine tasks. Custodial care might help your loved one to remain in his or her home for a longer period of time. To learn more about custodial care and whether it might be a good option for your loved one, contact Elder Care Direction to schedule a consultation by filling out our online contact form.
