Sometimes the care need is obvious before the payment piece is.
Mom needs help getting dressed in the morning.
Dad is coming home from the hospital and should not be alone all day.
A spouse has been doing everything for months and is finally saying, “I can’t keep doing this by myself.”
Then comes the next question:
“How are we going to pay for home care?”
For families in Gilbert and Chandler, that question often leads to searches about ALTCS, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, Medicare, and other ways to help cover the cost of care at home.
The good news is that there may be more than one path.
Does ALTCS Cover Home Care?
ALTCS, the Arizona Long Term Care System, may provide long-term services and support for people who meet its medical and financial eligibility requirements.
Some qualifying individuals may receive services in their own home.
However, Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler does not accept ALTCS.
If your loved one qualifies for ALTCS, you would need to work with their ALTCS health plan to find participating providers.
If ALTCS is not the right fit for your family, there may still be other ways to help pay for home care.
Long-Term Care Insurance May Help
If your parent or spouse has a long-term care insurance policy, it is worth taking a closer look at what that policy includes.
Some policies may help pay for eligible in-home care.
The challenge is that every policy is different.
There may be:
- Waiting or elimination periods
- Benefit limits
- Eligibility requirements
- Approved types of care
- Documentation requirements
- Ongoing claim forms
Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler works with families using long-term care insurance and can help make the process easier to understand.
Depending on the policy, we can help families review benefits, verify coverage information, organize documentation, and assist with the claims process.
The insurance company ultimately decides what is covered under the policy, but families do not have to feel like they are navigating the process completely alone.
Senior Helpers and CareScout
Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler is also part of the CareScout Quality Network.
For families whose long-term care insurance benefits are connected to CareScout, this may provide access to participating providers and preferred pricing.
If you have a CareScout ID or your insurance company has directed you through CareScout, let us know when you call so we can help you understand what the next steps may look like.
What About Veterans Benefits?
Veterans and surviving spouses may have additional resources available to them.
Certain VA programs, including Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, may provide additional monthly funds to qualifying veterans or survivors who already receive a VA pension.
Those funds may help with the cost of needed care.
Senior Helpers can help connect veterans and their families with available resources and provide information about programs that may help pay for home care.
We can also connect families with Veterans Service Organizations and other appropriate resources when more detailed benefits guidance is needed.
Caring for Someone With Dementia? Ask About GUIDE
Families caring for someone living with dementia may have another resource worth asking about.
Senior Helpers participates as a partner organization in the CMS GUIDE Model, which is designed to support eligible people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers.
For qualifying participants, GUIDE may provide respite support that can include in-home care.
That can give a spouse, daughter, son, or other family caregiver time to rest, run errands, attend appointments, or simply take a break.
Not everyone qualifies, but if your loved one is living with dementia, it is worth asking whether GUIDE may be an option.
What If We Are Paying Privately?
Many families in Gilbert and Chandler pay privately for some or all of their home care.
That does not necessarily mean starting with care every day.
Sometimes a family begins with:
- A few hours of companionship each week
- Morning help with bathing and dressing
- Transportation to appointments
- Meal preparation
- Respite for a spouse
- Overnight support
- Help after a hospital or rehabilitation stay
The goal is to look at the times of day when help would make the biggest difference.
Sometimes a few well-placed hours can take a surprising amount of pressure off the family.
How Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler Can Help
Depending on your loved one’s needs, our caregivers can provide:
- Personal care
- Companion care
- Meal preparation
- Medication reminders
- Transportation and errands
- Light housekeeping
- Respite care
- Overnight and extended care
- Support after a hospital or rehabilitation stay
- Specialized care and support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease
Our free in-home care assessment can also help your family understand what level of support may make sense before you make any decisions about a schedule.
Explore how ALTCS, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, the CMS GUIDE Model, and private pay may help families cover in-home care in Gilbert and Chandler.Start With a Conversation
You do not need to understand every insurance policy, ALTCS rule, VA program, or Medicare term before reaching out.
Start with something simpler:
What is becoming harder at home, and what resources does your family already have?
From there, we can help you talk through the options that may be available and what kind of support might make the most sense.
If you are looking for home care in Gilbert or Chandler and are unsure how to pay for it, reach out to Senior Helpers of Gilbert and Chandler by calling 480-908-0976. We would be happy to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand the next steps. No pressure, just support.