Understanding the Meaning of Custodial Care in a Home Setting

When using a long term care policy, custodial care means non-skilled long term care services.  Assistance with daily living such as transfer assistance, bathing and feeding are just a few example of non medical custodial care.

Long Term Care Benefit

Often times families and clients requests the use of their long term care policy as an acceptable payor source when retaining our services for hourly care at home.  At Accountable Home Care, we are proud to accept the benefits and work directly with insurance if it is easier for the client and the family.

When using a long term care policy, care services tend to relate to the following covered care services:

*It is very important to verify directly with the long term insurance provider and utilize your original long term care policy for further clarification and guidelines.

• Attending an Adult Day Care Center offering respite services.  This allows for a family to seek a comfortable and safe environment outside the patient’s home.  Adult day care is a great option for senior citizens who may benefit from socialization.  Typically the primary caregiver is an adult child that works and the aging parent no longer can be left home alone while the adult child works.
• Home Health Care – Skilled Registered Nursing Visits and/or home physical therapy services.  Hospice at home is another form of home health care but can also be at an actual inpatient center.
• Assisted Living Facility resident or a resident of a Long Term Care Nursing Home.

If you or someone you love has a long term care policy, a patient care coordinator from Accountable Home Care can discuss home care services.  It is always helpful to have your long term care policy available so a representative from our nurse registry and your long term care agent can review the terms with you.   It is important to us that clients have a complete understanding if there are any out of pocket expenses prior to the long term care insurance paying for care.  Most people that ask for assistance have never used their long term care policy and the process seems overwhelming.  Families and clients alike can be assured we can ease any uncertainties to ensure the claim filing is not a painful process.

Benefits of Using a Long Term Care Policy for Custodial Care

We help facilitate opening an insurance claim with the long term care insurance provider and the patient.  Common terms such as Elimination Periods, Monthly or Daily Benefit, Care Advisory Services, Stay at Home Benefits and Assistance with Daily Living Requirements are discussed as part of the intake process.

Activities of Daily Living and Senior Care

Activities of Daily Living is a term used when discussing care for the elderly or the disabled. Activities of daily living are duties a person needs to do in order to be safe. As we age, care may be required to help a family member or a patient called ADLs. ADLs are referred to as “activities of daily living” which includes bathing, dressing, continence, eating, toileting, and/or transferring.

Using a Long Term Care Policy for Personal Care Services

When a patient opens a claim with a long term care insurance company, care time sheets/notes must reflect activities of daily living as qualifiers. A change in medical condition often times requires a caregiver in a home for an elderly family member. At Accountable Home Care, we offer flexible hours designed to meet your lifestyle. Whether you need daily care or short term respite, Accountable Home Care in Palm Beach Gardens is here for you and your family.

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Your patient care coordinator at Accountable Home Care can assist you or a family member with applying for the free service through Palm Beach County. Please call the office to get more information at 561-320-0055 or click here for the application.

The following is a link to register at Special Needs Program if you are a resident living in Martin County.  Click Here

CPR is required for all caregivers referred by Accountable Home Care, Inc. by the State of Florida.  Records of CPR training is maintained by our nurse registry.  A copy of the caregiver’s CPR card (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)(CPR) certification from an instructor or training provider that is approved to provide training by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or the Health and Safety Institute stays in the caregiver’s file.

Home health aides (HHAs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) that are trained can only assist a client with medication in its previously dispensed, prescription labeled container or over-the-counter medication that has directions per State of Florida law. A Homemaker/Companion can only remind a client to take their medicine.

“Home health aide” otherwise known as H.H.A. means a person who is trained or qualified, as provided by rule, and who provides hands-on personal care, performs simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services, assists in ambulation or exercises, or assists in administering medications.

Companion” or “sitter” means a person who spends time with or cares for an elderly, handicapped, or convalescent individual and accompanies such individual on trips and outings and may prepare and serve meals to such individual. A companion may NOT provide hands-on personal care to a client. At Accountable Home Care, we refer only licensed caregivers that are either home health aides or certified nursing assistances that can offer companionship AND hands-on personal care.

Maintaining continuity of care is important for our clients. Commonly known as “split shifts”, the morning shift is designed to assist a client with their morning routine. Often referred to as rise and shine service, a four hour minimum is required with each shift. It is rather challenging to staff a client’s wish with a split shift, however, it is up to the licensed caregiver to determine if they will accept both morning and evening shift. Evening shifts require a four hour minimum and generally clients request 6pm to 10am.

Yes, we have a number of licensed caregivers able to provide clients with a one hour bath visit. Whether a client is in need of a bath for soaking or a shower, families and client’s alike can feel good knowing personal hygiene has been attended to. For some clients that may be hesitate in starting care, a bath visit can be a great way to give home care a try.

In the State of Florida an aide can only change a non sterile bandage. If a patient asks for assistance and the doctor’s order requires a sterile dressing than this is considered skilled nursing care and requires both a script from a physician and an LPN or higher. Only non sterile applications apply to the scope of a home health aide’s or a certified nursing assistant’s license.

Hiring a licensed caregiver to provide non-medical home care in the home does not require a prescription from a doctor. Often times a physician will write a prescription for a home health aide to assist in conjunction with other services requiring a prescription such as Medicare Home Health Services. Medicare Home Health requires a prescription from a physician.

Caregivers have the discretion to drive a client to a doctor’s appointment or any errand in their own vehicle. This is considered part of the care requirement at the initial assessment where the caregiver who accepts the case is aware of the transportation request and agrees to get reinbursed a set amount for mileage reinbursement.

Under the State of Florida, Certified Nursing Assistants can assist a patient when the patient squeezes the eye drop bottle. The caregiver can assist the patient by holding steady the patient’s arm when they self administer the eye drops.

Caregivers can assist a patient with personal grooming. A licensed caregivers can file a patient’s nails down versus nail cutting.

A: Companions often referred to as a “sitter” means a person who spends time with or cares for an elderly, handicapped, or convalescent individual. Companions referred to clients at Accountable Home Care are either licensed home health aides (HHAs) or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Unlike an unlicensed individual, these caregivers are professionally trained and licensed to transfer and care for the elderly. The caregivers we refer have their Level 2 Background Check, current CPR certification, general liability insurance, driver’s license among other credentials required by the State of Florida.

A licensed caregiver can remind a patient to take their medication. Under the State of Florida LPNs and RNs are able to administer medication and provide medication management. A home health aide or a certified nursing assistant can only remind a patient to take medications. A CNA or HHA cannot even fill a pill box. Often times a family member fills pill boxes or a spouse and then the caregiver just reminds them to take the medicine as instructed by the doctor.

Light housekeeping is designed for a caregiver to maintain the cleanliness and walking path of the area in the home for their patient. Light housekeeping is wiping down the kitchen countertop after preparing a lunch and wiping down the shower door. Light housekeeping does not mean heavy scrubbing, moving furniture or cleaning out cupboards.