Long term care can be made easier by in-home care aides, writes a Wall Street Journal article published this week. But there are considerations for consumers who are making the decision to utilize home care, the Journal cautions. 

With nine out of 10 Americans wishing to age in their homes and communities, WSJ writes citing findings from AARP, home health care business are rising to meet that need. 

Navigating the home care landscape includes a look at the use of telehealth and apps among home care providers, writes WSJ, and there are different options available from those who help with activities of daily living, to those who help with shopping and cleaning and those who can provide health care. 

Costs are another consideration outlined by the WSJ. 

“The costs of home care are typically lower than in institutions such as nursing homes or assisted-living facilities,” WSJ writes. “…For many people, these prices will come out of pocket, however. Medicare typically pays for nursing and home care only when it’s medically necessary and that doesn’t tend to include personal care or round-the-clock services. Patients who are needing extra support at home or who are considering assisted living often look to long-term-care insurance to cover costs or pay privately.”

Consumers may find more home care options and offerings in the future due to a push toward managed care, WSJ says, but there are also risks including lack of social options as well as a toll on adult children. 

Read the Wall Street Journal article. 

Written by Elizabeth Ecker