The job of home health aides
There are millions of senior citizens out there who live independently, away from their children and relatives. They prefer to do everything independently, but there may come a time when their aging body gives up, and they will require external help.
Their physical health often renders them incapable of carrying out their routine tasks, such as cleaning, bathing, dressing up, cooking, and eating. Moreover, some may suffer from degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which can put them in bad shape. Or that, you can search for the community that can help you find an assisted living in Rhode Island where your parents can receive the proper care.
This is where home health aides come into the picture. These professionals provide care to aging people right at their homes and help them live a comfortable and independent life. Some private assistance companies, also pronounced as ‘personlig assistans bolag‘ in Swedish, provide services to people suffering from disabilities.
Running a home health aide business can be tricky because the caregiver will carry the patient’s health and well-being. In case of any negligence, the patient or their family can file a suit against the business for professional mistakes and negligence. This is where insurance for home health aides can protect the business. You can find out more about this insurance here.
How much do home health aides charge per hour?
Home health aides charge their patients for their service on an hourly basis. In most states in the country, home health aides charge $20 to $30 from patients per hour.
On the other hand, a highly skilled nurse often charges $40 to $80 from patients per hour. It is to be noted that the services of these nurses are not required by patients all the time. If you choose to work with a home health aide, your senior family member is sure to get the much-needed care without incurring a hefty hourly charge. As such, the charges of home health aides are much lower compared to full-time nurses.
In 2019, nationwide, the average hourly fee charged by home health aides was $22. Nonetheless, different states have different average rates, ranging from $16 to $30 per hour.
What factors determine the charges of home health aides?
As seen above, the average cost of hiring home health aides differs extensively. It mostly depends on the health services that the patient needs.
Everything will depend on a host of other factors, which are as follows:
- The nature of services required by the patient – Simply put, the cost of home health aide services will depend precisely on the type of service that the patient requires. Many services home health aides can offer. The hourly charge will depend on the amount of work that the caregiver needs to do.
For instance, a senior, active person who cannot drive around the town depends on transportation services to run errands. Such a person will pay much less to the home health aide than someone who needs assistance with almost every task.
- Type of disabilities – Patients who are seriously disabled, either due to a disease or injury, will require special home services. If the circumstances of the case are such that they don’t require a professional nurse, they will have to pay a reasonable amount to a home health aide to ensure they are getting the help they need.
- The number of hours worked – The fee charged by home health aide depends on the number of hours they put into their work. The longer they work, the more they charge. While some patients hire home health aides on a full-time basis, it proves more affordable to have someone on a part-time basis. They even supplement the service with proper family caregiving.
- Place of residence – The cost of living of the state in which the patient resides also influences the rate charged by home health aides. Some could land up paying more or less depending on demand for the service in the market.
A home health aide is an essential service for an aging person. Knowing these rates in advance will help you choose a care scheme that suits your pocket and the patient’s needs.