Sutton In-Home Senior Care

People with limited resources can sometimes qualify for state funded caregivers through the Medicaid program.  Many good caregivers refuse these cases because of the unhealthy environments they can be forced to work in. Seniors with Medicare can typically qualify for short term in-home caregivers with physician’s orders, after a surgery or qualifying event, for a period not to exceed 60 days. Long term care insurance policies often pay for in-home caregivers.  Long term care insurance is costly and not the…

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When facing the choice of assisted living facilities or private duty in-home care, it often comes down to money.  Many people use home care as a less costly option/bridge and add hours as needed until it becomes more financially feasible to move into a higher level of care, such as assisted living.   Very social people, especially after the loss of a long-term mate, can get extremely lonely.  Hiring a caregiver can help with loneliness but sometimes, seniors are happier in…

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Seniors who are reluctant to accept care at home are often not a good fit to remain at home if they are struggling with essential tasks that, if neglected, could harm their health.  Open and honest conversations about the options available to them is a good way to start the conversation.   Utilizing an in-home care agency caregiver for a weekly minimum of say, 3-4 hours per day, 3-4 days per week under the guise of cleaning, can sometimes help get…

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Different personalities fit with different people.  Some people want a Mary Poppins type figure, while others prefer someone that can do hard work like bathing, lifting, toileting, and cleaning.  Mary Poppins may be good at baking cookies and chatting, but perhaps not so good in other more strenuous settings.  In-home care agencies often have large rosters of employees and can find one that fits your needs as well as your personality.

Most agencies require minimums of 3-4 hours per shift and weekly minimums of 12-20 hours.  While minimums may seem self-serving and only benefit the home care agency, shift minimums are in place to protect the caregivers.  Good caregivers typically won’t spend multiple hours of their day driving around town in between patients, which is time they would not be paid and would also incur considerable gas/vehicle expenses.

It really depends on the situation, but hiring an agency provides protection against a myriad of potential employment lawsuits that could arise.  Disgruntled employees can sue for all sorts of things.  Trip and falls, employment law violations, discrimination, minimum wage/overtime violations, sick leave, etc. are among the most common.  Having an agency protects you from these suits because the caregiver is an employee of the agency, not you.  Additional benefits of using a home care agency instead of hiring privately…

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It is not uncommon for patients and their families to be hesitant and scared to go onto a hospice program because of misconception, but there is nothing to fear.  Hospice is a program covered by your insurance that should be utilized as it provides some relief to caregivers working in the home.   Yes, hospice is for the family of those who choose to live out their time at home as much as it is for the patient themselves. People often…

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Hospice agencies are typically covered by Medicare/Medicaid.  Hospice agencies set up beds, administer comfort care/medications, and provide weekly nurse visits and bath aide visits.  Hospice does not cover hourly personal care that is needed for ADL’s (activities of daily living) such as cleaning, cooking, companionship, and monitoring.   Many people choose to pay a private duty home care agency to work alongside a Medicare/Medicaid funded hospice agency.  This collaboration ensures that your loved one has all the care they need in…

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The typical rate for agency private duty home care in Springfield Missouri (2025) is $31.00 to $35.00 per hour.  Most agencies charge at the upper end of this range for weekends or complex cases.

For a period typically 60 days or less, with physician orders, and after a procedure of some sort, Medicare will usually pay for up to 28 hours per week.   There are multiple requirements that need to be met.  For long term private duty home care, most people pay out of pocket or use an existing long term care insurance policy.  Long term care insurance is different than home medical insurance and is very costly.