In 2016, the national average cost for non-medical home care was $20 per hour, with state rates ranging from $15 to $26 per hour. These rates typically apply to professional home care agencies, including essential background checks, insurance coverage, and alternative caregiver options if someone is unavailable on short notice. Private caregivers are an alternative, often costing 20-30% less, but they may lack these protections.
Qualify for No-Cost Long-Term Care?
Assisting Hands Home Care, serving Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk (including Lakeland), and Sarasota Counties in Tampa Bay, Florida, offers eligible individuals no-cost long-term care at home through select Medicaid plans. This option enables people needing ongoing care to stay in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for institutional care like nursing homes.
Medicaid Waivers and Programs Available
Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-Term Care (LTC) Program
This program supports individuals eligible for nursing home-level care who prefer receiving it at home or in their community. Services provided by Assisting Hands include personal care, homemaking, companionship, and respite care.
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers
Florida offers waivers, such as the iBudget Waiver for individuals with developmental disabilities, designed to support independent living. Note: Assisting Hands is not a provider for the iBudget Waiver.
Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Managed Care Plan
This plan helps children with complex medical needs receive nursing and other home-based care from Assisting Hands, allowing them to stay home rather than in a long-term facility.
Eligibility for Long-Term Care at Home
To qualify, individuals must demonstrate the need for daily assistance or custodial care. Eligibility typically depends on significant health needs and a preference for home-based care over nursing home care. Additionally, Medicaid has income and asset limits, but Florida offers options like Medicaid for the Aged and Disabled (MEDS-AD) to help those slightly above these limits qualify. For assistance with eligibility, Assisting Hands can recommend an elder law attorney.
Those meeting the following criteria can receive services under the SMMC LTC program:
- Aged 65+ and eligible for Medicaid, or 18+ with a disability
- Assessed by the Department of Elder Affairs’ CARES unit to meet nursing home-level care requirements
For more details, visit the SMMC LTC website.
Pre-Authorization Process
- Assessment: A healthcare professional (e.g., social worker or case manager) will assess the individual to determine care needs, including the hours of weekly care.
- Authorization: The Medicaid Health Plan will authorize Assisting Hands Gulf Coast as your provider, covering services at no cost. Make sure to specify Assisting Hands Gulf Coast as your preferred provider to your case manager.
Covered Services by Assisting Hands and Partners
- Assisting Hands Personal Care Assistance: Support with daily activities like bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating to promote independence.
- Skilled Nursing: Partner providers offer skilled nursing for complex medical conditions, medication management, and more.
- Therapeutic Services: Physical, occupational, and speech therapies may be available based on individual needs.
How to Apply for Medicaid Long-Term Care in Florida
For information or to apply, contact a local Florida Medicaid office or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER. Assisting Hands can guide you through the Medicaid application and pre-authorization processes.
Benefits of Assisting Hands’ Medicaid-Covered Home Care
- Cost Savings: Qualifying individuals can receive care at no cost, avoiding the expenses of private home care.
- Quality of Life: In-home care enables individuals to maintain independence, improve quality of life, and avoid nursing homes when possible.
To apply, call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER. Already eligible? Let your case manager know that you prefer Assisting Hands Gulf Coast as your home care provider.
For compassionate and personalized care, contact Assisting Hands Home Care in Tampa, FL, and the surrounding areas in Manatee and Hillsborough County, FL. With Florida’s Medicaid long-term care and home-based services, eligible individuals can receive essential assistance to live safely and comfortably at home.
