Seniors in The Sunshine State may at some point be dependent on home care services. Several options are available to Florida residents to help them live independently in their own homes. This opportunity to age in place is valued by an overwhelming number of older adults.

Most people from 50 to 80 prefer to age in place, which simply refers to the ability to live at home independently, safely, and comfortably for as long as possible. The senior’s home will likely need to be modified to accommodate their ability to live at home.

Social support and assistance are also critical to the health and well-being of the elderly person. More than 80% of seniors report that an individual is available to help them with everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, household chores, managing finances, and personal care activities.

Home care services are among the many resources available to Florida seniors to help them live independently at home. Families and their elderly loved ones should be aware of these main types of home care options that can help seniors remain at home for as long as possible.

Overview of Home Care Options in Florida

If you or a loved one needs home care in Florida, you may have more options than you think. Before delving into each option, here is a brief overview of what you can expect from each home care option.

Home Health Agency (HHA)

• Services they can legally provide: Home health aide, homemaker companion, certified nursing assistant (CNA), nursing (LPN and RN), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy (ST), occupational therapy (OT), home medical equipment, social work, dietetics, and nutrition
• Standards for patient services: Must be accredited.
• Insurance coverage: Liability and malpractice insurance is required up to $250,000 per claim.
• How are services provided: The one seeking care contracts with the home health agency and the agency provides their employee or contracted personnel to provide care.
• Primary funding sources: Personal funding and private insurance
• Nursing supervision: Not required but can be provided.
• Federal payroll taxes: The home health agency pays their employees as well as federal payroll taxes.

Medicare or Medicaid Certified Home Health Agency (HHA)

• Services they can legally provide: Home health aide, homemaker companion, certified nursing assistant (CNA), nursing (LPN and RN), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy (ST), occupational therapy (OT), home medical equipment, social work, dietetics, and nutrition
• Standards for patient services: Must be accredited.
• Insurance coverage: Liability and malpractice insurance is required up to $250,000 per claim.
• How are services provided: The one seeking care contracts with the home health agency and the agency provides their employee or contracted personnel to provide care.
• Primary funding sources: Personal funds, private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid
• Nursing supervision: Supervisory visits are required from an RN. These visits should happen every 2 weeks for those receiving skilled care and every 60 days for those receiving personal care.
• Federal payroll taxes: The caregivers and nurses are paid by the HHA who also pays the federal payroll taxes.

Nurse Registry (NR)

• Services that can be legally provided: Home health aide, homemaker companion, certified nursing assistant (CNA), nursing (LPN and RN)
• Standards for patient services: Not accredited
• Insurance coverage: Nurse Registries are independent contractors which means they have no insurance coverage.
• How are services provided: The patient should first contact the nurse registry to be referred to a nurse. They then contract directly with the nurse and pay them as an independent contractor.  The referral fee for the nurse registry is paid by the nurse.
• Primary funding sources: Personal funds
• Nursing supervision: Nursing supervision visits are not required but patients can refer a home health aide or CNA to the registry and the registry can arrange a visit for an additional fee.
• Federal payroll taxes: Nurses from nurse registries are independent contractors so the registry does not pay federal payroll taxes.

Homemaker or Companion Organization (HCS)

• Services that can be legally provided: HCOs are not legally allowed to provide hands-on personal care.
• Standard for patient services: None
• Insurance coverage: None required
• How are services provided: The patient contacts the Homemaker or Companion Organization, and the organization provides an employee or contractor to provide care.
• Primary fund sources: Personal funds
• Nursing supervision: None required
• Federal payroll taxes: The organization pays the federal payroll taxes for their employees who provide care, but not for independent contractors.

Independent Caregiver

• Services that can be legally provided: An independent caregiver who is licensed can provide the care allowed within the scope of their license.
• Standard for patient services: None
• Insurance coverage: None required
• How are services provided: The patient contacts the caregiver directly to contract with them and make the caregiving arrangements.
• Primary fund source: Personal funds
• Nursing supervision: None required
• Federal payroll taxes: None because these caregivers are independent contractors.

Home Companion Service

Home companion services are provided by agencies that are registered with the state of Florida. As the name implies, home companion services are designed to provide sole companionship to older adults. Common responsibilities include transportation, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.

The caregiver from this type of agency can, for example, drive the senior to a doctor’s appointment or group exercise class. The professional prepares meals in accordance with the care recipient’s dietary restrictions. Dusting, doing laundry, and washing dishes are also a part of the service.

However, by state law, home companion caregivers are not permitted to provide hands-on personal care or nursing care. For instance, these professionals cannot legally assist a care recipient with bathing, toileting, or dressing. Similarly, caregivers are not allowed to provide transfer assistance or lift the senior.

Nurse Registry

Another home care option for seniors living in The Sunshine State is to hire a caregiver through a nurse registry. These professionals are licensed but not accredited. The senior’s family is responsible for managing the caregiver’s unemployment insurance, payroll taxes, and worker’s compensation insurance.

A nurse registry is simply an employment tool that can be utilized by families to find a suitable home care provider, who is essentially an independent contractor. The registry does not supervise the caregiver—the family must monitor all professional activities.

The caregiver hired through a nurse registry can legally provide several home care services. The certified nursing assistant may provide home companion services as well as certain healthcare services that do not require specialized training or that may only be performed by a licensed medical professional.

According to Florida law, the certified nursing assistant who is hired to work in a private residence is permitted to help the senior bathe, dress, use the toilet, and groom. The professional is also legally allowed to provide transfer assistance and assist the aging adult with eating.

Home Health Agency

Elderly Florida residents and their families have another highly sought-after, home care option: home health agencies. Reputable agencies are licensed, accredited, and insured. Professional caregivers working for these agencies are allowed to provide personal and skilled nursing services.

Some home health agencies may be Medicare-certified to provide acute nursing and therapy services, while others are focused on delivering optimum personal care. The agencies pass licensing and inspection processes and meet strict standards for providing quality home care services.

Responsibilities routinely undertaken by home health agency caregivers are comprehensive. Home care services include support with personal care activities, hands-on care (such as help with bathing, toileting, grooming, and dressing) as well as medication management assistance (such as medication reminders).

Supplemental home care services are also provided. Professional caregivers prepare nutritious meals and perform light housekeeping to ensure the home is clean and hygienic. Companionship is also included to promote healthy socialization and activities in the senior’s daily schedule.

Families have fewer management responsibilities when they work with a home health agency. The agency handles all payroll taxes, caregiver training, professional liability insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment coverage. The family still remains involved to ensure the senior enjoys the highest quality of life possible.

By far, choosing a home health agency is the best choice for families and seniors seeking dependable home care. Staff at the home health agency meet with the senior and the family to determine care needs and develop a customized care plan that can be updated as care needs change.

Assisting Hands Home Care

When your aging loved one would benefit from personalized support at home, choose a home health agency with stellar reviews, commitment to care, and a dedicated team of caregivers. Assisting Hands Home Care provides exceptional nonmedical in-home care to support seniors with daily tasks.

Our trained caregivers not only help care recipients with the activities of daily living, but we are skilled in providing specialized care. We offer compassionate Alzheimer’s and dementia care, where caregivers identify dementia symptoms and engage the senior in memory exercises.

Respite care is beneficial for the family caregiver who needs a break from caregiving responsibilities. We also offer overnight care and 24-hour care for seniors who require constant monitoring. If a live-in caregiver would be beneficial, our live-in care services will meet those needs.

Families enjoy maximum peace of mind knowing that caregiving professionals from Assisting Hands Home Care are background-checked, licensed, bonded, and insured. Our caregivers go through training even after they are hired to ensure they continue to provide care that exceeds your expectations.

Seniors living in Winter Garden or Windermere, Florida, have access to reliable home health care. Consult Assisting Hands Home Care when your elderly loved one is ready for a better quality of life. Call today to schedule a complimentary in-home consult and learn more about senior home care.