Home Health Aides
Home health aides provide medical and personal care if you are elderly or disabled living in your own home or a residential care facility. Home health aides work under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or therapist to provide health services. The home health aide is required to record the services performed and your condition and progress.Personal and home health aides—also called homemakers, caregivers, companions, and personal attendants—provide housekeeping and routine personal care services. They clean clients’ houses, do laundry, and change bed linens. Aides may plan meals (including special diets), shop for food, and cook. Aides may also help clients move from bed, bathe, dress, and groom. Some accompany clients outside the home, serving as a guide and companion.
Medicare may pay for home health aide and homemaker services only if the individual requires skilled nursing care or therapy. The individual must also be homebound, have a plan of care that is prepared and signed by a physician, and the services are performed by a Medicare-certified home health care agency. Your state Medicaid program or Medicaid waiver program may pay for home health aides and homemakers if you qualify. Private long-term care insurance may also pay for health aide/homemaker services.
Reference:
www.medicare.gov/LongTermCare/Static/HomeCare