Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
People who are healthy tend to take most of the simple activities they do every day for granted. But for an older person, performing these activities may be a challenge. Bathing, dressing, getting in and out of a bed or chair, walking, taking a shower, going to the bathroom, or getting meals prepared can all become a problem.

Many people who require help with their activities of daily living to remain in their home. In some cases, intermittent help from a family member may be all that is needed. However, in many situations, additional help from a non family member is required.

Adult and Social Day Care Facilities
Adult Day Care facilities are designed for adults who have a need for significant supervision but who do not need to be placed in a nursing home. Adult Day Care centers offer services usually between 3 and 12 hours per days, up to 7 days per week. These facilities are particularly helpful for people who have no significant medical needs, but who may benefit from socialization and need supervision throughout the day.

Certified Home Health Agencies
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the State of Ohio licenses certain agencies to provide home health care services. These agencies (also called service providers) must meet certain standards of care and follow strict government regulations. Certified Medicare agencies are permitted to provide hands-on-care to clients, from bathing to administration of medications. They are also licensed to provide skilled nursing and therapy (physical, occupational, speech) for Medicare and Medicaid patients in their homes after a hospital or rehabilitation stay.

Home Health Aides (HHA’s)
Home health aides are trained caregivers who help people with their activities of daily living. HHA’s help clients with a wide range of activities—from bathing and dressing to medication reminders and meal preparation. They may not give medications, but they can count medications in a clients’ hand and get the medications from a “pill box”.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL’s)
Instrumental activities of daily living do not involve personal care needs. Activities may include, paying bills, cleaning and laundry. Some clients may need help with some ADL’s and IADL’s.

Medicaid
Medicaid is a program jointly funded by the federal government and the individual state.  In Ohio, it is administered by the State of Ohio. Medicaid provides health care coverage to over 53 million people, making it the largest health care program in the country. In general, Medicaid provides coverage for three basic groups of Americans:  children and their parents, the elderly and people with disabilities. Individuals must have low incomes, have few assets (such as money in the bank), and meet immigration and residency requirements.

Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance designed primarily for senior adults. Persons are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 if they have worked and paid into the Social Security system or if their spouse has paid into the system. At least a third of Medicare beneficiaries of all ages have disabilities or a long term illness that limits their daily independence.

Medicare helps to pay for a broad array of routine, acute, and preventive care; rehabilitation, mental health, and home health services; and durable medical equipment essential to the health and independence of Medicare beneficiaries.

However, Medicare’s coverage of long term care is limited to post-acute care through its benefit of skilled nursing home facility and home health care benefit.

Certain workers who become severely disabled before age 65 and no longer can work are also eligible for Medicare. These individuals must wait for a designated time period from the time the Social Security Administration determines they have a severe and permanent disability until they can begin to receive benefits.

There are two parts to Medicare: 

Part A pays for hospitalizations and for limited home health care and nursing home care.

Part B pays for physicians, lab tests and outpatient care. For more information about Medicare, check out their website: www.medicare.gov.

Nurses
Nurses are licensed by the state of Ohio. There are two types of licensed nurses. Registered nurses (RN’s) provide such services as developing a plan of care with consultation with the patient as well as their physician and family. They also administer medications (orally or intravenously) and educate the patient or family on self-care methods.

Licensed practical nurses provide most of the care that a RN does. They may not perform consultative services that registered nurses provide.

Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists work with patients to help them regain the skills they need for their day-to-day activities. For instance, an occupational therapist might teach a patient to dress, or recommend a grab bar for the bathtub of a person who is becoming stronger while bathing.

Physical Therapist
Physical therapists help restore strength, flexibility, coordination and general functions for a patient who has been disabled by an accident or illness. The focus of physical therapy is on the major muscles and getting a person to walk.

Respite Services
There are facilities and community based programs that offer respite programs that are designed to provide relief to family caregivers who handle the day-to-day responsibilities of caregiving.

Social Workers
Social workers are specialists (in the context of home care work) in helping people with medical, functional, emotional, psychological, family relationship, environmental and the challenges of living in their own homes. They are trained in counseling and what community services and support are available.

Speech Therapist or Speech Language Pathologist
Speech therapist help patients regain their abilities for speech as well as facilitate their communication skills.