In one of the most understandable survey results produced by AARP, 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 said they wanted to stay in their current home as they grow older. However, the realities of aging in place make that goal a hard one to maintain, especially for people in their 80s and 90s. As you get older, it’s harder to do all the things you used to be able to do yourself around the house, from lawn care and routine maintenance to even the daily cleaning. Not only that, but some people have medical needs that might call for extra help, such as challenges in dressing or bathing.

At Piedmont Home Care, our talented team of caregivers can help you and your loved ones age in place when possible. However, sometimes knowing help is out there is only one hurdle. Figuring out how to pay for in-home care is another obstacle. Luckily, there are a few options and resources to help allow people to age in place comfortably and safely.

Private Pay. Many people who contract in-home caregivers opt to pay out of pocket, what’s called private pay, as you’re not filing through any type of insurance. This can be done with retirement savings or annuities. You might also have a life insurance policy that could be cashed out to take advantage of accelerated death benefits.

Medicaid and Veterans Affairs benefits. Both of these services pay for limited types and amounts of in-home care. The care must be medically necessary to be covered.

Medicare. The original Medicare plans, like Medicaid, also cover medically necessary home health care on a limited basis. This includes skilled nursing; occupational, physical and speech therapy; and home health aide services. Help with daily activities might also be covered on a limited or part-time basis, if ordered by a physician. Medicare Advantage plans offer broader coverage on the in-home services.

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). North Carolina is one of 32 states participating in PACE programs, a program of Medicaid and Medicare created to serve as an incentive to keep seniors out of nursing homes. It is a managed care program for adults, and in order to qualify you must be considered frail enough to qualify for nursing home care.

Call Piedmont Home Care to learn more about our services and how you might qualify.