If your elderly parents need a little extra assistance, in home nursing care can provide your parents with the assistance they need while allowing your parents to still stay in their home. In home nursing care providers can provide a variety of different services, from medication reminders to physical assistance with hygiene issues to Alzheimer's care to skilled nursing care. There are a variety of factors that affect the cost of in home care and various methods of paying for in home care.

Factors That Influence Cost

There are three primary factors that influence the cost of in-home care. One of the primary factors that drive cost it the level of home care services that the company provides. You are going to pay more for skilled nursing care than you are going to have to pay for non-medical care, as those two types of care require someone with very different skills sets, qualifications and education levels. The more highly skilled the assistance is that your parents need, the more you are going to pay for it.

The second primary factors is the area of the country where your parents live. If there is an abundance of in-home caregivers in that area, the costs may be lower than in areas where there is a higher demand for in-home caregivers.

Finally, most in-home care providers charge on an hourly basis, so your overall total will be based on how many hours were worked and the level of service provided.

Invoicing for Payment

Your elderly parents are never going to be asked to pay an in-home care worker directly for their care. Your parents should not be asked to exchange money directly with any worker. Instead, whoever is in charge of your parents finances will be invoiced, generally on a weekly basis, for the care that they received. These invoices are sent out after the fact and should include an itemized breakdown of the care that your parents received and information about when they received such care.

Medical Billing Assistance

You may not have to pay for your parent's medical care out of your own pocket. Medicare generally covers instances where skilled in home nursing is required.  You will have to go through an application process to see if your parents qualify for this type of coverage. If one of your parents is a veteran, they may qualify for a reimbursement program, Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.

Other sources can be used to pay for your parent's care, such as flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts and a reverse mortgage. Most in-home care providers have individuals who can help you with figuring out who to bill and where to get assistance to pay for in-home care. 

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