CPA DENVER Homecare vs Home Health Care ELDERLINK

HOMECARE vs HOME HEALTHCARE  ELDERLINK  http://elderlink.com/

Karen Moorehead, the President of Elderlink Home Care, Inc (303.734.0641) provided the following article describing the basic difference between Homecare vs Home Health care.  I appreciate her making the distinction in the following article:

Twenty-five  years ago, when Elderlink Home Care, Inc. first opened its Denver doors, the idea of seniors receiving care at home was still new.  Back then, when loved ones were diagnosed with illness or recovering from surgery, they were usually placed in a long-term care facility by doctors or family members.  Most people expected they would go to a nursing home or care facility if they found they were no longer able to live at home without assistance.  In-home care was new and many people were still unaware of it as an option. Elderlink was the first company in the Denver metro area created specifically to meet the non-medical homecare needs of seniors.  A lot has changed in 25 years! 

The term homecare is used to define non-medical care or custodial care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel; the term home health care refers to care that is provided by licensed personnel.

Study after study has shown that by far, the majority of seniors want to stay in their own homes as long as possible.  Homecare is credited with helping to reduce stress and increase life expectancy.  Living at home creates a sense of mental and physical well-being for the elderly. Through the years, many companies have come into existence to help seniors reach their goals of living at home.  

Today there are over 20,000 companies in the United States providing homecare to seniors and that number is expected to increase. Homecare can be a cost- effective alternative to nursing homes and hospitals and can help to postpone or prevent the need for other, more expensive forms of care.  Despite the graying of the population, the percentage of elderly living in nursing homes has declined, according to recent Census data. The decline reflects the improved health of seniors and more choices for care. In 2006, about 7.4% of Americans aged 75 and older lived in nursing homes, compared with 10.2% in 1990 (USA Today).   Today, home care for seniors has a new urgency, dubbed “the senior tsunami.” A wave of retiring and aging boomers will soon flood homecare providers.  By 2020, it is estimated that 12 million older Americans will need long-term care.

The number of changes people face as they age can be overwhelming. Illness, immobility, and the possibility of leaving the comfort of one’s home can contribute to depression and anxiety. When a person is ill or in recovery, nothing can match the security and comfort of home.  Homecare provides individualized assistance that is tailored to personal needs and helps maintain independence and dignity.

Access to quality homecare is vital to the health of our seniors and our community.  In metro Denver, seniors are fortunate to have many choices for their homecare needs.  One thing is for certain, the options and services available to seniors are sure to change as much in the next 25 years as they did in the previous 25 years. 

For more information on how homecare can help you or a loved one, call Karen Moorehead, President of Elderlink Home Care, Inc., 303-734-0641