A Private Duty Caregiver Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Discover everything you need to know about private duty home care so you can make the best decision for your loved ones from the experts at Miami Elite Care.

Navigating the difference between private duty home care and other types of home care- like Medicare-certified Home Health Care can be confusing for families and seniors in Miami.

The first step in understanding the difference between private duty non-medical home care and home health care, is to define the term.

Private Duty Home Care is also called non-medical home care.

This type of in-home care is typically for seniors and disabled adults who need the following non-medical services:

• Companionship
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Light laundry
• Errands and shopping
• Transportation to MD Appointments
• Help with pet care
• Help with watering flowers, getting the mail, and other caregiving duties.
• Medication reminders
• Help with personal care like bathing and dressing
• Safety in the home- to avoid wandering, leaving the stove turned on

Typically, a caregiver or home health aide will be in the home for a pre-scheduled length of time each day, or every other day, to assist the senior with these activities.

“One person caring for another is life’s greatest value.”

Jim Rohn

Next, Does Medicare or Medicaid Cover Private Duty Home Care?

Medicare does not usually cover the cost of non-medical home care. This type of care (private duty non-medical home care) is considered long-term and is usually paid for with private funds.

In certain circumstances, Florida Medicaid will pay for the cost of non-medical private duty home care. The senior must apply for Medicaid and must meet the financial requirements for Medicaid services.

To learn more, visit the Florida Medicaid website: https://www.flmedicaidmanagedcare.com/

Understand What Kind of Home Care Services Are Covered Under Medicare and Medicaid

Florida Medicaid-Covered Home Care Services

Medicaid Home Health Services

Medicaid reimburses for home health services that are rendered by licensed, Medicaid-participating home health agencies and Medicaid enrolled independent personal care providers. (1)

Medicaid reimburses for the following services:

• Home visit services provided by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse
• Home visits provided by qualified home care aides.
• Private duty nursing for children age 20 or younger.
• Personal care services for children age 20 or younger.
• This service is one of the minimum covered services for all Managed Medical Assistance, Long-term Care and Comprehensive Long-term Care plans serving Medicaid enrollees.

Medicare-Covered Home Health Care Services

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) cover eligible home health services like these: (2)

• Part-time or “intermittent” skilled nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech-language pathology services
• Medical social services
• Part-time or intermittent home health aides services (personal hands-on care)
• Injectable osteoporosis drugs for women
• Usually, a home health care agency is the employer that coordinates the services your doctor orders for you.

Medicare doesn’t pay for:

• 24-hour-a-day care at home
• Meals delivered to your home
• Homemaker services (like shopping, cleaning, and laundry), when this is the only care you need
• Custodial or personal care (like bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom), when this is the only care you need

Usually, a home health care agency coordinates the services your doctor orders for you.

If you have determined that private duty in-home care is right for you, the next step is to choose a home care agency in Miami that you can trust to provide great care.

How to Choose a Private Duty Home Caregiver

1. Talk to family, friends, and your doctor or other health care professionals about home care. Get recommendations and referrals from people you trust.
2. Look for a private duty home care agency near you. Do an online search. In Miami, consider Miami Elite Care.
3. Read reviews. Each home care agency in the Miami area will have reviews and testimonials on their website. Read those reviews and get a sense of how their clients and staff feel about their services.
4. Call and talk to more than one in-home care provider. Are they good listeners? Do they offer the types of services you need? Are they provide services in the area where you are located?

How much does a private duty home care agency charge?

Home care agencies that provide private duty home care charge various rates, depending on their services, hours, and the complexity of the care you or your aging loved-one might need.

In Miami, you can expect that the hourly rate for a home health aide or caregiver in the home is well over $20 per hour. Home care is much less expensive than assisted living or nursing home care. For more information, contact Elite Care at Home today.

What Activities Do Private Duty Home Caregivers Provide Seniors?

When home health aides or a caregiver is in your home, they are usually in charge of completing certain household tasks like:

• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Light Laundry
• Making the bed
• Running errands or grocery shopping

But caregivers also serve a much more important purpose with regard to the senior. Home health aides provide companionship, comfort, friendship, socialization, and the individual supervision needed to keep the senior safe.

Private Duty Home Care is much less expensive than assisted living or nursing home care.

When a private duty caregiver is in the home, they are courteous, friendly, and engage the senior in conversation. This helps with socialization and keeps the senior from feeling lonely, depressed, and isolated.

“There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those you are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need home health aides.”

Rosalynn Carter

So, while a caregiver or home health aide may have lots of work to do, their job is to include the senior in activities and conversation. This helps with mental health and overall health.

In summary, choosing to implement non-medical home care for your aging loved-one can benefit them in numerous ways. Their health – both physical and mental will improve when a caring home care agency is involved.

If you are considering non-medical in-home care services, talk to the friendly staff at Miami Elite Care today. We can answer your questions and help you understand more about the services we offer. Call today: (305) 231-0555

1. Agency for Health Care Administration, State of Florida: https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/Policy_and_Quality/Policy/behavioral_health_coverage/spec_health_serv/Home_Health.shtml
2. Medicare.gov: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services