Most people who’ve worked in healthcare for any length of time have heard the story before. It usually comes from a family member in need of home-based medical services for a loved one and goes something like, “My mother was discharged home from the hospital and has a really nice caregiver. But she can’t give Mom her medications or help with other nursing duties. I don’t know what to do.”
The challenge for these families and patients is they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. California law doesn’t allow “non-medical” caregiver agencies to perform medical duties, which includes medication administration and other commonly-needed tasks. Yet, Medicare “home health” nursing services provided upon discharge from the hospital are intermittent and temporary. So, many patients ultimately fall into a care gap.
However, there is a third option unknown to most patients, families, and even many tenured healthcare professionals: “private-duty nursing.” A handful of home care agencies in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Los Angeles offer traditional caregiver services but also provide concierge nurses who can perform medical duties. They do “all of the above” and can continue with nurse services even after Medicare home health ends.
What can a non-medical “home care” agency do/not do?
A typical home care agency, including most of those families might come across through hospital referrals, advertisements, and Google searches, provides non-medical caregivers. Their services are not covered by Medicare or health insurance and are an out-of-pocket expense. Home care agencies have aides who assist clients with “activities of daily living” (ADLs). These can be quite inclusive but center around non-medical tasks, such as help with bathing, personal hygiene, getting dressed, toileting, and general assistance around the home.
Home care agencies CAN do:
Medicare-licensed home health agencies generally have the opposite function of non-medical home care companies. Their services are usually covered by Medicare/insurance and center on medical care provided by registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) rather than assistance with ADLs via caregivers. In fact, Medicare home health agencies usually do not provide non-medical services other than occasional bath visits. And all their visits are intermittent and temporary.
Medicare home health CAN do:
What can a private-duty (concierge) nursing agency do?
Private-duty nursing agencies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, provide unique, comprehensive services that fill a critical gap in care for many patients. In fact, they are sometimes the only viable alternative to long-term care facilities for folks with ongoing nursing needs. Offerings include both non-medical caregivers for help with ADLs and licensed nurses (RNs/LVNs) to assist with ongoing medical needs. Furthermore, patients can get sustained home-based care for as long as is necessary (unlike Medicare home health).
Private-duty nursing agencies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, CAN do:
There is much confusion regarding various home care and nursing services, and it’s not limited to just families and patients. Even healthcare professionals can sometimes get lost in the nuance. But understanding the distinctions can really make a difference for folks with ongoing medical needs. And as they say, “Knowledge is power.”
Ultimately, Medicare home health is not a long-term solution for patients who need ongoing and frequent nursing care (RNs/LVNs). And a non-medical home care agency won’t be able to perform medical duties required by many patients. For people who fall into this “care gap,” a comprehensive, concierge nursing agency, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, might be the only viable home-based solution. And while the services aren’t covered by Medicare or health insurance, they provide an attractive alternative to long-term care nursing facilities.
If you’re seeking long-term care solutions that can help a loved one or patient age-in-place at home rather than in a nursing facility, call BrightStar Care today for a free registered nurse assessment!
The challenge for these families and patients is they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. California law doesn’t allow “non-medical” caregiver agencies to perform medical duties, which includes medication administration and other commonly-needed tasks. Yet, Medicare “home health” nursing services provided upon discharge from the hospital are intermittent and temporary. So, many patients ultimately fall into a care gap.
However, there is a third option unknown to most patients, families, and even many tenured healthcare professionals: “private-duty nursing.” A handful of home care agencies in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Los Angeles offer traditional caregiver services but also provide concierge nurses who can perform medical duties. They do “all of the above” and can continue with nurse services even after Medicare home health ends.
What can a non-medical “home care” agency do/not do?
A typical home care agency, including most of those families might come across through hospital referrals, advertisements, and Google searches, provides non-medical caregivers. Their services are not covered by Medicare or health insurance and are an out-of-pocket expense. Home care agencies have aides who assist clients with “activities of daily living” (ADLs). These can be quite inclusive but center around non-medical tasks, such as help with bathing, personal hygiene, getting dressed, toileting, and general assistance around the home.
Home care agencies CAN do:
- Bathing
- Dressing/grooming
- Toileting/incontinence care
- Medication reminders (not administration)
- Cooking
- Light housekeeping
- Transportation
- Medication administration/diabetic injections/etc.
- Wound care
- Catheter care
- Tracheostomy (Trach) care
- Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) care
- Infusion therapy
Medicare-licensed home health agencies generally have the opposite function of non-medical home care companies. Their services are usually covered by Medicare/insurance and center on medical care provided by registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) rather than assistance with ADLs via caregivers. In fact, Medicare home health agencies usually do not provide non-medical services other than occasional bath visits. And all their visits are intermittent and temporary.
Medicare home health CAN do:
- Medication administration/injections
- Wound care
- Catheter care
- Tracheostomy (Trach) care
- Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) care
- Other medical duties that require a nurse license (RN or LVN)
- Ongoing caregiver services for help with ADLs
- Nursing duties that are needed over long periods of time (months/years)
- Daily nurse visits for diabetic injections and other medication administration needs (only intermittent)
- Daily catheter care, wound care, G-tube care, trach care, ventilator care, etc. (only intermittent)
- Long patient visits
What can a private-duty (concierge) nursing agency do?
Private-duty nursing agencies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, provide unique, comprehensive services that fill a critical gap in care for many patients. In fact, they are sometimes the only viable alternative to long-term care facilities for folks with ongoing nursing needs. Offerings include both non-medical caregivers for help with ADLs and licensed nurses (RNs/LVNs) to assist with ongoing medical needs. Furthermore, patients can get sustained home-based care for as long as is necessary (unlike Medicare home health).
Private-duty nursing agencies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, CAN do:
- Catheter care
- Medication administration
- Checking of vital signs
- Wound care
- Ventilator care
- Tracheostomy (Trach) care
- Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) care
- Infusion therapy
- ALL non-medical home care agency functions (help with ADLs)
There is much confusion regarding various home care and nursing services, and it’s not limited to just families and patients. Even healthcare professionals can sometimes get lost in the nuance. But understanding the distinctions can really make a difference for folks with ongoing medical needs. And as they say, “Knowledge is power.”
Ultimately, Medicare home health is not a long-term solution for patients who need ongoing and frequent nursing care (RNs/LVNs). And a non-medical home care agency won’t be able to perform medical duties required by many patients. For people who fall into this “care gap,” a comprehensive, concierge nursing agency, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, might be the only viable home-based solution. And while the services aren’t covered by Medicare or health insurance, they provide an attractive alternative to long-term care nursing facilities.
If you’re seeking long-term care solutions that can help a loved one or patient age-in-place at home rather than in a nursing facility, call BrightStar Care today for a free registered nurse assessment!