An HHA is a person who provides help and personal care for those who are unable to take care of themselves due to illness, advanced age, or other reasons.

To become an HHA, you don’t need a university or college degree. You can attend special nursing courses and get a certificate. These courses include theory and practical training.

As HHAs usually don’t have a medical education, they do some basic care work for the patient: change bandages, monitor temperature, check the pulse and/or give medications.

Home care isn’t provided by medical services, so it includes non-medical assistance like transportation, cooking meals, bathing assistance and other activities meant to help people with disabilities.

There are several conditions you must meet:

1. You should be considered homebound and require care to maintain your optimal living conditions or improve them;
2. Be registered with a doctor who will document your condition.

There are several ways to hire a home care assistant - you can turn to special agencies and sign a contract, visit a local employment registry or ask friends for a recommendation.

There are several alternatives for home care coverage. This can be done directly by the care recipients (i.e., the patients) or their close relatives or friends. Coverage by third parties is also possible, including public entities like Medicare or Medicaid, and private options like CHIC, Medigap insurance, etc. 

Eligibility for home care is determined by a doctor’s official assessment of the patient’s status as “homebound,” which means that they are unable to leave their house without external assistance, and they have a need for regular skilled care.

Home health care is a kind of medical care provided without leaving a patient’s home. It includes a broad range of assistance like non-medical care, assistance with the patient’s daily routine, etc.

You can select any of the following ways:

• Check whether you are eligible for the special program Medicaid Cash;
• If your relative can get Veteran’s Aid, you can be paid for care;
• Your medical benefits at work may pay for caregivers.

Hospice/palliative care is the official branch of medicine in the United States that focuses on treating symptoms, alleviating the suffering of a patient, and end-of-life care.

Usually patients with terminal illnesses do not need to pay for such kind of care. These costs are covered by special programs such as Medicare Hospice Benefit, for example.

You can apply for this position on the website for the veterans’ organization in your city/town, but first you should check whether you are eligible for the program.

Home care services include supportive home care. Care might be given by authorized human services suppliers who meet restorative treatment needs, or by expert caregivers who provide everyday help to guarantee comfortable day-to-day living.

To qualify for home health care services, you should have a doctor who supervises you certify the fact that you are in need of medical assistance.

Home care covers a wide range of services, which include health care, support, etc. These services depend on the patient’s needs and their current health.

All the expenses for home health care services are usually covered by Medicare - an insurance organization. This includes the skilled care of a medical professional.

A home care worker for a patient with dementia helps him or her stay calm, get dressed, do some enjoyable activities, and helps them with sleep or memory problems and talks to the patient.

The primary and most difficult task is getting the patient’s attention. Then you can talk to him or her, ask simple questions, do an activity which makes him or her feel happy, etc.

Dementia care includes various services meant to make the lives of the patients and their relatives easier. It can be provided both at home and in special institutions.

Companion care is not medical assistance; rather, it is emotional support for elderly individuals who are usually healthy but are in need of social interaction.

The average cost of companion care is about $18/hour and its minimum duration is 4 hours. Some people can provide companion care for free as volunteers.

The services available to elderly people include cooking meals, housekeeping, going shopping, talking to the person, going for walks, etc., depending on the needs of this particular patient.

A senior care companion is a person who assists seniors in their everyday routines like housekeeping, preparation of meals, dressing, walking, and other non-medical activities.

Respite care is temporary care that is provided for a person with disabilities, a sick person or a senior. It is meant to help permanent caregivers to take some rest.

It depends on your particular case. You can get help from a local council and some charity funds or you can pay for the respite care yourself.

Respite care for the elderly means temporary assistance provided to individuals who need daily help in some activities and support; sometimes it also includes assisted living.

It is possible to be provided with respite care more than once, but keep in mind that it cannot be regular - only on an occasional basis. Usually it doesn’t last more than five days in a row.