October 31, 2017
Centers Health Care’s Chief Clinical Officer featured on Caring.com
Our Chief Clinical Officer Roya Agahi, RN was featured in a recent Caring.com article centered around advice for when elderly parents refuse to accept help
Most older adults want to live in their own home for as long as possible, research shows. In order to do that, most will have to decide whether or not to welcome home health professionals into their home.
Home health assistance is often recommended after a hospitalization or because an older adult and their family can no longer manage specific medical needs on their own. But aging adults don’t always welcome this help – it’s not uncommon for a senior to refuse in-home care, at least initially, leaving adult children frustrated and unsure what to do next.
Roya Agahi, RN, clinical director at Centers Health Care in New York City, says that in her experience, concern the cost of home care is one of the main reasons older adults resist it. Many seniors don’t know about all the ins and outs of Medicare and insurance coverage, as well as various community resources that may be available.
Medicare covers home health in specific situations, typically on a short-term basis, if a doctor prescribes it. Ask a geriatric care manager or hospital social worker to walk through the details with you and your parent. In many instances, home health care is a covered service. Medicare.gov recommends asking home health providers how much Medicare will cover, and what you’ll be expected to pay, before starting home health services.