Advantages

• Remain at home
• Variety of services
• May be less expensive than a nursing home UNLESS it is 24-hour-a-day care. Compare costs!

Disadvantages

• May not by available all the time they are scheduled*
• There may be a variety of staff providing services
• Medicare pays only for specific services under specific time periods.
• Minimal on-site supervisor from the agency.

Agencies do their best to staff all the hours in your service agreement, but things happen. Cars break down. Snow storms blow in. Home care regulations require agencies to provide services if the services are essential for medical or safety reasons. Questions seniors should ask:

• What training and qualifications does the caregiver have?
• What is the agency’s role in hiring and supervising?
• Do I have to pay for this service? Does a public program pay for this service?
• What are the limits to this service?

For more information, contact the Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans at 1-800-657-3591.

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