Caregiving Resource Guide for Employers

At some point in their lives, 80% of our workforce will be a caregiver to a loved one. This caregiving resource guide provides information on national caregiving resources as well as information about common resources available locally. We hope this will be helpful to employers and their Human Resources team in thinking about how they can support their people.

Council on Aging

Most cities have a Council on Aging (COA) that supports seniors by providing services, programs, and resources to help them maintain their quality of life. They often oversee local senior centers and work to connect seniors with various forms of support, including social activities, health and wellness programs, transportation, meal services, and benefits counseling.

Senior Centers

Most areas have a senior center with programming and activities. These centers usually have caregiving resources and counselors to help navigate benefits.

Veterans Administration Caregiving Resources

The VA has a whole website devoted to caregivers and can connect your Veteran to a number of resources.

Family Caregiver Support in your state

The federal government provides funds to states to run Family Caregiver Support programs locally. Most programs provide referrals for resources, education programs, and free counseling to help you create a care plan and navigate services.

Family Caregiver Alliance

This organization provides an online tool which lists caregiving resources by state.

Medicare Plan Selection

This tool helps you select the right Medicare plan based on your loved one’s prescriptions and current doctors. It’s an easy step-by-step tool and shows a side-by-side comparison of plans.

Home Services

Home Care Companies

Home care companies provide in-home, nonmedical care for seniors. Cost varies widely by geography. This is typically not covered by health insurance. These services can do everything from helping with activities of daily life (ADLs) – bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring – to meal prep, transportation, calendar management, and companionship.

Hallmark Health is a trusted home care company with caregivers nationwide:

Home Healthcare Companies

These are companies that can provide medical care in home, usually by a RN. Your loved one would be referred by a physician and it would usually be covered by insurance. This includes things like administering injections, drawing blood for routine tests, wound care, or physical therapy.

Medical Transport

If a loved one cannot get to medical care and cannot independently use public transportation, they may need medical transportation. This is usually not covered by health insurance. Check if your city offers transportation for disabled persons who cannot independently use public transportation.

Meals on Wheels

They provide fresh delivered meals to seniors isolated at home. Eligibility varies by state but it’s not just for low income people. Those with income sometimes qualify by paying nominal fees.

Other meal delivery services

There are many for-profit meal delivery services, but there are some that focus on seniors and can cater to special diets.

Long Term Care: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Dementia Facilities

A Place for Mom helps you find long term care options, can vet facilities based on your criteria and set appointments for you to visit. Their services are free to the client as they take a percentage from the long term care facilities for a successful placement.

Medicare Compare

This service enables you to compare home healthcare companies and long term facilities to find the best one in your area.

Respite Care

Inevitably primary caregivers need a break. There are private options, but Medicare also provides coverage. Assisted living facilities provide overnight care while home care companies provide it in home. There are also day care centers that give the primary caregiver time during the day.

National Respite Network has a tool to search for respite programs in your area

National Adult Day Center provides a tool to find adult daycare centers in your area

Hospice Care

Medicare and Medicaid pay for hospice care, providing a variety of services to support caregivers. To qualify, the patient must have only 6 months to live and has to agree they are only seeking palliative care and no longer trying to cure their illness. These services do not replace the primary caregiver, but they can provide substantial support. Read more about the Medicare benefit.

Patient Advocates

Patient advocates are credentialed experts with specialties in different healthcare situations including senior care. They can provide much needed support to caregivers by using their expertise to educate families and provide options based on their needs. They can help with

• Researching doctors, hospitals and treatments to help a senior or their family make a decision about the best provider and understand treatment and care options.
• Helping a patient navigate a new diagnosis or multiple chronic conditions. They can explain in plain words the treatment plan, prepare the patient with questions to ask providers, and even attend appointments to make sure the patient is understood.
• Organizing and explaining medical bills as well as fighting medical bill errors or health insurance claim denials.
• Researching, securing and even managing the care services a senior might need to age in place, such as home care agencies, home healthcare providers, transportation providers, meal prep, house cleaning, etc. 
• Researching and helping with placement in long term care facilities like independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, nursing homes, rehab, or dementia units.
• Managing the stressful hospital discharge process to ensure a successful return to the home or long term care facility.
• Regular interaction with the senior around medication and treatment plan adherence to make sure the senior heals and follows doctor’s orders.
• Selection of the right Medicare plan based on the senior’s needs.

These services are often covered by Medicare.

If you are interested in learning more, fill out a Help Request form and we will be in touch.

We offer flexible employer plans. Please contact benefits@umbrahealthadvocacy.com for more information.