How to Obtain Personal Care in the Home in Texas

Aging and disabilities cause endless difficult decisions. When deciding that the best course of care for yourself or a loved one involves personal care at home, getting the help you need quickly and from reliable, trustworthy people is important. Residents of Texas have numerous resources to locate a home health or personal care agency. Depending on whether the care is deemed medically necessary by a physician, your medical insurance, disability plan or government assistance program may cover the costs.

Instructions

• 1

  Obtain a physician's order for home health care services related to an acute condition or long-term disability. Documenting your need for care as a medical problem makes you eligible for financial assistance from private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Texas state disability and county assistance programs.

• 2

  Apply to the Social Security Administration and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services for federal and state disability assistance if you have not yet established a disability and your need for care is disability-based.

• 3

  Get a directory of participating home health agencies from your insurer if you are covered. Private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid all maintain lists available in print or online.

• 4

  Request the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services comprehensive list of all licensed home health care agencies or use its online search tool. If you are paying out-of-pocket or have completely free choice under your health coverage, this gives you the broadest set of choices. Additionally, if you should come across an agency not on the DADS list, do not do business with it, as the agency is not licensed.

• 5

  Request a list of licensed caregiver agencies from the Texas Department of Insurance. Caregivers are not licensed medical professionals and are not usually covered by insurance. Insurers including Medicare and Medicaid consider in-home personal care, which results strictly to assist the elderly with daily tasks a personal decision and not a medical necessity. However, Medicare will usually fund long-term care in a nursing home.

• 6

  Interview services carefully, asking about employees' credentials. Ensure that any agency you work with performs background checks on its employees. Ask about your options if the agency sends you someone who doesn't do their job properly or who does not get along well with you or others.