There were 55.7 million adults age 65+ living in the U.S. in 2020. This included 30.8 million women and 24.8 million men. Nearly one-quarter (24%) of adults age 65+ were from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities as in 2020.
America’s older population has grown by 38% since 2010, compared to an increase of 2% for the under-65 population. Maine, Florida, West Virginia, and Vermont had the highest percentage of populations age 65+ in 2020. It is estimated that by 2040 there will be 80.8 million Americans will be 65+ in the United States.
Some of these seniors are people who have come here from other countries and do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid services immediately. Legal immigrants have to wait 5 years before they can qualify for Medicaid or Medicare services and pay into the system.
So, why is this information important for home health or homecare agencies?
Money!
Providing private pay nursing care or personal care services in the home is a great option. This choice of care allows agencies to have some form of income when Medicaid or Medicaid is unable to pay. As most of you have noticed this is happening frequently.
Private pay also offers a few skilled care options to clients that Medicare does not pay for. I have seen this form of skilled home care grow when home health agencies fail to get accredited as a Medicare provider for various reasons. Some of these agencies provide care to people who cannot qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Often, they may be from another country and need care, therefore the Private Duty /private agencies can step in to provide the care the client needs.
Now, if you are one of those agency leaders who are on the fence about adding private pay/private duty care, you may want to think about it as an option.
Who Can Be A Private Duty Agency?
A private duty agency is a home healthcare agency that provides personalized medical care to patients in their homes or private settings, focusing on one-on-one care for individual patients. The agency is usually paid by the family, client, or private insurance.
PDNs work with individuals of all ages, including those recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions. Here are some examples:
Geriatric patients needing help with daily tasks and medication
Patients recovering from surgery or medical procedures
People with chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease
Children with complex medical needs
Individuals with disabilities
People with terminal illnesses
Individuals with traumatic injuries or neurological conditions
Patients with mental health disorders
Clients recovering from addiction needing help in avoiding relapses
People needing skilled nursing care for procedures like wound care or infusion therapy
Can non-medical personal care agencies be a Private Duty Agency/- the answer is no. Personal care agencies can provide care to their clients who want to pay from their own pocket or through their long-term care insurance companies.
Now that you have the information you need to determine if you should take private pay clients or become a private pay home health agency. The next post will be on the steps to allow you to do this.
To Your Success in 2024!!
Sharron