Home Care
What Are Home Care Services?
Home care services include a wide array of services provided to people in their homes when they are ill, disabled or have some physical limitation.
Home care services include such things as:
- skilled nursing services
- assistance with medications
- rehabilitation therapy
- personal assistance with dressing, grooming, walking and bathing
- nursing, personal care, central storage of medications and other "assisted living" services in housing-with-services establishments
- housekeeping
- meal preparation
- shopping
- licensed hospice programs
Are Home Care Providers Licensed?
Yes, under Minnesota law, most agencies or individuals regularly providing home care services to clients for a fee are required to have a Minnesota home care license.
Some individuals do not need to be licensed or registered if they provide limited types of services for 14 or fewer hours a week to only one client. Family members and volunteers providing such services without charge generally do not need a license.
Why Should Home Care Providers Be Licensed?
The Minnesota home care and hospice law was passed to provide some safeguards for consumers who use these services. The licensing requirements assure that those who provide home care services are qualified to do so. The requirements include a consumer's bill of rights that all providers must follow. The Minnesota Department of Health is responsible for oversight of licensed home care providers and surveys them to determine whether they are meeting the state's requirements.
How Do I Find a Licensed Home Care Provider?
To find out if a provider is licensed, or to request a list of licensed providers, contact the Minnesota Department of Health at (651) 215-8701. Licensed home care providers, listed by county, are also found on the department's Web site at: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/directory/fpcdir.html.
There are many other sources of information about licensed home care providers, such as:
- your local nursing home or hospital
- your county human service or public health agency
- your physician
More detailed information on home care is available by writing or calling:
Office of Ombudsman
P.O. Box 64971
St. Paul, MN 55164-0971
(651) 431-7452 or 1-800-657-3591
or
Minnesota Home Care Association
1711 West County Road B, Suite 211S
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 635-0607
Who Pays for Home Care Services?
Often people pay for home care services out of their own pocket. Sometimes these services may be covered by:
- Medicare
- Veteran's Administration
- health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- private health insurance
- Medical Assistance program
- Elderly Waiver Medicaid program
- Minnesota's Alternative Care Program
Before the services begin, you should ask your home care provider to tell you what the cost of your services will be and whether the cost will be covered by any of the payment sources listed above.
For assistance in paying for home care costs, contact your county human services agency.
What Are My Rights If I Use Home Care Services?
All home care providers are required to give their clients a copy of the home care bill of rights. Included among these consumer rights are the right to choose freely among home care providers and the right to voice grievances and file complaints.
If you are unable to resolve any problems with your provider, you may request assistance from:
Office of Health Facility Complaints,
Minnesota Department of Health
Telephone: 1-800-369-7994 or
(651) 215-8702
or
Home Care Ombudsman
Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans
Telephone: 1-800-657-3591 or
(651) 431-7452
Source: Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance
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