As in many families, the responsibility of caring for a parent is often shouldered by an adult daughter.
Cheryl DiRago lives with her elderly mother, Dorris. Cheryl says she has been overwhelmed lining up help and services for her mother, who has had several surgeries the last two years.
Help came from a new service available to seniors and their families. Meant for elders who want to remain in their own homes, the service provides an advocate for the senior. Called VeriSpring and based in Arlington Heights, the year-old effort is part of Lutheran Home & Services.
The advocate regularly checks in with Dorris and finds whatever services Dorris needs. An emergency call system was recently installed in the house with the advocate’s help. The advocate also connects Dorris to social outings and activities. Said Cheryl, “As a caregiver, I appreciate the help I need. I love it.”
Services for seniors who stay in their homes are on the rise. They can provide help with chores, housekeeping, meal preparation and some personal care: Not in-home medical care, ordered by a doctor and usually reimbursed by Medicare. Instead, homemaker or caregiver services generally are paid for by the senior or the senior’s family. Long-term care insurance policies may cover homemaker costs. The state also provides help for low-income seniors.
Social service agencies usually can make a referral to a service that provides workers. Some families find help by word of mouth or by placing ads in newspapers. A growing number of companies also provide household help. For example, Home Instead, based in Omaha, has 550 franchises nationwide.
These companies typically employ the home-care worker. They does the screening, and the family isn’t stuck handling details such as tax payments.
Agencies usually have a minimum number of hours. At Chicagoland Caregivers Corp., Chicago, there’s a three-hour minimum for a visit, according to President Julie Northcutt. The only exception is a one-hour weekly medication reminder visit to make sure the senior is on track with medications and to order refills.
Chicagoland Caregivers charges from $16 to $18 an hour for a home-care worker, fairly fee for the area. A live-in helper costs $170 a day on weekdays and $180 a day on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Demand is growing for live-in care,” said Northcutt. Though the cost for a live-in helper is comparable to that for nursing-home care, Northcutt says more people want to stay in their homes. “They like having a one-on-one caregiver.”
At VeriSpring, a single person pays an annual fee of $550. For that, the senior gets weekly calls from the personal advocate as well as monthly visits. The advocate also researches services that might be needed, including home repairs and vendors.
The jobs handled by the personal advocate depend on the senior’s needs, according to Ronette A. Icso, VeriSpring manager. In one case, an advocate helped a senior get the basement repaired.
Seniors who join VeriSpring also get access to social opportunities. The group puts on events, with members going on outings such as a visit to the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum as well as an architectural cruise on the Chicago River. Over the holidays, seniors had tea at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, Icso said.
Seniors who join VeriSpring can pay extra for a safety assessment. This includes an evaluation from a dietician, exercise physiologist and nurse. The senior is helped to identify personal goals, too. Icso said: “We make sure seniors have what they need to live at home successfully.”
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Jane Adler is a Chicago-area freelance writer. Write to her at Senior Housing, c/o Chicago Tribune Real Estate, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Or, e-mail realestate@tribune.com. Sorry, she cannot make personal replies. Answers will be supplied only through the newspaper.
