Let’s first take a look at the nationwide cost of care, and then our costs.
What is the nationwide cost of care for the elderly?
The cost looks like this:
- The average daily rate for a private room at a nursing home in the Chicago area is $390, or $142,350 per year, according to Genworth.
- For a semi-private room in a nursing home in the Chicago area, the daily cost is $285, or $104,025 annually.
- The average hourly rate in Chicago for home health aides is $35.00/hr, monthly average cost $6,578 or $78,936 annually.
- The national average rate for adult day care is $98/day. Cost would be $2,123 per month or $25,480 annually.
Agencies and caregivers prefer caring for individuals who have predictable and well-communicated needs.
What are our costs?
The costs at Safe at Home Healthcare are based on projecting the needs of the patient. Fees assessed are also a direct reflection of:
- The exact wage paid to our caregiver.
- What benefits are given to the care staff, such as workers’ compensation and liability coverage.
- The experience of the caregiver as well as the ability to drive to do errands and escorting.
We at Safe at Home Health Care have an activity fee-based schedule consisting of three different levels of care which is determined by the family, patient, and agency assessment. The more assistance with activities of daily living the caregiver is required to do, the higher the cost of care.
Live-in care is quoted based on daily care; however, the caregiver will likely be contracted to be available only one time per night.
“13 Hour Rule”
As a licensed agency we need to abide by the Department of Labor’s “13-Hour Rule.” That means that 13 hours is allocated as work hours, 8 hours for sleep time, five of which must be uninterrupted, and breaks of 3 hours for meals. (See also court ruling on New York Dept. of Labor “13 Hour Rule”.)
If an older adult is not sleeping through the night, more shifts of caregivers or care providers may be necessary. A patient getting up in the night on a consistent basis will require an “awake” shift caregiver.
If during the night the home service worker does not get reasonable periods of uninterrupted sleep totaling at least 5 hours, the interruption to sleep time must be paid at $25/hour for the hour sleep is disturbed. If a client is up multiple times throughout the night or all night providing services, the entire period (5 hours) must be counted as time spent working. (Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act 35Q, 36Q)
Best solution to multiple times getting up in the night is to hire an “Awake” shift caregiver that will be up during the night for 8 hours. An example would be 10 pm to 6 am to help as needed so that the primary caregiver can get their allotted 8 hours of sleep and at least 5 hours minimum of uninterrupted sleep.
Live-in care ranges from $365 to $400 a day for most seasoned licensed agencies. Our current fee schedule at Safe at Home Health Care ranges from $365 to $385 a day for live-in care depending on level of care helping one (1) adult. Hourly rates in Greater Chicago area for licensed agencies ranges from $35 – $40/hr.
Our Hourly Rates for Live-In Care::
- Level 1. $33/hour for companionship, meal prep, transportation, light housekeeping, medication reminders.
- Level 2. $35/hour for all of Level 1 services along with helping with transfers, bathing, dressing & grooming, skin care, toileting/incontinence care needs.
- Level 3 – Full Care. $37/hour which includes Level 1 & 2 services plus Alzheimer and Hospice Care.
Contact us!
We at Safe at Home Healthcare will be glad to assess your situation. We’ll let you know if our services will best help you or your senior.
Give us a call at (800) 480-4154. Or contact us by email.
