For many families, the goal is simple: help Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or another loved one remain safely and comfortably at home for as long as possible.
But as care needs increase, families often face another difficult question:
How are we going to pay for the help they need?
A recent Moneywise article, “My parents, both 89, want to die at home — but even between 5 siblings, we can’t afford 24/7 care. What are our options?”, highlights a situation that many families can relate to.
Aging parents may strongly prefer to remain in the home they know and love, while their adult children are trying to balance caregiving responsibilities, work, family obligations, and the financial realities of paying for care.
At Flowers Home Care, we believe these conversations are worth having before a crisis happens.
Understanding what type of care your loved one needs and exploring potential ways to pay for that care can help your family make more informed decisions.
Wanting to Age at Home Is Common
Home is more than a physical place. For many older adults, it represents independence, familiarity, memories, and comfort.
That is why aging in place is an important goal for many families.
However, staying at home safely may require additional support as a person’s needs change.
A loved one may eventually need help with:
▪️Bathing and personal hygiene
▪️Dressing and grooming
▪️Toileting and incontinence care
▪️Mobility and transfers
▪️Meal preparation
▪️Light household tasks
▪️Companionship
▪️Medication reminders
▪️Assistance getting to appointments
▪️Respite for family caregivers
The amount of support needed can vary significantly from one person to another.
Some individuals may need only a few hours of assistance each week. Others may eventually require much more extensive support.
The first step is determining what your loved one actually needs.
The Cost of Home Care Can Be Complicated
One of the biggest challenges families face is understanding that there is no single payment source that automatically covers every type or hour of care.
Depending on an individual’s circumstances, families may need to explore resources such as:
▪️Medicaid programs
▪️Medicare-covered services when eligibility requirements are met
▪️Veterans benefits
▪️Long-term care insurance
▪️Private-pay home care
▪️Hospice services for individuals who qualify
▪️Family-provided support
Each program has its own eligibility requirements, covered services, limitations, and authorization processes.
That means families should avoid assuming that a particular program will automatically pay for all of the care their loved one needs.
Instead, start by asking:
What care does my loved one need?
Then ask:
What resources might help us pay for that care?
What Coach Michele Williams Says About Medicaid and Home Care
The Moneywise article features commentary from home-care industry expert Coach Michele Williams, who explains that Medicaid may help with personal care at home depending on the state and the specific waiver program for which an individual qualifies.
Williams also highlights an important reality for families: Medicaid assistance does not necessarily mean that every hour of care a family wants or needs will be covered.
Coverage and authorized hours can depend on the individual’s eligibility, program requirements, care needs, and other factors.
For Georgia families, this is an important reminder to understand the specific program involved rather than relying on general assumptions about Medicaid coverage.
If you believe your loved one may qualify for a Medicaid-supported program, speak with the appropriate Medicaid program or a qualified benefits professional to understand the requirements and available services.
Don’t Overlook Veterans Benefits
Another resource families should investigate is VA-related assistance when a loved one has a military service history.
Coach Michele Williams also encourages families to look into whether a parent or spouse may have access to veterans’ benefits that could help with care needs.
If your loved one is a veteran or surviving spouse, don’t automatically assume that private-pay care is your only option.
Ask about potential VA resources and determine whether your loved one meets the applicable eligibility requirements.
At Flowers Home Care, families can tell us about their loved one’s veteran status during the initial conversation so we can help them identify questions they may want to ask when exploring available resources.
Does Your Loved One Have Long-Term Care Insurance?
Long-term care insurance is another resource families sometimes overlook.
A policy may have been purchased many years ago, and family members may not even realize that coverage exists.
If you believe your loved one may have a long-term care policy, locate the policy documents and contact the insurance company.
Ask questions such as:
▪️Does the policy cover home care?
▪️What conditions must be met before benefits begin?
▪️Is there an elimination or waiting period?
▪️How many hours or what dollar amount may be covered?
▪️Does the policy require care to be provided by a licensed agency?
▪️What documentation is required?
▪️Are there daily, monthly, or lifetime benefit limits?
Understanding the policy early can make the care-planning process much easier.
What About Medicare?
Medicare can provide important healthcare coverage, but families should be careful about assuming it will pay indefinitely for ongoing custodial or personal care at home.
The type of service, medical necessity, eligibility requirements, and individual circumstances all matter.
Hospice is also different from traditional private-duty home care.
For individuals who meet hospice eligibility requirements, hospice can provide valuable services related to a terminal illness. However, hospice should not automatically be viewed as a replacement for every other form of assistance a person may need at home.
Families should understand how different services work and which organization or program is responsible for each part of the care plan.
Does Home Care Have to Mean 24-Hour Care?
No.
One of the most common misconceptions families have is that once someone needs home care, they immediately need a caregiver in the home 24 hours a day.
That is not necessarily the case.
The appropriate schedule depends on the person’s needs, abilities, safety, family support, and overall care plan.
For example, a family may need help with:
Morning Care
A caregiver may assist with getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility, and preparing breakfast.
Daytime Support
Care may include companionship, meal preparation, assistance with daily activities, mobility support, and other non-medical needs.
Evening Assistance
A caregiver may help with dinner, personal care, toileting, changing clothes, and getting ready for bed.
Respite Care
A caregiver can also provide relief for a spouse, adult child, or another family member who has been providing care.
Sometimes a few scheduled hours of professional support can make a significant difference in a family’s ability to continue caring for a loved one at home.
Signs Your Loved One May Need More Help at Home
You don’t necessarily have to wait for a major emergency before considering home care.
It may be time to start the conversation if you notice:
▪️Difficulty bathing or dressing independently
▪️Increasing difficulty walking or moving safely
▪️Frequent falls or near-falls
▪️Missed medications or the need for medication reminders
▪️Difficulty preparing meals
▪️Changes in memory or confusion
▪️Declining personal hygiene
▪️Difficulty with toileting or incontinence care
▪️Increased isolation
▪️Frequent hospital or emergency room visits
▪️Difficulty managing after surgery or hospitalization
▪️A spouse struggling to provide all the necessary care
▪️Adult children repeatedly missing work to provide assistance
▪️Family caregivers feeling exhausted or overwhelmed
▪️A loved one becoming unsafe when left alone
These signs don’t automatically mean someone needs around-the-clock care.
They may simply indicate that it is time to have an honest conversation about additional support.
Start With the Care Need, Then Look at the Financial Options
A helpful way to approach home-care planning is to break the process into steps.
1. Determine What Your Loved One Can Do Independently
What can they safely manage on their own?
Where do they need assistance?
2. Identify How Often Help Is Needed
Does your loved one need assistance every morning?
Several days a week?
After a hospitalization?
For specific personal-care tasks?
Or is more extensive support necessary?
3. Explore Potential Payment Resources
Depending on the individual, this may include private funds, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, Medicaid programs, Medicare-covered services when applicable, hospice, or other resources.
4. Identify the Gaps
Even when a benefit or insurance program is available, it may not cover every service or every hour your family needs.
Understanding those gaps is an important part of building a realistic care plan.
5. Build a Sustainable Schedule
Once you understand the care needs and available resources, your family can begin creating a schedule that is realistic for both your loved one and the people providing support.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
Caring for an aging parent can bring complicated emotions and difficult decisions.
You want your loved one to remain independent.
You want them to be safe.
You want them to receive dignified care.
And at the same time, you may be balancing your career, children, marriage, finances, and your own responsibilities.
Asking for help does not mean you are failing your loved one.
It means you are recognizing that caregiving is a responsibility that may require a team.
At Flowers Home Care, we help Georgia families explore what support at home may look like based on their loved one’s individual needs.
Our services include support such as:
▪️Personal care
▪️Assistance with activities of daily living
▪️Bathing and grooming assistance
▪️Mobility assistance
▪️Companionship
▪️Respite care
▪️Senior care
▪️Post-hospital support
▪️Other individualized non-medical home-care services
We also encourage families to ask questions about potential payment resources and benefits that may apply to their individual situation.
Have Questions About Your Loved One’s Care?
Families sometimes need to connect with healthcare professionals, case managers, and other resources while planning care for a loved one.
For additional questions or case-management-related assistance, families may also contact:
Briana Moss, BSN, RN, CPN
Case Management
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
Office: 404-785-1283
Email: briana.moss@choa.org
Families should contact the appropriate professional or organization directly to determine what services, resources, or assistance may be available for their individual circumstances.
Planning for an Aging Parent? Start Before the Crisis.
The best time to begin talking about home care is often before the family reaches a breaking point.
If you have started asking yourself:
“Is Mom still safe living alone?”
“Dad needs more help than I can provide. What do we do?”
“How can our family afford the care he needs?”
“Can my loved one receive assistance at home?”
Those questions are worth exploring now.
You don’t have to have every answer before reaching out.
Schedule a Home Care Consultation With Flowers Home Care
Flowers Home Care is here to help Georgia families understand their loved one’s care needs and explore practical next steps for receiving support at home.
Flowers Home Care LLC
📞 770-341-1434
🌐 FlowersHomeCare.com
Serving Douglasville & Metro Atlanta, Georgia
Where We Give You Your Flowers Now Rather Than Later. 💜💐
Source
This article was inspired in part by Christy Bieber’s August 30, 2026 Moneywise article, “My parents, both 89, want to die at home — but even between 5 siblings, we can’t afford 24/7 care. What are our options?”, which includes commentary from home-care industry expert Coach Michele Williams.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, medical, or benefits advice. Eligibility, coverage, authorization, reimbursement, and available services vary by individual and program. Flowers Home Care does not guarantee eligibility, authorization, reimbursement, or coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, long-term care insurance, hospice, or any other program. Families should contact the applicable program, insurance provider, benefits administrator, healthcare professional, or qualified advisor for guidance regarding their specific circumstances.