The programs and services listed in this section do not provide nursing or medical care. The government funds most of the programs and services, which have strict eligibility requirements. Payment options vary for state and federal government programs, depending on the program, the kind of help needed and a senior’s ability to pay. Private companies typically charge for services on an hourly basis, and you are responsible for the entire fee.
This section begins with private companies and then discusses government-funded options, including the Lighthouse Program, Older Americans Act Programs and Legislative Initiative for the Elderly (LIFE) services.
Private In-Home Care Providers
Private companies will send workers into your home to help with basic tasks. Most companies work with you to develop a care plan to address your needs and the needs of family and friends who care for you.
Services may include:
• transportation;
• meal preparation;
• light housekeeping;
• laundry;
• supervision while your caregiver is taking a break or running errands;
• positioning in chairs or beds;
• bathing, grooming, teeth brushing, and toileting;
• light exercise;
• medication reminders.
Eligibility
Everyone is eligible to receive this service.
Payment Options
The cost of this service typically ranges from $15 per hour to $23 per hour.
No government program pays for this service.
Lighthouse Program
Senior centers in each county administer the Lighthouse Program. The program provides in-home support and assistance to seniors.
Services include:
• personal care services (grooming, bathing, dressing, and toileting);
• meal preparation;
• light housekeeping (making beds, sweeping, changing bed linens, and doing laundry);
• errands (grocery shopping and pharmacy shopping);
• mobility (transferring in and out of bed and walking).
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Lighthouse Program, a person must:
• be age 60 years or older;
• need much assistance in at least two areas of activities of daily living (i.e., bathing, dressing,
grooming, toileting, and walking); and
• be ineligible for any Medicaid program.
Payment Options
The Lighthouse Program is funded primarily through state funds, and the amount you pay will depend on your monthly income. The cost of the service is based on a sliding scale that ranges from $1 per hour to $16 per hour.
The Lighthouse Program is a good option for individuals who have too many assets and too much income to qualify for Medicaid but do not have enough money to pay for private care in their homes.
Contact
More information about the program is available from the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, whose toll-free telephone number is 1-877-987-3646, or from the local senior center, which you can find through the facilities/services search above.
Older Americans Act Programs and
Legislative
Initiative for the Elderly (LIFE) Services
Individuals age 60 and older may be eligible for a variety of federally funded programs through the Older Americans Act and the state-funded Legislative Initiative for the Elderly (LIFE). Both are included in senior centers’ array of services. Programs vary by county; not every service is available in every county.
Services
LIFE services are modeled after those provided by the Older Americans Act. They include:
• nutrition programs (providing meals at a senior center or delivering meals to the home when
a person is unable to travel to the center or prepare a meal);
• transportation services (providing transit to doctors’ appointments, pharmacies, grocery
stores, and the senior center);
• chore services (doing heavy cleaning, yard maintenance, and minor repairs for seniors who
are unable to handle those tasks themselves);
• homemaker services (preparing meals, shopping, managing medications, and doing laundry
for seniors who qualify); and
• caregiver support (providing respite services and support groups and helping caregivers
access information and assistance).
Eligibility
Individuals age 60 and older are eligible for these services.
Payment Options
Payment varies for the above programs depending on the service, funding source, and, in some cases, the income of the person receiving the service. Contact your local senior center for services available, cost, and eligibility. Some services also may be available on a private-pay basis to persons who do not meet specific program eligibility criteria.
Contact
To determine which of the above services are offered in your county, please contact your local senior center. You can find your local senior center in the facilities/services search above or by clicking here.
In-Home Care Worker Registry
The registry is provided to assist individuals to locate qualified in-home care workers. The Registry also provides a website for individuals and service provider agencies to list their services, qualifications, and availability to provide in-home care.
Care and Services Checklist
Printable Version
Services
_____ Do you offer the services I need (household chores, meal preparation, grocery shopping,
laundry, transportation)?
_____ Do you offer the personal services I need (bathing, dressing and toileting)?
_____ Do you have staff available at night and on weekends for emergencies?
_____ What happens if there is inclement weather or your employee is sick?
_____ Will you provide me with a document that explains my responsibilities and your
responsibilities?
_____ Will you help me find other community services that might be helpful to me?
Care plan
_____ Will you develop a plan that outlines my needs and the services you will provide?
_____ Will you include my family and me in designing the plan?
Staffing
_____ Do you perform criminal background checks on staff members who will come into my home?
_____ Will the same caregiver visit my home each time?
_____ Are you bonded or insured in the event of theft or injury?
_____ Do you assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care?
_____ If so, how often do they visit?
_____ How do you document that your services were completed?
_____ Do you pay federal and state taxes on your staff members’ wages so I will not be liable for any
taxes?
_____ Who is responsible if your employee is injured in my home?
Payment
_____ How much money will I have to pay out of my pocket?
_____ Will I receive a document that explains the method of payment and when I have to pay?
_____ Do you offer payment-plan options?
Inspections
_____ Does any outside organization inspect your organization?
_____ May I see the results of the last inspection?
_____ Do you perform customer-satisfaction surveys?
_____ May I see the results of the last survey?
References
_____ How long have you provided services in the community?
_____ Who owns the agency?
_____ Will you provide me a list of references of doctors, patients and their families who are familiar
with the quality of your services?
Complaints
_____ Whom should I call with questions or complaints?