The 10 Best In Home Care Service in Pocola, OK for 2023
Located on the Arkansas border in Le Flore County, Pocola is a town of only 4,149 residents. However, as it shares the border with Fort Smith, a city of over 89,000 people, it benefits from the services afforded by its much larger neighbor. These include many well-regarded medical facilities, such as Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and a proportionally high number of Medicare-registered physicians. Pocola’s seniors also benefit from the metro area’s numerous home care and home health care agencies, the latter of which also provides medical care with standard home care services. The average monthly fee for home care in Pocola is $3,586, which is much lower than Oklahoma’s average of $4,385.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Pocola area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.
Directory of Home Care Services in Pocola, OK
1 of a Kind In Home Care of Oklahoma
597 1/2 Highway 271 South, Suite B , Wister, OK, 74966
Healthback Home Health – McAlester
1102 East Washington Avenue, Suite 3, Mcalester, OK, 74501
Healthback Home Health – Chickasha
420 South 22nd Street, Chickasha, OK, 73018
See Pricing for
is a Caring Star Community
Earning a Caring Star means this community is among the best Senior Living commuities in America.
Paying for Home Care in Pocola, OK
The Cost of Home Care in Pocola, OK
According to the 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Pocola pay some of the lowest home care fees in the state. Averaging $3,586 per month, they’re below those paid by the typical Oklahoman, at $4,385, and the typical American, at $4,481. Pocola is also a favorable choice when compared to the state’s major cities, such as Tulsa ($4,767) and Oklahoma City ($4,385). To find more attractive costs, seniors might consider Lawton, where they average $3,432.
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Pocola, OK
Home care and home health care, the latter of which also includes basic medical care services, each cost on average $3,586 per month in Pocola. The Genworth survey doesn’t include adult day care costs, but the state average of $1,136 should give some indication of likely fees. Assisted living is the most affordable option with accommodation and care, while nursing homes typically charge $5,551 for semiprivate rooms and higher levels of care.
Note: Data for Pocola was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Fort Smith, Arkansas, was used instead
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Pocola, OK
Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.
Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.
Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Pocola, OK
Despite Pocola’s rural location, its seniors have access to many resources designed to help them age comfortably in their own homes. The examples provided can resolve issues for senior struggling to get healthy meals every day and pay for some home repairs and energy costs. There’s help for unpaid caregivers too.
Resource
Contact
Service
(800) 299-4479
The Home Weatherization Program is a state and federally funded program for low-income residents in Le Flore County that helps them reduce their energy costs. Applicants must agree to a home energy audit to be considered for support. Depending on the auditor's results, seniors may be eligible for a number of works that can make their homes more comfortable and lower their bills. These may include insulating walls, attics, and floors, repairing damaged heating and ventilation systems and fixing sources of air leaks, such as doors and windows.
(580) 286-1244
The Feed the Need Foundation for Rural Oklahoma is a charitable organization that provides home-delivered meals to adults aged 60 and over who are unable to make their own or have someone who can cook for them. Meals are delivered five times a week and prepared under the guidance of a registered dietitian, who ensures special diets are catered for and that each meal contains between 600-1,000 calories. Seniors who qualify for the Advantage program are eligible for seven-day frozen meal packs.
(918) 471-7919
Le Flore residents aged 60 and older may qualify for minor home repairs if they own the homes they reside in and satisfy the criteria in the assessment tool. The maximum amount each applicant can claim for minor repairs is $250.
(918) 471-7919
Feed the Need Foundation for Rural Oklahoma, Inc. provides respite vouchers for unpaid caregivers which can be used to cover the cost of temporary services from professional caregivers. This allows the unpaid caregiver some respite from their duties, enabling them to attend to personal needs neglected due to their caregiving roles. Those who qualify receive vouchers that can be used with any qualified care provider, who will be paid directly by the foundation for their services.
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – oftentimes it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of services can a home care agency in Pocola provide?
Home care agencies provide nonmedical care services. This can be in the form of a companion for isolated seniors, such as someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s, whose role typically involves driving them to appointments, helping them negotiate stairs if they’re unsteady on their feet and maybe preparing light meals and providing drinks throughout the day. There’s also a personal grooming service to assist seniors who need help with personal care, such as dressing, bathing, toenail clipping and toileting.
What should I look for in a good home care agency near me in Pocola?
First, check their credentials. Is the agency licensed to provide home care services by the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Home Services Division? It’s also good practice to read unfiltered reviews on authoritative websites, such as Caring.com, to get a feel for what previous and current clients of the agency are saying about its services. Ask plenty of questions about the agency’s policies and procedures, particularly around staff recruitment and training. Does it perform background checks on potential employees? How does it ensure staff is fully up to date with regulations?
How do you pay for senior care at home?
The most common method of paying for senior care at home is private pay, where the client will use their own savings and possibly liquidize their assets to cover home care fees. Another popular solution is a reverse mortgage, where the senior will release some of the equity on their property. Some U.S. military veterans may qualify for the Housebound Allowance. However, the application process can be challenging, so it may be useful to get support from nonprofits that serve vets for free, such as VeteranAid.org.
Assisted living homes vs. home care: How to decide
The answer often comes down to whether the senior is comfortable relocating to another home, as both options provide similar services. In assisted living, a caregiver is often nearby 24/7, while home care providers are on-site for a set number of hours during the day. Seniors in assisted living facilities can socialize with others while those at home will typically socialize with visitors. However, although assisted living facilities encourage bringing personal possession, many will need to be left behind. Another consideration is that homes can also contain years of memories.
Can you write off in-home elderly care?
Seniors may be able to write off some in-home elderly care expenses. After reviewing IRS Publication 502, seniors should itemize all their medical care costs that can be claimed on Schedule A. The IRS may be able to deduct some personal and maintenance expenses, although this will depend on the senior’s unique circumstances. Seniors who need to make modifications to their homes, such as widening doorways for wheelchairs, may also qualify for some deductibles, while other savings are possible if the caregiver qualifies as a household employee as per IRS Publication 926.