Domiciliary Care (or Dom Care) is a monitored housing system in a home-like atmosphere for adults who are in need of constant supervision and are not able to continue living alone due to an age-related disability or physical, mental or visual affliction. People over the age of 18 who are appropriate candidates for this type of program are people that are unable to live on their own and need supervision and help with their mundane day to day activities.
Domiciliary care home programs are independently regulated by each state’s jurisdiction. For the most part, these residences tend to be smaller than the more common traditional assisted living homes. Often times, the individual provider’s residence will be the same as the Dom Care residence. These homes are inspected to certify and ensure that the health and safety regulations are being met.
Who can qualify for Domiciliary Care?
Residents living under Domiciliary care are low-income people that unable to live on their own due to disabilities. The majority of the inhabitants are either physically impaired, have shown to have issues in social or personal situations and are related to mental retardation or mental disabilities, or for an advanced-aged individual. If they are not considered a danger to themselves, they are likely to qualify for Dom Care.
Individuals have to undergo an assessment based on their needs by their local agency. The agency will determine if the individual qualifies for the program. In general, most applicants that are severely disabled need to be admitted to nursing home care. The individuals need to be able to move or at least be semi-mobile so that they are able to leave the house with minimal assistance in case of an emergency, such as a fire.
Why choose Domiciliary Care?
The benefits that residents of a domiciliary care program reap are vast, not only to they receive room and board, they also receive assistance with their daily activities, for example:
bathing
grooming
meals
housekeeping
laundry services
Sometimes after a stay in a hospital, someone might find they need some help while they recuperate. Others can conclude that a long-term condition or disability means they can no longer cope, and they need a little bit of aid. If the individual is required to take medication, the caretaker provides assistance with the schedule and dosage. The most important aspect of dom care is that the resident can socialize with other populations, thus becoming part of a caring “family” and often, gaining independence and comfort in belonging to a community.
Who is the Typical Dom Care Home Provider?
Individuals that provide their home, support and care for the residents are typically the Domiciliary care providers. The providers are required to undergo a certification process to ensure that their residence is on par with the health and safety regulations. They also need to be able to work with each resident’s case manager to access a resident’s situation.
A domiciliary care worker needs to have a genuine interest in helping people maintain their quality of life and independence regardless of the potential barriers they may face. They must be patient, kind and sympathetic to the difficulties of the resident’s situation. A domiciliary provider is there to facilitate the resident’s independence as much as possible and encourage their well-being at the same time.
Who is Eligible for Domiciliary Care?
Domiciliary care is available for low-income individuals that are not financially equipped to pay for medical assistance services. The eligibility process varies from state-to-state. However, the most common requirements are that the person must be at least 18 years of age and older and that they must be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The individual must also be unable to live independently due to the mental, physical, visual or age impairment they suffer.
Veterans Administration (VA) benefits are also available for many long-term services such as domiciliary care for qualifying individuals. Veterans Assisted Living and dom care programs care for a range of problems including:
Applying for VA domiciliary care may differ depending on the individuals current status, however, the most common requirements are: veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with honorable discharge or the legal spouse of an eligible veteran, a resident of one of the 50 states and they must be age 62 or older, unless the individual has a disability and is unable to obtain employment. The eligibility for long-term care services will be determined based on their need for ongoing treatment, personal care, and assistance, as well as the availability of the service in their location. Other factors, such as financial eligibility, their service-connected (VA disability) status, insurance coverage, and ability to pay may also apply.
The veteran’s annual income must not exceed a predetermined amount and is unable to support him/herself adequately. In these programs, the veteran is required to be capable of performing his/her daily activities with minimal support and to take part in their treatment.
Why choose Domiciliary Care?