Watauga County Project on Aging:
In-Home Aide Services

The In-home Aide Services are intended to assist individuals and their families with attaining and maintaining self-sufficiency, and improving quality of life. These services are aimed at preventing the deterioration of individuals’ functional capacity, preventing abuse, neglect, or exploitation and avoiding premature institutional care by assisting individuals in maintaining themselves in their own homes as long as possible. It is the intent of the In-home Aide Program to assist, but not replace, family members in carrying out their responsibilities for those individuals needing care or support.

In-home Aide Services are provided on a regularly scheduled basis, with a maximum of four hours each week. Services are provided by trained Certified Nursing Assistants and include home management tasks such as basic housekeeping, shopping, laundry, and cooking, as well as personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and assistance with ambulation. "Sitting" Services are not provided under the In-Home Aide program.

In-home Aide Services may also be used for the purpose of providing Respite for a primary caregiver. For this purpose, In-home Aide Services may be provided to an individual in his/her own home or in the home of the primary caregiver.

Qualifications:

• Must be 60 years of age or older
• Unable to carry out essential tasks
• Have no responsible person available to perform these tasks
• Need the service in order to remain at home

Home Care Agency List

For Consumers of In-Home Services

As a consumer, you have the right to:

• receive considerate and respectful care in your home at all times;
• participate in the development of your Plan of Care, including an explanation of any services proposed and of alternative services that may be available in the community;
• refuse medical treatment or other services provided by law, and to be informed of the possible results of your actions;
• privacy and confidentiality about your health, social, and financial circumstances, and what takes place in your home;
• know that all communications and records will be treated confidentially;
• expect that all home care personnel within the limits set by the Plan of Care will respond in good faith to your requests for assistance in the home;
• home care as long as eligible and services are available;
• to receive nursing supervision of the paraprofessional if medically related personal care is provided;
• voice grievances without fear of reprisal.