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WHAT IS HOME HEALTH CARE?
Home health care — frequently referred to simply as "home health" — is skilled care delivered directly to a patient's home.
This type of care is provided by licensed medical professionals including nurses, therapists, and aides for the purpose of treating or managing an illness, injury, or medical condition. Home health care services can be delivered to the patient's residence (which may be a private home or adult foster home) or an assisted living. Services that may be covered include medical services such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, as well as non-medical services such as social services or assistance with daily living.
Is Home Health Care the Same as Home Care?
The biggest misunderstanding is insurance coverage and care giving services. Home health is typically covered by insurance, however the patient must have a skilled need*. Home Care (or "private duty") is not covered by insurance. These services are paid out of pocket and allow a caregiver to come sit and care for a patient between 4-24 hours per day. Home Health Care visits 1-3 times a week until the patient's needs are no longer considered skilled.
*A skilled need refers to treatment provided by a trained registered nurse.
What Does "Homebound" Mean?
Home health care is available to any patient who needs it, but in order for it to be covered by Medicare, the patient must be deemed "homebound." Homebound simply means that the patient's condition prevents them from being able to safely leave the home without assistance from others or assistive devices (e.g. canes, walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs).
In most cases, patients are still considered homebound even if they leave the home as needed for medical treatments that cannot be provided in-home. Brief and occasional non-medical absences may also be allowed, such as going to church, the beauty shop, or special family events.
What Are the Benefits of Home Health Care?
The primary benefit of home health care for the elderly is that it can be delivered directly to the patient's residence, whether it be a private home, adult foster home, assisted living or residential care facility. By delivering care directly to the patient, expensive hospital bills can be avoided.
Family members are encouraged to be active participants in the planning process to help set and meet goals, working with home health care professionals for the benefit of the patient.
Additional benefits of home health care for seniors include:
- Faster recuperation and recovery from illness or injury Improved independence (over time)
- Maintaining or improving of current condition or level of function
- Regaining of self-sufficiency in the home
- Slowing of the decline of serious conditions
- Better symptom management
pros of home heatlh care
convenience
dependability
convenience
Care is delivered directly to the patient's residence (either a home or facility)
experience
dependability
convenience
Medical services are provided by
skilled professionals
dependability
dependability
dependability
Home health care staff follow the physician-prescribed plan
independence
affordability
affordability
Patients regain independence and
self-sufficiency at home
affordability
affordability
affordability
Care is typically less expensive than hospitalization or a long-term nursing home
How Does Home Health Care Work?
all services are tailored to patient's needs
The first step toward receiving home health care is to obtain a physician's orders and work with a home health care company to develop a detailed care plan. Call your Primary Care Physician and ask them to fax a home health care order to 630.545.3233.
From there, you will be asked to complete an initial consultation or start of care with the patient, during which they assess the patient's needs and develop a plan for treatment. Family members and other caregivers are encouraged to participate in this planning process to ensure consistent and comprehensive care.
When services begin, home health care staff will implement the plan – following all physician orders – and keep the physician updated about the patient's progress. The frequency and type of home health visits will vary depending on the patient's needs. Some patients require more frequent care while others require only a short visit once or twice per week.
What Does Home Health Care Do for Patients?
Home health care is designed to provide comfortable healing.
Home health care is designed to help the patient rest, recover, and receive treatment in the comfort of their own home or residence. Services provided by home health care are offered with the goal of helping the patient regain independence to become as self-sufficient as possible while also managing their disease or condition.
Home health care can benefit both acute and chronic conditions, including but not limited to the following:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes Heart disease
- Recovery from illness or surgery
- Chronic conditions or injuries
In addition to providing medically necessary services for the treatment of the above conditions, home health care professionals act as a liaison between the patient, the patient's family, and the patient's doctor. Home health care professionals keep a log for each visit and provide updates on the patient's condition to the doctor as needed.
This helps to ensure continuity of care.
What Services Does Home Health Care Provide?
Home health care consists of medically necessary, skilled services prescribed by a physician for the treatment of an illness, injury, or medical condition.
Skilled services provided by home health care may include the following:
- Infusion therapy
- Medication management
- Nursing care
- Nutrition services
- Pain management
- Social work
- Therapy (physical, occupational, speech)
- Wound care
Services provided by home health care professionals are tailored to the patient's individual needs. Examples include checking vital signs, assessing pain, monitoring food intake, managing medications, helping with basic hygiene, and ensuring safety in the home. It is important to remember that just because home health offers these services, they still need to be medically necessary for a doctor to prescribe.
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