What is Home Health Care?

Home health care assists a person in their recovery from an illness, accident, surgery, or change in their medical condition. Professional health care and rehabilitation services are delivered in a person's home environment under the direction of their personal physician.

• Nurses serve as your case manager. They may also administer medications, change dressings for wounds, and monitor vital signs, weights, or blood sugars.
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapists help with improving balance, coordination, strength, swallowing, and home safety.
• Medical social workers help you cope with your illness and may refer you to community resources.
• Home health aides provide companionship and help with personal services.
• Home healthcare agencies also provide medical equipment if needed.
• They communicate with your primary care doctor to coordinate your care.
• They come a few times a week for a short time (30 mins to 120 mins per visit).

 

Why You May Need Home Health Care?

• Frequent hospitalizations
• Frequent falls or near falls
• Problems with medication regimen or medication changes
• Recent surgery or hospitalization
• Multiple health problems and/or new condition
• Multiple or no caregivers
• When leaving the hospital
• When having difficulty managing daily tasks

Because it is not always clear to the average person when an ailing senior needs home health care and when he or she needs nursing home care, it is usually best to consult a medical professional for advice. 

Often when physicians or hospital staff says "Home Health", they mean that the skills of a healthcare professional, like a registered nurse or therapist, are still needed after your hospitalization to provide continued assistance with your recovery. This might be to continue intravenous antibiotics you have been receiving draw blood, assess a surgical site, change wound dressings, continue to assist you with mobility, assess your progress, or provide other services that your physician has ordered for you.

 

The Importance of Home Health Care

There are companies in the community, called home health agencies, which employ nurses and therapists who specialize in providing services in patient homes. These healthcare professionals will come to your home for a specific time period as specified by your physician (for example, twice a week for eight weeks). They report your status to your physician on an ongoing basis. Home health nurses & therapists, then, become the link to your physician so that he or she can stay apprised of your condition and be notified promptly should you require additional care or attention. 

The home health staff provides and helps coordinate the care and/or therapy your doctor orders. Along with the doctor, home health staff creates a plan of care, which is a written plan for your care. It tells what services you will get to reach and keep your best physical, mental, and social well-being. The home health staff keeps your doctor up to date on how you are doing and updates your plan of care as needed, as authorized by your doctor. 

While you get home health care, home health staff teaches you (and your caregiver) to continue any care you may need, including medication, wound care, therapy, and stress management. Since most home health care is intermittent and part-time, you (and your informal caregivers) should learn how to identify and care for possible problems, like confusion or shortness of breath.

 

Home Health Care Versus Hospitalization

• In many cases home health care services may be appropriate to prevent an individual from being hospitalized.

• Most patients and their families prefer to stay at home rather than be placed in the hospital or skilled nursing facility when their condition allows them to remain at home.

• Home health care is usually less expensive and in some cases just as effective as care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Home health care assists a person in their recovery from an illness, accident, surgery, or change in their medical condition. Professional health care and rehabilitation services are delivered in a person's home environment under the direction of their personal physician.

 

What Do I Do When the Nurse Arrives?

Ask the Nurse:
• What you need to do to help get yourself better
• What problems to watch out for and what to do about them
• How to take your medications
• How to perform special skills like changing a bandage or giving a shot
• What name and phone number to call if you need help

Ask to see a Physical Therapist if:
• You are having difficulty walking or managing daily tasks

Ask to speak to a Social Worker if:
• You are concerned about how you and your family are coping with your illness
• You need help with health care costs

Call Aspen for all your home health care needs!