Home health care provides medically necessary nursing and personal support that’s delivered right in the comfort of your own home, usually less costly and more convenient than hospital-based care.
Medicare will cover 100% of a homebound person’s home healthcare expenses with no deductible required; this includes services like wound care and physical therapy that may be medically necessary.
Supportive Services
Home health care services are provided by skilled medical professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists. Home health care is an integral component of hospital discharge planning that can result in reduced hospital stays, less emergency department use and prevent unnecessary nursing home admissions.
Home healthcare providers also provide supportive services, including diet and nutrition counseling, social work support services, counseling sessions and psychotropic medication management to assist both the patient and family members adjust to new circumstances, cope with chronic illnesses or manage side effects from treatment. These can all play an essential part in creating an optimum healthcare experience at home.
Home care differs from long-term home healthcare services provided through Medicaid and managed by the state, which typically include non-medical personal and housekeeping care that’s paid for using regular Medicaid or its waiver program.
Skilled Services
Home health care providers offer skilled services such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy that are prescribed by your physician and covered either partially or fully by Medicare, private insurance policies or long-term care policies.
Home healthcare allows patients of all ages to recover from illness or injury in the comfort of their own home without leaving. This allows them to avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions or costly nursing facility care facilities for continued support.
Licensed nurses and therapists offer medical treatment by administering medications, measuring blood pressure and tracking chronic conditions. Furthermore, they offer support to caregivers who teach them how to provide care for their loved ones at home. Home health aides also offer personal assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing and grooming.
Dietary Services
Home health care services are provided by nurses or physical therapists and typically include wound care as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Home healthcare professionals work to reduce hospital readmissions and help people transition back into daily routines after leaving an acute or rehab care facility.
Home health agencies increasingly enlist dietitians as visitors for home health visits, in order to assess nutrition, educate patients on diet choices and offer recommendations. These RDs may also conduct nutrition evaluations.
Home health agencies frequently collaborate with hospitals, and dieticians may assist post-discharge patients in meeting their dietary needs after discharge. Dieticians also offer many community support services like grocery shopping and meal preparation that may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or long-term care insurance plans.
Laboratory Services
Home health care providers conduct several laboratory tests to assess your condition. They work with both you and your physician or authorized practitioner to coordinate care and communicate the results regularly.
Staff will typically monitor your blood pressure, temperature and breathing; ensure you’re taking medications correctly; teach you specific tasks; and check on whether or not it is safe in your home. They can also provide assistance managing your condition while instructing family members in how best to care for you.
Home healthcare providers must be licensed in your state and often seek additional accreditations that demonstrate they meet quality standards, like Medicare’s Home Health Compare website. You can also find lab services through home health agencies who partner with Getlabs; this gives patients access to diagnostic testing right in their homes or offices.
Transportation
At times, health conditions make driving impracticable or impossible for some patients, necessitating family or friend transportation to appointments. Home healthcare providers sometimes provide additional transportation services as an additional support service.
Assistance such as this can ease stress for patients, their families and caregivers while helping ensure that they get the care they require at an earlier date.
Some franchise home health agencies, like Omaha’s Right at Home and El Segundo’s 24Hr HomeCare in California, collaborate with Uber or Lyft ride-hailing services to provide ride-hailing support. This can be an efficient solution when meeting transportation needs for clients newly discharged from hospitals with scheduled medical appointments.