• What is home health care?
• Growth in home health care
• Who pays for your care?
• How to determine if your loved one needs home health care
• Tips for healthy living
• Other websites to visit

What Is Home Health Care?

Home health care involves providing people with health care and health-related services in their own homes. As a result, many people can lead healthier, happier, more independent lives. This care ranges from short term to long term care, with some individuals requiring minimal assistance while others need more comprehensive care.

A treatment plan is developed for each individual patient. All services are provided under the direction of the patient’s doctor. Services are delivered by trained professionals and can include:

• Nurses
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech therapists
• Home health aides
• Medical social workers

Patient and family education is an important part of home health care. The involvement of the patient and family members in the treatment plan often improves the effectiveness of the plan.

What’s more, by working in the patient’s home environment, the health care provider gains valuable insights to improve treatment and helps the patient live a healthier, more independent life at home.

While the home has been a primary site for care giving for many years, home health care as we know it today, had its beginnings in the 1880’s. Presently, home health care is the fastest growing segment of the health care industry, providing an ever growing list of services to people of all ages.

Growth in Home Health Care

According to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), there are currently more than 20,000 home care providers delivering services to some 7.6 million individuals who require care in the home.

The advances in medical technology that enable certain procedures to be done in the home along with cost containment measures by governmental and private pay sources, have added to this growth in home care. In addition, the 2000 census shows both a 12% increase in the number of individuals over age 65 and a 34 % increase since 1990 in the number of 45 – 64 year olds. The ever increasing numbers of seniors will certainly tax the payment sources for health care. These statistics illustrate the need for long-term care. Providing health care services in the home will continue to be a viable alternative to the more expensive options of remaining in the hospital or placement in a nursing home.

The benefits to home care have also contributed to its growth. Patients, who recover in the comfort of their own homes, with the support of family and friends, have increased morale and often, recover more quickly. They also enjoy a higher level of personal independence. Another advantage is that the family can be more involved in the treatment plan and be together during trying times. In addition, the cost to the patients and their families is significantly less than many other forms of care.

The chart below illustrates a cost comparison between services provided in a nursing home and services provided in the patient’s home.

© Metlife Mature Marketing Institute

Who Pays For Your Care?

There are a number of sources that pay for home health care:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Private Insurance
• Veterans' benefits
• Workers' Compensation
• Self pay

Generations Home Care can help you determine your coverage.

How To Determine If You or a Loved One Needs Home Care

An individual’s circumstances can determine the need for Home Health Care. Service may be warranted after surgery, or when one has fallen and because of the resulting injury, is unable to perform some of the necessary tasks of daily living. In these instances, a physician usually orders home care service.

All too often, planning ahead for one’s home care needs is one of those tasks that we put off doing. Only when there is a critical need, do we investigate the available resources, services, costs, etc. Some indicators that Home Health Care is needed include: experiencing memory loss, deterioration in sound decision making skills, difficulty maintaining balance, lack of interest in housekeeping chores, bill paying, or food preparation.

If you suspect that help is needed, Generations Home Care is ready with skilled and compassionate professionals, to provide those services necessary to improve the health and maintain the quality of life and independence for you or a loved one in the comfort of the patient's home.

Healthy Living Tips

Staying healthy is the best way to stay in your own home. Here are some simple tips to help you avoid injury, illness, and disease.

• Have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure can lead to heart problems, the number one health danger in the United States.
• Have your cholesterol checked regularly. High cholesterol can also cause heart problems.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking puts you at greater risk for certain health problems including emphysema, cancer, and heart disease.
• Make sure that you eat right and eat regular meals. Eat a balanced, low fat, low cholesterol diet. Your doctor or other health care professionals can help you develop a good diet.
• Be as active as you safely can. Staying active is good for your health and good for your attitude.
• Avoid falling. Falls often cause injuries that lead to long term loss of independence. Check your home for the following:
  • Cluttered floors or walkways
  • Slippery bathtubs and showers without mats or handrails
  • Steps in bad repair or without railings
  • Poor lighting – Older people need twice the amount of lighting as a 30 year old.
• Understand the medications that you take and use them properly. Make sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about the possible side effects of any medicine that you take. Make sure that your doctor and your pharmacist know about all the medications that you take, including over-the-counter drugs. Take your medications only as directed, at the right time, and in the right doses. If you have any questions or problems, call your doctor.