Considering if Home Health Care is Right for You?
If you answer "yes" to these questions, home health care may be right for you. Talk with your doctor or call us today for more information.
- Have you been diagnosed with a new illness?
- Do you have an existing condition that has become worse?
- Have you had an injury or trauma?
- Have you recently been in the hospital?
- Has your medicine recently changed?
- Do you need skilled nursing care?
- Do you need therapy services?
- Do you have trouble moving, walking or doing your daily activities?
Other Factors that Indicate You May Benefit from Home Health Care
- Your condition needs more monitoring.
- Your caregiver needs to be trained how to manage your condition.
- You need wound or ostomy care.
- You have trouble understanding or following your medication and treatment instructions.
- You have fallen or are at risk for falling.
- You are taking a blood thinner or other medicine that requires you to have your blood drawn and checked.
In order to qualify for home health care you must be home bound
Homebound means that leaving the home requires a considerable and taxing effort, such as needing crutches, a walker, wheelchair, or help from another person. Leaving home for medical treatment and attending a licensed or accredited adult day care or religious service is always permitted.
Leaving home for short periods of time or for special non-medical events, such as a family reunion, funeral or graduation, should not exclude the patient from being considered homebound. Taking an occasional trip to the barber or beauty parlor is also allowed.
What Should You Expect from Home Health Care?
The goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury. Home health care helps you get better, regain your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible.
Doctor's orders are needed to start care. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, the home health agency will schedule an appointment and come to your home to talk to you about your needs and ask you some questions about your health.
The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress. It is important to keep your follow up doctor appointments so that the home health staff can update your treatment plan.
It's important that home health staff see you as often as the doctor ordered.
How Home Health Staff Can Aid in Your Recovery
- Check what you're eating and drinking.
- Check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
- Check that you're taking your prescription and other drugs and any treatments correctly.
- Ask if you're having pain.
- Check your safety in the home.
- Teach you about your care so you can take care of yourself.
- Coordinate you care. This means they must communication regularly with you, your doctor, and anyone else who gives you care.
- Exercise with you to improve your balance, strength, and function