Patients who are homebound due to health issues and those recovering from surgery are at risk of missing the medical care they need. Home health services fill this potential gap in care, bringing vital medical support to patients in their own homes. This support not only makes it easier for older adults to remain safe and independent but also ensures they are getting quality health care when they need it.
What to Expect from Home Health Services with Aleca Health
To begin working with a home health care agency, a patient’s physician must first order the care. A representative from the agency will visit the patient at their home for a full assessment of their condition and their needs. The representative will also inventory the patient’s medications. After completing an assessment, the representative will consult with the patient’s doctor to create an individualized care plan.
A plan of care is a detailed description of all the services a patient needs to maintain their health and independence. Services may include:
- Assistance with injections and other medications
- Nutritional therapy
- Patient and caregiver education
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Monitoring vitals such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature
- Pain management
- Wound care
- Social services
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as showering and getting dressed
- Certain diagnostic tests
Care coordination between the patient, their doctor, and their home health care provider helps ensure each patient gets the individualized care and attention they need.
Who Provides Home Health Services?
Patients receive care from trained and certified professionals. The care team may include therapists, nurses, and certified nursing assistants, depending on the patient’s needs.
Home health care services do not extend to household maintenance, shopping, or other personal errands. Nonmedical in-home care may be available from the same agency that provides medical services, but this level of care does not require medical training. Personal care aides are vetted and certified through the agencies they work for.
Who Is Eligible for These Services?
Medicare and other health insurance providers will pay for home health services if specific guidelines are met. These guidelines are as follows:
- A physician certifies that you need one or more specific medical treatments at home
- The physician certifies that you are homebound because of an illness, injury, or mobility issue
- The physician regularly reviews your plan of care
- The home health care agency is approved by your insurance provider
Patients have the right to decide which home healthcare agency they wish to work with. However, choices may be limited by your insurance coverage and local availability. To find and compare home health care services near you, visit medicare.gov.1
Who Needs Home Health Services?
Home health services are for anyone of any age who cannot leave home for medical care. Some of the procedures and conditions that might make home care necessary include:
- Orthopedic surgery such as knee, spine, or hip surgery
- Cardiac issues such as heart failure, bypass, or valve surgery
- Sepsis and infectious diseases, including viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases
- Pulmonary illnesses like pneumonia, asthma, heart failure, COPD, and bronchiectasis
- Renal disease
- Wound care
- Traumatic brain injuries, burns, and orthopedic trauma
Patients coping with the long-term impact of contracting COVID-19 and long COVID, such as heart palpitations, fatigue, or shortness of breath, may also benefit from home health services.
Find Quality Home Health Care Services
The home health care team at Aleca is committed to providing compassionate care. Our agency meets or exceeds all local, stage, and federal guidelines. Contact Aleca today to learn more about our patient-focused healthcare services.
Sources:
1. https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/?providerType=HomeHealth&redirect=true
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.