Home health services allow seniors to receive highly skilled and clinical rehabilitation care in the comfort of their own homes. This type of care can enable seniors to regain and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
Many people confuse home health services with regular home care. There is a distinct difference between the two, as home care is specifically non-medical care that assists with daily activities and companionship.
On the other hand, home health services for seniors are medical-skilled services that typically require a written doctor’s order. Recognizing the difference between the two is critical to locate the correct type of care for your loved one.
At Aleca Home Health, we provide our patients with the highest quality health services in Arizona, Washington, and Oregon. As we look at what these services entail, you will learn if you or a loved one needs them and how Aleca Home Health can help.
What Do Home Health Services for Seniors Include?
Home health services encompass a wide variety of services to seniors that can be given at home to help treat an illness or injury.1 These can include:
- Injections
- Monitoring a serious illness
- IV or nutrition therapy
- Wound care for a surgical wound or pressure sores
These medical services aim to help patients feel better, regain their independence, and regain self-sufficiency. For some, it can also mean maintaining their current condition or level of function.
A doctor’s order is needed to begin at-home health services. Once this is issued, your home health care agency will schedule a visit to understand your needs better. Your home healthcare team will also talk with your doctor about the care you should receive and offer frequent updates about your status.
What is Not Included?
Home health services only include medically necessary services. It does not include services like cleaning, cooking, or transportation. These types of things would be part of home care service programs.
How Do I Know If I Need Home Health Services?
Home health services can help with a variety of injuries and illnesses. At Aleca Home Health, we provide highly skilled clinical and therapy care for patients from the comfort of their homes. We help patients with a wide range of medical conditions and surgeries, such as:
- Orthopedic surgeries
- Cardiac surgeries
- Infectious diseases
- Neurological issues
- Renal issues
- Pulmonary illnesses
- Wound care
- Diabetes
- Post-COVID-19 medical issues
If you have experienced the above, you may need home health care services. Since this is a medical service, your doctor must recommend it and provide the appropriate orders.
Who Pays for Services?
Medicare and other health insurance companies will pay for home health services if specific guidelines are met. These include:
- An order from your doctor stating that you need one or more specific medical treatments at home
- Your doctor certifies that you are homebound because of an illness, injury, or mobility issue
- Your doctor regularly reviews your care plan
- Your insurance provider approves your home health care agency
While patients can decide which agency they wish to work with, insurance coverage may limit their choices. If you are unsure of your coverage for home health services for seniors, you can contact Aleca Health, and our team can help.
Aleca Home Health is contracted with several managed care insurance providers and private insurance companies. When you contact us, we will review your options and help you navigate the process to get the best care.
Benefits of Home Health Services
The main perk of home health services is that they can be provided to the patient at home. This makes them more comfortable because they are in their own surroundings. It can even help to speed up the recovery process in some cases.
When patients receive home health services, there is also more of an opportunity for family members to be part of the process. If they live near, they can help their loved ones reach their goals and be an integral part of the process.
Other benefits of home health services include:
- Improved independence
- Better symptom management
- Slowing the decline of severe conditions
- Typically less expensive than hospitalization
Receiving home health services can also help to reduce loneliness among seniors. Being home and having family and friends around can help boost spirits and make a recovery more manageable. Hospitalizations can mean limited visitors and can leave seniors feeling isolated and alone.
One thing to remember about home health services is that they may not be best for patients who require 24-hour monitoring. Your doctor can help determine whether home health services are right for you or if another type of care would be more beneficial. If your doctor recommends home health care services, utilize them. Ignoring your doctor’s recommendation will only hinder your progress and recovery.
Questions to Ask
Since healthcare providers will be visiting your home, it is essential to ask a series of questions before care begins. When receiving these services, you want to be safe and comfortable In your home.
Here are some questions you should ask:
Is the home health care agency licensed?
Never use a home health care agency that is not licensed.
Does the agency use criminal background checks on its employees before sending them into people’s homes?
This step needs to be taken to give you peace of mind about who is entering your home.
Does the agency require its employees to carry photo IDs?
You always want to ensure you know who is constantly entering your home, especially if your injury or illness has impaired your mobility.
Services at Aleca
Aleca Home Health is your source for complete home health services. Our team offers comprehensive services in several different areas. Our clinical teams work with your doctor to develop a detailed plan based on your condition and goals.
Skilled Nursing
Services in this area include medication management, wound care, cardiopulmonary assessment, and more.
Physical Therapy
Increased endurance, rehabilitation following surgery, and improving endurance are all part of physical therapy services through Aleca.
Occupational Therapy
Therapists work on restoring independence at home and improving patients’ ability to take care of themselves.
Speech Therapy
Improving swallowing, speaking abilities, and cognitive deficiencies are all part of our speech therapy program.
Other Specialized Home Health Programs
Specialized programs are also available for patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure, COPD, and pain.
Aleca also has care supervisors coordinating care with your doctor and a clinical social worker connecting patients to community resources. You’ll find each member of our team has your best interests in mind and works together to help you reach your care goals.
Start with Aleca Today
For more information on Aleca, contact us today or message us online. We provide services in Arizona, Washington, and Oregon. Our team is ready to give you the home health care you need and deserve in the comfort of your home. You can also inquire about some of Aleca’s other home services, including senior living therapy, palliative, and hospice care.
Sources:
[1] https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/whats-home-health-care
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.