Home Health Care Basics

As insurance companies continue to reduce hospital stay coverages, home health care services are in high demand for those who require aftercare assistance. Agency providers range from health aides to licensed medical professionals who specialize in a number of different areas. Services are provided on a set schedule with caregivers or family members filling in as needed.

Identification

• If you're too sick or disabled to care for yourself but well enough to live at home, home health care services may be a viable option. Those who've been recently discharged from a hospital or require an assisted living environment are good candidates for this level of service. It involves having an aide or licensed nurse visit on a periodic basis to help with whatever assistance is needed. Oftentimes, providers can instruct family members or caregivers on how to perform certain tasks on the days when a service provider is not there.

Function

• A person's level of health will determine what tasks need to be performed by a home health care provider. Some require help with daily living skills like bathing and cooking, while others may need actual medical care on a periodic basis. Home health care is meant to restore, maintain or promote a certain level of health. These services are commonly needed in cases of disability, disease or after a major surgery. As the costs for these services are typically paid for by insurance, providers are only available for a set period of time.

Features

• In addition to help with daily living tasks, home health care services may include coordinating dental, nursing and doctors' visits to the home or an assisted living facility. Therapeutic care needs may include physical therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory care. Licensed service providers, such as nurses, can be specialized depending on the needs of the person, whereas health aides primarily assist with custodial or basic care needs. These practitioners typically work out of home-care agencies, hospital agencies and hospital departments.

History

• Basic home health care services started off as a community-based function where agency costs were covered by charitable contributions and minimal government funding. Increased life expectancy rates prompted the federal government to enact the Medicaid and Medicare programs in 1965 to meet the needs of an ever-growing elderly population. From there, provider services were regulated according to government guidelines. These regulations became the standard for health insurance providers. As a result, individuals receiving care must meet certain guidelines to be covered under insurance.

Considerations

• As home health care services are only provided for a set period of time, providers are required to asses a person's needs and draw up a plan on how services will be delivered. Frequency of visits, necessary tasks and the length of the service contract are determined within the assessment. Family members do have the option of hiring a personal care attendant, which may be less costly. However, personal attendants may not be covered under insurance guidelines, and credential checks may be difficult to validate.