Home Health Care Services

Northeast Ohio Home Health Care is medical care given in your home to treat a chronic health condition or help you recover from surgery, illness or injury. It must be ordered by a doctor and delivered by skilled professionals, including nurses and physical, occupational and speech therapists.

Medicare and some private insurance plans cover the cost of home health care when it’s medically necessary.

Home Health Care Services

Home health care is a physician-prescribed plan of home medical services to help patients recover from illness or injury. It can be a less costly alternative to hospitalization and often results in quicker recovery.

Medicare-certified home health agencies provide skilled services, such as nursing and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. They will work with you and your doctor to develop a detailed care plan, which is then reviewed on a regular basis by the doctor.

Non-Medicare home health care can include personal care and assistance with daily activities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, meal preparation, and housekeeping. Some agencies offer personal home healthcare aides for a few hours a day or around-the-clock live-in care. Grasping the intricacies of home healthcare costs can feel overwhelming, but with diligence and guidance from professionals, a feasible plan is within reach.

Skilled Nursing

A senior home health aide can help you with the personal care aspects of daily living like bathing, dressing and meal preparation. They are generally supervised by nurses and doctors who make regular visits.

A skilled nursing facility is a temporary residence for people who require medical care and rehabilitation after an inpatient hospital stay. They are often a better alternative to a traditional hospital, with licensed healthcare professionals like RNs and LPNs providing round-the-clock nursing care seven days a week.

Skilled nursing homes also offer physical, occupational and speech therapy to help you regain strength and independence. Most are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Public Health. Oftentimes, you can qualify for long-term care insurance which will cover the costs of skilled nursing.

Dietary Services

Home health care nurses help their clients with dietary issues that can make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. They might offer grocery shopping assistance, meal preparation and feeding, maintenance of tubes like colostomy bags or oxygen tanks, and food safety training for seniors.

Many home health agencies work as partners with hospitals to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. They also work to promote community-based services to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible.

Home healthcare workers can be exposed to violence on a regular basis, and this can lead to stress. They need to be aware of the risk and seek support from their employers, coworkers, family, and friends. The good news is that the risk of violence can be managed with careful planning.

Laboratory Testing

Home health care includes medical services such as nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy and home health aides. It is typically covered by Medicare, a government insurance program for people over 65. To qualify, your doctor must sign a home health certification and approve a plan of care for you. Then, your Medicare-approved agency provides the care.

Home healthcare workers face numerous workplace hazards. These include bloodborne pathogens, musculoskeletal injuries from lifting patients and lack of control over their work environment.

Custodial care, such as meal preparation, bathing and transportation, is not typically included in Medicare home health services. However, long-term care insurance policies provide coverage for some elements of custodial care. Check with your provider to learn more. Also, ask your home health care agency if there are any items or services that aren't covered by Medicare. They must notify you in writing of these costs.

Transportation

Home health care agencies often provide transportation for patients to get to appointments, medical visits or social events. Home healthcare workers also face safety and health hazards on the job, including exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other hazardous materials, latex sensitivity and ergonomic risks from patient lifting.

To qualify for home health care, you must meet certain requirements. Your doctor must order the care, and you must be considered homebound. This means leaving the house is difficult or impossible without using a wheelchair, walker or other device. You can leave the house for brief periods, however, to attend religious services or special family events. You must also agree to follow your doctor's treatment plan. Medicare covers home health care if you meet these requirements.