What is Home Health?

Jacalyn Belli | posted April 20, 2009 |

As a Regional Sales Director for AseraCare Home Health, I know how important it is for patients to understand their health care options. I’ve found that there is often confusion about what exactly home health is and what it offers. People may wonder what conditions can be treated, how they can pay for it or whether or not home care is right for them. Home health care can be helpful to people in many different situations and with many different needs, and it is with the guidance of your doctor that you should decide if home care is right for you.

Simply put: home health care is skilled nursing care and other health care services that are provided at home for an illness or injury. Sometimes patients receive home health care after a hospital stay. When patients are well enough to return home but still need some ongoing care, this can be a great option. Other times, doctors may recommend home health care if their patients are unable to leave their homes to receive necessary medical treatment. Regardless of the reason for home health, it offers a way for patients to be comfortable in their environment while receiving the care that they need.

Many different services are available through home health. Diabetes management, wound care, orthopedic care and oncology care are all common. Nurses, therapists and home health aides are all provide services to treat these various conditions.

A great example of someone who may do well with home health care is someone who has undergone joint replacement surgery. A hip replacement, for example, will require some time in the hospital and a skilled nursing facility after surgery. When the patient transfers home, they can continue the physical therapy without being required to travel to an outpatient facility.

If you qualify for skilled care as per the Medicare guidelines, home care is covered at 100%. There are specific guidelines that determine whether or not someone qualifies, so check with your primary care physician or refer to Medicare’s Web site. Many private insurances and secondary insurance also assist with home care costs.

Part of my mission at AseraCare Home Health is to ensure that our patients have the information they need to make the best choices for themselves. Home health care may provide patients with a greater level of satisfaction by having care provided in their home environment. Care being provided at home gives the patients a greater sense of independence as well as enhancing their recovery experience.