What Is Home Health?
Home Health Care provides skilled medical services for an illness or injury, wherever you call home with the goal of helping you recover, regain your independence and become as self-sufficient as possible. We offer health care services such as skilled nursing, home health aides, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social work. We specialize in treating acute as well as chronic conditions including:
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Recovery from Surgery or Illness
- Other Illnesses and Conditions
You receive the services you need based on a plan of care, which is an individual plan developed by your doctor with our clinical team. Services may include:
- Nursing Care
- Therapy
- Pain Management
- Medication Management Education
- Wound Care
- Infusion Therapy Line Maintenance
Who Is Eligible For Home Health Care?
There are several requirements for receiving home health care under the Medicare Benefit:
- You must have a doctor prescribe home health care
- You must need either skilled nursing care or therapy on an intermittent basis, such as physical, occupational,
or speech therapy - You must be considered “homebound” (see below)
What Does Homebound Mean?
Essentially, your condition is such that you’re normally unable to safely leave your home without the assistance of others and the aid of assistive devices (such as crutches, canes, walkers or wheelchairs), and that doing so would require considerable and taxing effort.
You can generally leave home as often as you need for medical treatment that cannot be provided in the home and still be considered homebound. Further, you are allowed brief and infrequent absences from the home for some non-medical reasons, such as an occasional trip to the barber/beauty shop, to attend church, or for unique family events (like a graduation).
Who Pays For Home Health Care Services?
Provided you meet eligibility requirements, Medicare may pay for your covered home health care for as long as you’re eligible and your doctor certifies that you need it. Additionally, your state’s Medicaid program or your private insurance also may cover home health care, or some services that Medicare doesn’t cover. Check with your state Medicaid program or insurance company to learn about their specific eligibility requirements. Our staff is happy to help determine whether you meet coverage criteria. To learn more, contact a care center near you.
What Qualifies As A “Home”?
Your residence is wherever you call home. This may be your house, an apartment, a relative’s home, a senior community, or some other type of institution. However, a hospital, skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility is not considered a “home”.
Home Health Care, Hospice Care & Personal Care
Home health care provides skilled clinical treatment for an illness or injury, with the goal of helping you recover, regain your independence and become as self-sufficient as possible. Home health care can also help you live with a chronic condition, like heart disease, COPD, or diabetes. Additionally, home health care can include some personal care services, like help bathing and dressing, as part of the plan of care ordered by your doctor.
Hospice care is designed to provide non-curative treatment and comfort for those who are facing a life-limiting illness. It offers a support system of medical, social, psychological, bereavement and spiritual services that support a patient, their family, and other loved ones.
Personal care services’ aides provide help with personal care, meal preparation or your normal activities of daily living in order to remain independent within your home.
