Home health care is a type of care that relies less on a hospital and allows you to remain in your house while you recover. A surprising number of companies will provide this service. Benefits can include convenience and lower cost while retaining effective medical care. Think of recovering in your own home instead of a hospital.
The main purpose of home health care is to treat a sickness, injury, or other similar problem. Being able to remain in the comfort and familiarity of your home can be a very positive experience. A safe, well-known place to recover can allow visits from friends and family. Invite them over for coffee and to sign your cast.
Many services offered in hospitals can also be taken care of using home health care – physical, occupational, speech and nutrition therapy to name a few. Other options include patient education and regular injections. Not only are these medical jobs expected, but anyone taking care of you in your home will provide daily cleaning and cooking, as well.
You can find a plethora of companies that offer home health care. One thing to make sure is that your insurance covers this type of care; otherwise you may be surprised by a larger bill than you expected. Research the internet and any local health care agencies to find out exactly which services they offer.
What can a home health care agency staff member do for you? You can expect them to take care of general health monitoring, including meal preparation, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and checking for breathing problems. Any prescribed medicine or exercise will be under their close watch, as well. Making sure the environment is safe and comfortable is their job, too.
All of your needs and expectations are bundled into a term coined plan of care. Included are the services offered by the agency, which ones you require, how often they must be performed, any machines or equipment necessary, and any other expectations you have. Anyone providing home health care will review these with you.
Don’t feel like you can’t speak up and ask questions to your care provider, either. Any concerns and questions should be answered in order to give you the best care. If they are impolite, won’t explain things to you, or delay responses when you ask for something, report this to any other health care professionals.
Know more than you did before about home health care? If you need to know more, you can look up stories about those who have received this care in the past. They will give their feedback about good and bad experiences, whether or not it helped more than a hospital, and if they would recommend it to you.