How to Get Home Health Care Services for Yourself or Your Parents

Navigating the journey of acquiring home health care services for yourself or your aging parents can be filled with questions and uncertainties. At Harrison Senior Living, we understand the importance of this decision and the need for clear, compassionate guidance. This blog is designed to be your comprehensive guide, helping you obtain the right home health care services that cater to your specific needs or those of your loved ones.

Whether managing a chronic condition or recovering from an illness, home health care offers a personalized, empathetic approach to care. It combines the professionalism and expertise of a medical facility with the warmth and comfort of home, ensuring you or your loved ones receive the best of both worlds.

Together, we’ll explore the essence of home health care, how to access these services, the role of Medicare in funding care, and the common conditions that home health care can effectively manage.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care is not just a service; it’s a compassionate approach to healing and recovery in the environment where you feel most comfortable – your home. It encompasses various medical services that are typically less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as the care you would receive in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Services Offered in Home Health Care

The range of services under home health care is diverse, catering to different needs and situations. Some of these services include:

• Wound Care: Expert care for pressure sores or surgical wounds.
• Education: Empowering patients and caregivers with necessary knowledge.
• Therapy Services: Including intravenous or nutrition therapy.
• Medication Management: Assistance with injections and ensuring medications are taken correctly.
• Health Monitoring: Keeping a close eye on serious illnesses and unstable health statuses.

What to Expect from Home Health Care

The process is thorough and personalized when you opt for home health care. Here’s what you should expect:

1. Initial Assessment: A home health agency representative will visit your home to understand your needs and assess your health condition.
2. Doctor Coordination: Continuous communication with your doctor to update them on your progress.
3. Regular Visits: The frequency of visits is determined per the doctor’s orders, ensuring consistent and effective care.

Role of Home Health Care Staff

The staff who visit your home play a multifaceted role in your care. They are responsible for:

• Monitoring Vital Signs: Checking your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
• Diet and Medication Checks: Ensuring you eat and drink properly and manage your medications.
• Pain Management: Inquiring about any pain and addressing it appropriately.
• Safety Assessments: Making sure your home environment is safe.
• Education: Teaching you about your care so you can become more independent.
• Care Coordination: Regularly communicating with you, your doctor, and other caregivers to provide a cohesive care experience.

How to Get Home Health Care Services for Yourself or Your Parents

To qualify for home health care services, the doctor must visit with you (or your loved one) face-to-face before certifying that home health services are needed. To qualify for Medicare coverage, they must order your care, and a Medicare-certified home health agency must provide it.

Does Medicare Pay for Home Health Care?

Understanding the intricacies of Medicare coverage for home health care can be complex, but it’s vital for ensuring you or your loved ones receive the care needed while managing finances effectively.

Specific conditions need to be met for this coverage to apply. Your medical condition should necessitate skilled nursing or therapy services on a part-time or intermittent basis. You must also be considered “homebound,” which means leaving your home is a significant effort due to illness, injury, or any other condition that makes it either inadvisable or difficult to leave your home without special assistance.

Services Covered by Medicare

Medicare provides coverage for various home health services, ensuring that your medical needs are met in the comfort of your home. These services include:

• Skilled Nursing Care: Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care that is medically necessary.
• Therapy Services: This encompasses physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy.
• Medical Social Services: Assistance with social and emotional concerns related to your illness.
• Home Health Aide Care: Available part-time in conjunction with skilled nursing care.
• Specific Medications and Equipment: This includes injectable osteoporosis drugs for women, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies.

What Medicare Does Not Cover

It’s equally important to understand what Medicare does not cover in home health care, which includes 24-hour care and non-medical services. Medicare does not cover round-the-clock care at home. Coverage is limited to part-time or intermittent care, typically up to 8 hours a day and 28 hours a week, with possible short-term extensions if medically necessary. Meals delivered to your home, homemaker services unrelated to your care plan, and custodial or personal care for daily living activities are not covered if they are the only care needed.

At Harrison Senior Living, we are dedicated to helping you navigate these complexities, ensuring that you or your loved ones receive the care needed while maximizing the benefits available to you through Medicare. Our team is here to provide guidance and support every step of the way, honoring your independence and dignity in the comfort of your own home.

What is the Most Common Diagnosis for Home Health Care?

Some of the most common conditions that home health care may be ideal for aiding you with include:

• Stroke
• Joint replacement or surgery
• Emphysema
• Pneumonia or other serious illness
• Congestive heart failure
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Asthma
• COPD
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Broken limbs or other serious injuries

Home Health Care Services in Chester County, PA

Harrison Home Health Care delivers reliable and quality home health care services to seniors in West Chester, Coatesville, Phoenixville, Downingtown, and the surrounding area in Chester County, PA. Our skilled team of nurses, therapists, home health aides, and social workers understand the specific needs of older adults and provide exceptional services right in the comfort of each individual’s own home. We offer services that go beyond medical needs to personal care, meal preparation, household duties, and more. Contact us to learn more about how our services can serve you or your loved one in the comfort of home.