Home Health Care Services Available To Adults Who Are Homebound Due To Illness

Rent a Daughter services are provided in a person's home by licensed practitioners, including nurses and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Home health care is a safe and effective alternative to hospitalization and can help people avoid premature admission to long-term care institutions.

Home care is available to adults who are homebound due to illness, surgery or injury, or have a chronic medical condition. It is often prescribed by a doctor and includes nursing care, medical social work services, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology.

The patient-centered care plan is tailored to each individual and supervised by a physician. The home health care team works closely with the doctor to monitor and evaluate the patient's progress. The care provider visits the home at regular intervals to assess the needs of the patient and ensure that the care plan is being followed. The caregivers may also provide respite to family members, or assist the patient with errands and daily activities at home.

Research has shown that the specialized, coordinated and interdisciplinary approach to care can lead to fewer unplanned hospital admissions for home health care patients. This is achieved by targeting high-risk patients and integrating home health care with community resources to optimize the patient's quality of life.

In addition to professional clinicians, home health care teams include medical social workers who can provide counseling and can also help patients locate local resources to aid in the management of their chronic medical conditions. Dietitians may visit the home to conduct dietary assessments and advise on nutritional support. Nurses can conduct routine testing in the home, such as blood and urine tests. Portable X-ray machines allow lab technicians to perform imaging in the comfort of the patient's home.

Many older adults who receive home health care benefit from the companionship of a trained home health aide, and some private long-term insurance policies cover these services. Community organizations and senior centers also can help to connect older adults with volunteers who can provide these types of companionship visits.

Non-medical home care includes assistance with the activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and meal preparation. It can also include transportation to and from doctor appointments, errands and shopping. Some people can benefit from the help of a home health aide for just a few hours a week, while others require round-the-clock care.

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