Determining what type of in home care, and how much of it is needed, is part of the service that home health care agencies provide. Many of these agencies will send a professional to the family’s home to assess the situation, make recommendations about what kinds of caregiver help could be useful and how much time to start out with. Usually this first visit is free and does not require people to sign up for services.
Sometimes family caregivers feel the need for more help but hesitate to call a home care agency because of a mistaken belief that they need to know exactly what they need before they call. However, calling first can help people learn what options they have, making it easier to decide whether or not to utilize home care.
Types of Care Provided by Home Health Agencies
- Non-medical care - some home care agencies provide strictly non-medical care which includes things like household chores, cleaning, running errands, preparing meals, keeping the patient company or driving the patient places.
- Personal care - other agencies will provide personal care aides who can help the patient bathe, dress, and move around the house. It is common for people to hire this type of aide when bathing and moving the patient to the toilet become too difficult for the family member. It is also common to use this type of care aide when the risk of the patient falling becomes great, requiring constant monitoring of the patient. Personal care aides will often do household chores during down time, for example, while the patient naps.
- Medical care – some agencies may provide an in-home health care nurse or trained medical professional to provide medical services such as wound care, injections, rehabilitation and physical therapy. These types of services are often provided as part of a discharge plan after a hospital stay.
- Hospice care – if the doctor has stated that the patient is terminal, hospice services may be received.
Benefits of Using a Home Health Agency
- When working with an agency it is important to make sure that they are licensed, bonded and insured, which protects the family from problems.
- Agencies can usually provide a caregiver on short notice in an emergency, or they can provide several candidates for the family to choose from.
- If the caregiver hired through the agency doesn’t work out, the agency should be able to provide someone satisfactory in their place.
- Agencies often have rigorous screening procedures and provide competent training for their employees.
Benefits of Seeking in Home Care Without Going Through an Agency
- In caregiving circles, very good home health care aids develop positive reputations and can often be found by simply asking around.
- Recommendations of whom to hire and whom to avoid can be secured by asking the medical doctor, physical therapist, hospital or nursing home personnel, friends, church members, other family caregivers.
- Sometimes it costs less to hire someone directly. Agency fees can be avoided. But more of the decisions and potential problems are left to the family caregivers to manage, as there is no agency support.
Paying for Services
Health insurance plans may or may not cover some of the services described here. Some charitable agencies, local governments and churches provide some of the services listed above for free.
Psychological Aspects of Securing In Home Health Care
Sometimes the most difficult aspect of getting help is accepting the fact that the loved one’s illness is progressing, and that it may be too difficult to care for them on one’s own. Or, the patient may object. Support groups and counseling can be helpful in dealing with these aspects of the home health care decision.
Lisa C. DeLuca - Lisa C. DeLuca is a psychotherapist/social worker who works with families and teens. She also treats panic and anxiety disorders.
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