Home care is appropriate whenever a person prefers to stay at home but needs ongoing
care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends.
Home Health Care is available to those who
- are disabled, or recuperating from acute ilness
- are recovering from an illness or injury,
- are aged and their physical capabilities diminish
- Have a chronic or terminal illness
Choosing the Right Home Care Provider
How can you be certain the provider you choose is one you can trust? Your doctor or hospital
discharge planner can often help you find the right home care provider to meet your needs.
Their recommendations are helpful, but the choice is always up to you.
HERE are a few questions
to ask home care providers:
* Are the agency caregivers and supervisors - including backup
caregivers - available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week?
* How does the provider ensure
patient confidentiality?
* Does the provider require criminal record background checks
and communicable disease screens for its staff members?
* Is there a written plan of care
that the patient, physician and family participate in developing?
* Does the agency educate
family members on the care being provided to the patient?
Who Pays for Home Care?
Home care services can be paid for directly by the patient and his or her family members
or through a variety of public and private sources. Public third-party payors include Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration,
and Social Services block grant programs. Private third-party payors include commercial health insurance companies, managed care organizations,
TRICARE, and workers' compensation.
Self-pay
Home care services that fail to meet the criteria of third-party payors must be paid for "out of pocket"
by the patient or other party. The patient and home care provider negotiate the fees.