What Are The Different Types Home Health Care?
Different types of home health care services available to patients are diverse and can be tailored based on their specific needs.
Types of home medical services can range from nursing care to more specialized services, such as laboratory workups.
Your doctor and you will collaborate to determine the care plan that best suits your requirements. Home care services may include:
Home Doctor Visits (Doctor Care)
In-home medical care is a vital service that some patients require. A physician may make house calls to diagnose and treat a patient’s illness. Additionally, the doctor can perform periodic checkups to ensure that the patient’s home health care needs are being met.
In-Home Nursing Services (Nursing Care)
Nursing care is the primary type of home health care provided to patients based on their specific needs. In collaboration with the physician, a registered nurse will establish a care plan.
Nursing care may involve wound dressing, ostomy care, IV Therapy, administering medication, monitoring the patient’s overall health, pain management, and other types of home health care services support.
Rehabilitation Therapy Services
For some patients, rehabilitation therapy can be essential to relearning daily activities or improving speech after an injury or illness. A physical therapist can design a care plan to help a patient regain or strengthen the use of muscles and joints.
An occupational therapist can assist a patient with physical, developmental, social, or emotional disabilities to relearn daily functions such as bathing, dressing, eating, and more. Lastly, a speech therapist can aid a patient with impaired speech to regain the ability to communicate clearly.
Medical Social Work Services
Medical social workers are responsible for a range of services to patients, including counseling and identifying community resources to aid in their recovery.
In some cases, social workers act as the patient’s case manager when their medical condition is very complex and requires coordination of multiple services.
Personal Care Assistance
Home health aides provide assistance to patients with their basic personal needs, such as getting out of bed, walking, bathing, and dressing. Some aides have undergone specialized training to provide more complex care under the supervision of a nurse.
What Are Personal Care Services?
Personal care services are essential hands-on services that help individuals with daily activities they cannot perform independently. These services, also known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or Instrumental Activities of Daily Life (IADLs), are often critical for individuals to continue living in their own homes instead of relocating to an assisted living or nursing home facility.
Common Examples For Personal Care Services
Personal care services involve helping individuals with basic ADLs and IADLs, which are essential for maintaining safety and independence while living at home. Examples of personal care services include:
- assistance with bathing,
- toileting,
- dressing,
- grooming,
- meal preparation,
- medication reminders,
- and mobility.
Types of Personal Care Assistants
Personal care assistants provide essential care services and fall into three main categories.
Family caregivers, private care providers, and personal care agencies such as Expert Care Healthcare are the three types of personal care assistants.
While family caregivers can provide care depending on the level of need, private care providers and personal care agencies employ licensed, trained, and vetted personal care assistants or home health aides.
Advantages of Personal Care Services
Opting for in-home personal care services as opposed to assisted living or nursing homes has a number of benefits.
Seniors can stay in their own homes and receive companionship, while assistance with simple tasks can ensure their safety and comfort for years.
Personal care services are typically more affordable than other care options. Caregivers provide personalized care that can range from an hour or more per day to 24-hour care.
Personal care services also enhance the quality of life for seniors by allowing them to maintain their independence and form close bonds with their caregivers.
Homemaker Services
During a patient’s in-home medical care, a homemaker or assistant can help maintain the household by performing tasks such as meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and other housekeeping duties.
Companion Care (Companionship)
Patients who are alone at home may require a companion to provide comfort and supervision. Companions may also offer help with household duties in addition to providing companionship.
Community Volunteer Services (Volunteer Care)
Community organizations offer volunteer services for patients, including companionship, personal care assistance, transportation, emotional support, and paperwork help.
In-Home Nutritional Guidance
Dietitians can visit a patient’s home to provide dietary assessments and guidance to support their treatment plan.
In-Home Laboratory and X-Ray Services
Some laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests, can be conducted in the comfort of the patient’s home. Additionally, portable X-ray machines allow lab technicians to perform this service at the patient’s home.
In-Home Pharmaceutical Support
A healthcare provider can deliver medications and medical equipment to the patient’s home and provide training on how to use them properly. If necessary, the healthcare provider can also give guidance on intravenous therapy.
Medical Transportation Services
Companies provide transportation services to patients who need transportation to and from medical facilities for treatment or physical exams.
Home-Delivered Meal Services
Communities offer a service called Meals-on-Wheels, which provides hot meals to patients who are unable to cook for themselves at home. Depending on the individual’s needs, hot meals can be delivered several times a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are related Questions and answers people commonly ask about different types of Medical Care services offered at Home.
What Is The Eligibility Criteria For Home Health Care Services?
To be eligible for home health care services, you must meet the Medicare homebound criteria, which means that leaving home is very challenging for you and you require assistance to do so.
Your physician will evaluate your condition to determine if you meet the homebound criteria.
You are generally considered homebound if you require the assistance of a supportive device or another person to leave your home. Moreover, your doctor may also determine that your illness could worsen if you leave home, which further supports your homebound status.
Additionally, leaving your home requires a great deal of effort, and you usually only leave your home for short periods to attend essential events, such as medical appointments, religious services, or licensed adult daycare.