Home health care services provide medical care for your senior at home, lessening doctor visits and making staying home safer. Due to advancements in technology, home health care now attends to patients at home that previously required a doctor/hospital visit such as:
- Blood, Cancer and Cardiovascular disease
- Endocrine, Gastrointestinal and Neurological disorders
- Orthopedic issues
- Renal, Urological, Respiratory and Skin disorders
- For seniors in need of medical attention, different services are available:
- private duty nursing care provided round-the-clock
- intermittent care provides nurse visits of 30-60 minutes on a daily or weekly schedule
- physical or occupational therapists, dieticians, speech therapists, or social workers are supplemental to nursing care
Symptoms
Home care visits may be suggested by the doctor; or be a requirement to less visits to the caring physician and/or hospital. Safety at home comes first. Stay under the advise and counsel of the Geriatric Care Physician/ MD/Specialists that are caring for your loved one.
Specialization
Most home health care services employ Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). An additional year of training after high school is required to become an LPN/LVN.
Registered nurses (RNs) complete two to four years of a nursing program, and must pass a comprehensive test.
Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists have completed at least two to three years of graduate school after nursing school, and are the most highly trained.
Preparation
- Check Medicare/Medicaid/Other insurance for intermittent home health services.
- Insurance may limit the number of home health visits.
- If medical conditions are severe and would otherwise require hospitalization, home health care coverage may be extended.
- Private duty nursing care is usually not covered or only partially covered by insurance.
- Know medical conditions which are prevalent and clearly be able to describe.
- Check with the doctor for a referral for this type of service.
- Long-term care insurance, if available, may cover some of the costs.
Evaluation
- Check for Medicaid certified status and determine if licensed by the state.
- What are the minimum qualifications of your nurses?
- Understand the minimum qualification for nurses, the screening process, and if they are bonded and insured.
- LVN/LPNs may provide most of the care. Will they be supervised by RNs?
- What other specialists are available?
- Getting comfortable with a nurse for repetitive visits is key to your loved ones emotional comfort. Describe how the nursing staff is dispersed to specific jobs and the turnover of staff in your company.
- Availability of nurses day/night, weekends, and for emergency appointments is key.
- What safeguards are in place that regular appointments are not missed?
- How much information is provided to family members regarding the visits? Will we be notified of all changes in care plan?
Home Health Care Articles
- How to Select the Right Home Care Agency for Your Loved One - It seems like whenever we turn on the TV, there is another advertisement for a Home Care agency. Home Care has become a valuable service for seniors who live at home who may need help with some of the daily tasks like bathing, dressing, grooming, or meal preparation. You might… …Read More
Home Health Care Radio Show Segments
- Caregivers: Home Care To Lessen Your Burden
Flanna Perkins, CEO of Fedelta Home Care in Seattle & Portland, Oregon, joins Suzanne to talk about all the services that a home care agency can provide to relieve the burden of a family caregiver.
Flanna says, “A lot of people don’t know really what home care services are, and sometimes they get kind of mixed up with home health. Home care services are non-medical services that we provide to people in their home, and we call them activities of daily living. So that’s like hygiene dressing, taking a shower, moving around your home, maybe bed mobility, repositioning, things like that. And home health is actually services provided by a licensed practical or registered nurse that are medical in nature, like wound care care, they might come in and provide one type of task. And so the type of services we provide are the first ones I described, which are the home care services. So it really can range, and every client has different care needs.
“We provide supervision support for someone who is mobile, they can move around their home, they can still feed themselves, but we’re there to do coaching, queuing, make sure they take their medication, help them with some hygiene, meal preparation, all the way – the full spectrum – to someone who might be quadriplegic, who really is on a caregiver to provide every single activity of daily living for them, helping them prepare and set up everything for meals, feeding them, and all of those supports.
“That’s really the gamut of kind of home care is, and really intended to be an hourly service. So we can come in for one-hour visits all the way up to live-in support, what we call 24/7 care, where we’re providing 24/7 awake care for clients. And so we provide the full range of service, which is really great for families because you could be the informal caregiver and take Saturday and Sunday off. The home care agency can provide two 12-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, and really just give you the weekend back essentially. Or it could be just a morning routine, or evening routine, or even providing supports during the day while the informal caregiver’s at work. So it runs the full kind of spectrum of care needs. And we also do medical escort, grocery shopping, activities like errands and the park. For private pay clients, they need to go to the casino, we’ll take them. Lots of different things that people like to do, we can make sure that they still have integration in the community.”
Learn more:
* Fedelta: https://fedeltahomecare.com/Hear more:
* Podcasts celebrating caregivers: https://answersforelders.com/category/saluting-caregivers/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Caregivers and Dignity of Risk
Flanna Perkins, CEO of Fedelta Home Care in Seattle & Portland, Oregon, joins Suzanne to talk about caregivers getting extra assistance from home care, a wonderful way to improve the lives of both the caregiver and the senior.
Suzanne says, “A caregiver isn’t supposed to be a sacrificial lamb. They are supposed to be an advocate, and I think that’s a mind shift. It’s an ability to understand that you’re a facilitator, and it’s still about your loved one’s life. And I think that’s one of the things that we forget. I know, I forgot that point while caregiving.”
Flanna replies, “One thing I see a lot of times is that decision making leaves the client. If we stop trusting that our parent, for example, can make their own decisions and can live their own life. And there’s this concept called ‘dignity of risk.’ And sometimes we don’t give people that dignity to take their own risks. Your parent’s health is declining, and you come in, and you really start dictating a lot of things. And to me that’s when I see the relationship between the elderly person and their adult child take a turn for the worse. It’s really important to allow the person who needs care, the ability to continue to make decisions for themselves, and have that independence. I think that by doing that, you end up having more trust with your parent, or whoever you care for, and understand what their wants and desires are.
“A lot of times we come in too late, very late in the process of the person’s illness. And so now it’s very difficult, because we’re a stranger, and they don’t know us, and we’re coming in and providing a person that they don’t know, and the person receiving care is scared and they’re nervous. And so one of the big recommendations I have, and that’s why I’m such a believer in respite care, is that when you start seeing that your loved one needs a little bit more care, needs a little bit more help, start home care a little bit sooner, with fewer hours. And [when you’re] in a respite care-type situation, you’ll then have things in a much better place when you need a little bit more care, and you can just kind of slowly increase care for that loved one, and it isn’t such a whiplashing experience for them. So that’s, that’s one of my recommendations.
“When we come in and provide care, most times families are really relieved. It’s really powerful. They just feel like they can just kind of like really go back to being the adult child.”
Suzanne suggests, “Select a home care agency before you need them. Especially if someone’s on Medicaid, they have to get approved. If you’re aging in place at home, even if you don’t need home care, get you yourself registered with one. Then if you have a fall, you need somebody, whatever it is, you don’t have to go through a process. You can have somebody there that day. in many cases.” Flanna agrees. “Every state has a lot of regulations around these services. It isn’t just a matter of dispatching a caregiver into a home. There’s a very kind of formal process that happens. When we see situations that are very stressful, [it’s because] there’s been a lot of delay in getting services started.”
Learn more:
* Fedelta: https://fedeltahomecare.com/Hear more:
* Podcasts celebrating caregivers: https://answersforelders.com/category/saluting-caregivers/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Caregivers: Getting Pro Help
Flanna Perkins, CEO of Fedelta Home Care in Seattle & Portland, Oregon, joins Suzanne to talk about caregivers getting extra assistance. Fedelta provides companionship care, respite care, post hospital care, daily living assistance, long-term care, end of life comfort & care, and personal care.
Flanna says, “There are two types of caregivers. There’s what we would call the informal caregiver. Suzanne, you were the informal caregiver for your mother: you were providing care for her, it was unpaid, you were doing it because she was your mom, out of the kindness of your heart. And then there are the caregivers that our company hires, paid caregivers, people that come in and provide paid support for folks. And one thing that we see so often that happens is when people finally make it to us, a lot of times that informal caregiver is really burnt out, frustrated.”
She adds, “And a lot of families feel guilt. They feel like they should be doing more for their loved one. They also feel like they shouldn’t be asking for outside help at times, they should do it on their own. And really, when we come in, we’re saying, ‘Hey, where are the pain points for you? What are the places that are creating extra stress?’ And we find those areas, and say, what if we just take these things off of your plate? We don’t want to take everything away. That’s not the goal for any professional that comes in, and provides care for additional assistance. But you know, it’s pretty powerful when you get the full care team together to provide care. Kind of almost that kind of ‘takes a village’ concept, when you’re providing care for a loved one. And a lot of times we don’t really plan or understand what our end of life will look like or the end of life for our parents will look like. And it’s really traumatizing. It’s very hard, it’s difficult, it’s emotional. I mean, you know, even though I’ve worked in this field for my, pretty much my entire adult life, you know, we’re all also experiencing it ourselves with our loved ones as well.”
“This really amazing person answers all of our calls. Our home care supervisors are happy to come out, and we do phone screenings, and phone assessments for our clients. We can go to the home and provide a home visit. But most of the work we do, honestly, is in this space when we have an informal caregiver, and it’s usually a son or a daughter, who is reaching a point in delivering care to their loved one that they just can’t manage it independently any longer.”
Learn more:
* Fedelta: https://fedeltahomecare.com/Hear more:
* Podcasts celebrating caregivers: https://answersforelders.com/category/saluting-caregivers/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Home Health and Cognitive Impairment, with Shawn Weiss
Since the pandemic started, Dr. Shawn Weiss has seen a rapid decline with people that have cognitive impairment, due to isolation, decreased social interaction, decreased activity levels. Tons of medical studies show that daily activity improves the strength and balance of those with cognitive impairments, even though they might not remember you were there, improvements in appetite, digestion and sleep, and reduced symptoms of sundowners syndrome. Home Health can help focus on what they can do daily, improving quality of life.
- Qualifying for Home Health, with Shawn Weiss
In this segment, Dr. Shawn Weiss talks about Home Health eligibility. As long as you’re under a physician’s care, Medicare pays for these services. How does someone become eligible? Medicare lifted the home-bound status requirement to be eligible for home health services. You need to be under a doctor’s care, who must certify that you need intermittent (part-time) nursing care, or therapy services (physical, occupational, or speech therapy) for either restorative or maintenance care. Restorative gets you back to your previous level of function, whereas maintenance allows people with chronic conditions to maintain their current level of function.
- What is Home Health? with Shawn Weiss
In this segment, Dr. Shawn Weiss discusses the skilled side of home health. Since the pandemic, home health has moved to the forefront. Home health providers are licensed and Medicare-certified who come into your home and provide medical skilled services in cooperation with your physician. Providers includes nurses and physical and occupational therapists. There are also non-medical home care agencies that provides housekeeping, meal prep, dressing, transportation, and other a-la-carte services.
- Family Member’s Home or an Adult Home? Part 4, with Daphne Davis
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements explores the question of whether we should move mom or dad into our home, a very common question recently. This segment addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects of caring for someone in your home. Inter-generational bonding is priceless, and there’s a heartwarming aspect.
- Family Member’s Home or an Adult Home? Part 3, with Daphne Davis
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements explores the question of whether we should move mom or dad into our home, a very common question recently. This segment addresses some of the expenses involved in caring for someone in your home. Remember that they will need to feel productive and contributing. It helps to have a third party help with these conversations.
- Family Member’s Home or an Adult Home? Part 2, with Daphne Davis
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements explores the question of whether we should move mom or dad into our home, a very common question recently. This segment addresses some of the physical concerns needed to address while caring for someone in your home. Issues such as logistics, transportation, accommodating loved ones with dementia, and there are many aspects of a care plan to look at.
- Family Member’s Home or an Adult Home? Part 1, with Daphne Davis
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements provides an overview of family transitions today, how to best take care of senior loved ones. What does this look like for families today? In the last few weeks, a question that’s come up more often is whether to have a senior love one move into your home. It comes up in light of the pandemic and issues of whether you’re able to visit your parents or not in senior living situations. In this segment, we highlight topics to talk about with your parents and others in your family when considering having a loved one move into your home.
- With a Little Help: Homecare Associates, with Shawn D’Amelio
Shawn D’Amelio talks about CarePartners Living partnerships such as With A Little Help. She is the VP of Washington State Homecare Association, which is setting a benchmark for the quality of care that your loved ones receive. They also provide education that our legislators need. With a Little Help is a good resource, so if they don’t move you, they have relationships with those who would. She also cochairs the Blooming With The Bloomers conference.
- With a Little Help: Making the Transition, with Shawn D’Amelio
Shawn D’Amelio talks about CarePartners Living partnerships such as With A Little Help. It’s helpful to have a partner during the transition from in-home care to a community, after living in their home for 50 years. It takes time to process that, but typically it becomes a crisis. There’s confusion between home health and home care. Home health is occupational and physical therapy, visiting nurse covered by Medicare. Home care includes meal care, transportation, help with dressing.
- In-home Support For Aging in Place, with Daphne Davis
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about helping our senior loved ones with Aging in Place. How do we support our Mom and Dad in their home? One thing is to contact the appropriate department at your county for free community services and resources. It isn’t tied to Medicaid, it’s your tax dollars at work. To keep seniors active and stimulated, some library services can be delivered, and lots of events happen at senior centers, even line dancing, to help keep them active rather than isolated.
- Understanding Home Care with Shawn D’Amelio
Shawn D’Amelio is the director of business development for With A Little Help, a locally-owned home care company. They provide home care services, solve transportation issues, and much more. They are at 2021 Minor Ave E suite A, Seattle, WA 98102. Call (206) 352-7399 or visit withalittlehelp.com.
- Fall Prevention: Checking In, with Tracy Marcom
During Fall Prevention month, be a watchdog for your senior loved one. Tracy Marcom at Cascade In-Home Care asks: What is a family’s role to check in with their loved ones? Some are hands-off, and may not realize how their love ones are declining. If Mom or Dad don’t live nearby, they can put on a good front because they don’t want to burden their children. Have a service that can come in, even in the beginning, as an in-home care agency before you really need it, is a peace of mind both to your loved one and your family.
- Fall Prevention: Being a Watch Dog with Tracy Marcom
During Fall Prevention month, Regional Business Development Manager Tracy Marcom at Cascade In-Home Care suggests acting as a watchdog for your senior loved one. Some of the things we notice in the house are throw rugs on top of carpet, which is a huge tripping risk. Also, a rug in the bathroom should have a rubber bottom so it doesn’t lift up and cause a hazard. In-Home Care agencies are able to do non-medical in-home care, but we have a home health license, and we can do fall-and-risk assessments, wheelchair certification and have a nurse on duty. We can provide that fourth or fifth day of would care, but we wouldn’t do occupational therapy or physical therapy.
- The Process of Arranging for Home Health Services, with Chris Strand
Careage provides home health services, which is medical or skilled intervention in the home. Chris Strand at Careage describes the process of requesting and arranging for home health services.
- Care Options After Being Discharged, with Chris Strand
What happens after a patient is discharged from a rehab center or a hospital? Chris Strand at Careage takes us through caring options. Home care is meal preparation, grooming, and light housekeeping, and is paid for as a fee-for-service, Medicaid, veterans benefits or private pay, which. Outpatient service is similar, but more limited as you have to drive to the service, and is a Medicare Part B benefit for therapy only. Home health is nursing intervention and rehabilitative health, and is covered by Medicare Part A and private insurance, and there are no annual caps.
- Specialized Home Health Services
Terry Wilson and Sheena Paylor, area VP for Assured HomeHealth, talk about specialized services in home health. They work on specialties such as continence, which includes pelvic floor muscle training and bladder retraining, which has twice daily visits and gets results in four to six weeks. Also we help with lifestyle interventions, such as when to stop drinking before bedtime and what to drink. Anything that home health does requires an order from their physician.
- Getting a Home Health Assessment
Terry Wilson and Sheena Paylor, area VP for Assured HomeHealth, talk about signs that might indicate a need of home health for a loved one. Assured HomeHealth is the largest home health agency by county in the state of Washington.
Home health is a huge part of senior care, a benefit that can be requested at any time, without first having a hospital stay. It is paid for by Medicare and can include preventative care, including fall prevention. If mom gets up and walks by holding onto walls and chairs, she might be afraid of falling. Is house-keeping failing? Does she sleep in a recliner, afraid to walk to bed? Keeping seniors more physically active and mobile, but safe, is key. Our therapist or nurse prepares an in-depth assessment and puts together a care plan, working with their physician, and then visits her two or three times a week. As part of a tailored program, additional help might be given with bathing or dispensing medications.
