Senior Moments; Home health care a popular option for medical needs By Jackie Byrd
A column for seniors and those who love them
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I'm going to be 80 soon, and I guess the one thing that puzzles me most is how quick it got here. - Roy Acuff, American musician, 1903-1992
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For many people, home health care is becoming a more common way to receive medical care. One of the main reasons for this is because patients are being discharged sooner from hospitals. This is done for many reasons, including the prevalence of hospital infections and the ever more stringent insurance regulations. Because patients are sent home earlier, they often require additional medical care of some sort at home.
The broad definition of home health care is that it is medical care delivered in the patient's home. More specifically, it can consist of anything from at-home nursing care following a hospital stay to ongoing assistance with daily living. Technology is so advanced that many procedures that previously could be performed only in a medical facility can be safely and efficiently carried out in the home setting.
If your physician gives you a choice between remaining in the hospital or receiving home health care, what do you need to know to help you decide? Some advantages of home health care might include family involvement in your care. Family, of course, would be closer and better able to provide emotional and physical support. Some physicians believe that patients recuperate more quickly and better in a home environment among family, friends and familiar settings. Patients develop a one-on-one relationship with home caregivers. They often feel less threatened and more comfortable in their own home environment than in a hospital setting, making it easier to trust caregivers and comply with suggestions. They can become a team, working together for treatment success.
Home health care is covered under many insurance programs and some federally funded programs. Of course, it can always be paid for with private funds. Like everything else having to do with Senior Moments' issues, the best time to think about home health care, funds to pay and the best providers is before you actually need to do something about such matters. It's a good idea to know your options. Check your health insurance plan to see if it covers home medical care and under what conditions.
Hospitals are required by law, as part of the discharge planning process, to provide patients with a list of local home health care agencies. They are also required to disclose which of the home health care facilities they may have a financial interest in, as well as those that have a financial interest in the hospital.
Once you have a list of home health care providers, you need to ask some important questions. For instance, how many years has the company been in business in your community? Are references available from physicians, health care professionals and former clients? If so, how can you obtain the references? What type of insurance liability coverage does the company have?
It's important to determine whether the company is in good standing with professional organizations such as the National Association for Home Care. Find out what professional associations the provider you are considering belongs to; not just on a national level, but also what state associations and specialty associations they belong to. Certainly you want to know whether the home health care provider is Medicare and Medicaid certified. Is the provider approved to accept payment from these federally funded programs?
What types of services does the home health company provide? Is it a full-service home care company that has the capability of meeting any home care need? Or is it specialized? If you have specific needs, does the home care company offer the services you need? Can the company provide flexibility to meet a patient's changing health care needs? What is the company's ability to provide continuity; that is, does the company provide the same caregiver or care team in the care situation?
Does the company provide case management services and primary nursing? In other words, is there a case manager or nurse who follows the case and ensures appropriate coordination of care and services? How accessible are the offices and the caregivers?
There is an amazing amount of helpful information about home health care agencies on the Medicare Web site, www.medicare.gov. On this site, you can compare agencies near you by looking at the quality measure score, you can find out a lot about patient's rights, and you can find out which agencies provide the services you or your family might need. Once you've identified one or more appropriate agencies, you can compare them using the various checklists available on the site.
Home health care is another one of those topics everyone should investigate at least a little bit in advance of the actual need. You can find out more information about home health care at the Web sites of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, www.nahc.org, and the Home Health Nurses Association, www.hhna.org.
Thank you for reading. Stay well. See you next week.
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The writer, a longtime resident of Bowie, is secretary of the Maryland/D.C. chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a member of the Elder Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. You can e-mail her at jbyrd@byrdandbyrd.com.
