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Home Health Care
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Published: October 19, 2006
As one ages or becomes ill, various types of medical care must be considered. Home health care is a viable option for those who require high-maintenance health care in a comfortable atmosphere.
Home health care is treatment provided in the patient's home by health care professionals. These professionals often are nurses or physical therapists, but can be doctors, social workers or therapists.
These health care providers make home visits to their ailing patients and provide part-time care.
Home health care is similar to a hospice; however, it is not full-time care. This form of treatment seeks to promote, maintain and restore health while minimizing the effects of disability and illness.
This practice originated in the 1880s and continued to grow throughout the years. The industry greatly expedited in 1965 with the enactment of Medicare. Since then, the practice has steadily grown with the majority of home health care being paid for by Medicare or Medicaid.
Annual spending on home health care reached $41 billion in 2001, a staggering departure from $3.5 billion in 1990. This startling statistic reflects the 7.6 million people currently receiving home health care. These people are suffering from debilitating diseases, long-term health conditions, permanent disabilities and terminal illnesses. For these patients with immediate medical needs, home health care may be the best solution.
There are numerous factors involved when deciding whether a patient is ready for home health care. There are two main areas of home health care: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).
The ADLs have six activities which indicate the patient's capacity for self-care:
1. Bathing
2. Dressing
3. Transferring
4. Using the bathroom
5. Eating
6. Walking
Though healthy individuals find these activities to be instinctual, for those suffering from life altering illnesses, even the most basic tasks can be impossible. Aside from the ADLs, IADLs also are taken into consideration when determining a patient's readiness for home health care.
The IADLs are:
1. Light housework
2. Preparing meals
3. Taking medications
4. Shopping for groceries or food
5. Using the telephone
6. Managing money
The IADL patients have more advanced skills, however, home health care still is necessary. After these 12 things have been considered, often the choice is made whether the patient should be treated with at home care.
Home health care is an optimum choice for those looking for effective treatment in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. And with the benefit of treatment being covered by Medicare or Medicaid, it also is one of the most cost-effective ways to receive prolonged medical treatment.
There is no better place to rest and heal than one's home, and home health care can provide that for anyone in need of a little peace.
Sources:
Home care. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. 18 October 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_health_care
National Association for Home Care and Hospice. 18 October 2006. 18 October 2006.
http://www.nahc.org/home.html
Home health care is treatment provided in the patient's home by health care professionals. These professionals often are nurses or physical therapists, but can be doctors, social workers or therapists.
Related Articles
Home health care is similar to a hospice; however, it is not full-time care. This form of treatment seeks to promote, maintain and restore health while minimizing the effects of disability and illness.
This practice originated in the 1880s and continued to grow throughout the years. The industry greatly expedited in 1965 with the enactment of Medicare. Since then, the practice has steadily grown with the majority of home health care being paid for by Medicare or Medicaid.
Annual spending on home health care reached $41 billion in 2001, a staggering departure from $3.5 billion in 1990. This startling statistic reflects the 7.6 million people currently receiving home health care. These people are suffering from debilitating diseases, long-term health conditions, permanent disabilities and terminal illnesses. For these patients with immediate medical needs, home health care may be the best solution.
There are numerous factors involved when deciding whether a patient is ready for home health care. There are two main areas of home health care: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).
The ADLs have six activities which indicate the patient's capacity for self-care:
1. Bathing
2. Dressing
3. Transferring
4. Using the bathroom
5. Eating
6. Walking
Though healthy individuals find these activities to be instinctual, for those suffering from life altering illnesses, even the most basic tasks can be impossible. Aside from the ADLs, IADLs also are taken into consideration when determining a patient's readiness for home health care.
The IADLs are:
1. Light housework
2. Preparing meals
3. Taking medications
4. Shopping for groceries or food
5. Using the telephone
6. Managing money
The IADL patients have more advanced skills, however, home health care still is necessary. After these 12 things have been considered, often the choice is made whether the patient should be treated with at home care.
Home health care is an optimum choice for those looking for effective treatment in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. And with the benefit of treatment being covered by Medicare or Medicaid, it also is one of the most cost-effective ways to receive prolonged medical treatment.
There is no better place to rest and heal than one's home, and home health care can provide that for anyone in need of a little peace.
Sources:
Home care. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. 18 October 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_health_care
National Association for Home Care and Hospice. 18 October 2006. 18 October 2006.
http://www.nahc.org/home.html
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