Frequently Asked Questions
What is home health care?
Home health care is a broad term that describes a wide variety of skilled health and health-related services provided in a home setting. The care is brought into a person’s home to maintain or restore the person’s health and well-being. Services include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, in-home aides. They can also include medical equipment and supplies, infusion therapy, respiratory therapy, and nutrition. It is personalized care that reduces the anxiety and stress associated with most forms of health care and allows a maximum amount of freedom for the individual. Every day, millions of Americans rely on skilled home care to stay out of a hospital, nursing home, or some other institution. There is continued evidence that patients frequently heal more quickly at home, and there is very high consumer satisfaction associated with health care delivered in the home.
Who pays for home health care?
Home health care that require the skill of a medical professional such as a nurse, rehabilitation therapist, or medical social worker may be paid for in a variety of ways. For senior adults who qualify for this service, Medicare pays 100% of charges. Other payer sources include Medicaid, insurance, and self-pay options. We are always willing to help patients find the right coverage option for them.
What are the qualifications for home health care?
To qualify for skilled home health care, the patient must have a need for skilled medical help that can be provided in the person’s residence and is ordered by a physician. A “person’s residence” may be their own home, a friend or family member’s home, an apartment in an assisted living facility, or other places that are not considered institutions. To qualify under Medicare, the patient must be “homebound”—meaning the patient leaves their home infrequently for reasons other than medical treatment and is unable to leave their home without considerable and taxing effort. Other payer sources than Medicare may have different qualifications for recipients.
How can I find out if my family member is eligible for Abounding care?
The answer is simple. Contact us.
How do I select a home health provider?
As in selecting any healthcare provider, patients and families should ask questions and make an informed selection based on their specific needs. Some of these questions include the following:
How long has the provider been serving the community?
Does the provider select and train its employees and are they background-checked and insured?
Does the provider include the patient and his/her family members in developing the plan of care? Are they involved in making care plan changes?
What procedures does this provider have in place to handle emergencies? Are its caregivers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
Is the provider concerned with patient confidentiality?
How long may a person receive home health care?
Each individual’s needs are unique. Typically, the patient receives home health care in 60-day increments called an “episode”. Medicare does not limit the number of “episodes” a patient can receive as long as the patient remains qualified and care is reasonable and medically necessary. Home care is not custodial, around the clock care.
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