Types of Home Health Care

Home health care is essentially supportive health care or healthcare given by an individual caregiver within the patient's home, rather than primary healthcare provided in individualized care centers such as nursing homes or clinics. It can include skilled care giving and companionship of a variety of patients, both elderly and disabled. As a matter of fact, home health care often refers to both types of care giving. This implies that home health care is not only limited to physical caregiving but also includes mental health care as well. In other words, home health care is a growing area of the health care industry.

Five Key Aspects of Personal Home Care Assistance

As more elderly people are becoming subject to long-term debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, the demand for skilled healthcare services is on the rise. A number of qualified professionals are now engaged in providing this kind of assistance. One such professional is a licensed practical nurse (LPN). These licensed practical nurses are required to meet state guidelines regarding training and licensing. Some home health care agencies employ a combination of trained home health care aides and licensed practical nurses. The most recent statistics indicate that more than two-thirds of LPNs are now employed by home healthcare agencies.

What Services Are Available From an In Home Care provider in Danville?

Other home health care services that are commonly used are social assistance such as assisting in elder care facilities or senior communities. The number of seniors who require such assistance has increased over the past few years. Senior citizens requiring assistance with everyday activities are now turning to home health care services for help. A typical situation is that a person needs help getting into a car or walking through a grocery store. Another common need is assistance with bathing, dressing and moving to chairs or beds.

Home Care San Francisco - Emphasizing Safety

Other types of home health care services may include occupational and speech therapy. Occupational therapy is ideal for those who have difficulties with basic activities of daily living such as climbing stairs, using the toilet or having one's own personal transportation. Speech therapy is used to address conditions such as fluency issues, hearing impairment and communication problems. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number and/or severity of symptoms related to an illness.

Home Care in Danville 

In order to provide these types of services, a home health care agency will need to hire licensed practical nurses (LPN) and certified nurse assistants (CNA). Licensed practical nurses provide preventative care such as helping to bathe and dress a patient. CNA's provide hands-on care such as changing a patient's diaper. When choosing a home health care agency, it is best to choose one that is reputable and that provides a high level of personalized service.

Making the Transition to Home Care Easy

There are several home health care agencies where an individual can get a combination of home health care and skilled nursing care. In order to find out if an agency can provide the services you require, it is best to check with your state's department of human services. You can also request free quotes from agencies by calling toll-free numbers or online. Be sure to ask about the qualifications of the aides you are considering working with and whether they are properly trained. In order to ensure that the aides are safe and provide the best quality care for your loved one, you should make sure they have undergone background checks, training and certification.

What Can I Expect When I Submit To H.H.

There are several things that you can do to make sure the home health care agency you choose is reputable. Ask the agency how many patients they have served and what level of experience they have in this area. If you are not comfortable with the answers given, you may want to look into a different agency. Another way to make sure that the agency you are working with has a good track record is to ask for references. You can speak to previous clients to find out what their experience was.

Compare Home Care Agencies and Find the Right One For You

Many people choose home health care services because they do not want to be admitted to the hospital. For individuals who suffer from an acute illness, a hospital stay can mean a lengthy stay as they are given medications and other treatments. Even if you do not suffer from an illness that requires a hospital stay, a short-term stay could mean lost wages and an inability to work for a short period of time. In many cases, short-term services allow patients to recover from their illness quickly so that they can return to living normal lives again. When selecting short-term home health care, be sure to look for an agency that will work with you and your physician to find the best possible treatment so that you can return to your daily routine and work again soon after your illness is over.