Who Needs Home Health Care?

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Home health care encompasses many different services provided in the comfort of your own home. If you have had surgery or are a retired person who can no longer handle daily activities, you may be in need of home health care. In some cases, you choose the home health care on your own, while in others, it was a doctor or surgeon that recommended. Either way, you might be wondering who is in need of home health care. Here are some guidelines for who home health care is beneficial for.

What Does Home Health Care Include?

There are a variety of services that are provided in your home by the home health aide. These services might vary based on your needs and the skills of the aide. Some people who work in home health are only responsible for making sure your daily activities are taken care of, such as feeding, dressing, toileting, and helping keep your household in running order. Others are licensed nurses that can provide medical services. Some services that might be included in home health care are:

• Injections
• Nutrition therapy
• Surgical wound care
• Caregiver education
• Monitoring your vitals
• Checking your health status
• Physical therapy
• Medication monitoring
• Helping with daily activities

Who Needs Home Health Care?

There are a variety of reasons you might need home health care. The following are just a few of the common reasons:

1. You have dementia or Alzheimer's disease. These diseases can make it difficult to care for yourself and remember to eat, shower, and do your laundry. You might also forget to take medications and are a safety risk. A home health care aide can come by every day to be sure you are safe and healthy.
2. Seniors who want to live independently. This is similar to the care you receive if you suffer from Alzheimer's disease. If you are a senior but prefer not to live in an assisted living community, you can receive the same care and help with your daily activities at home with home health care services.
3. You were in an accident. If you were recently in an accident, you might be in physical therapy or need assistance with certain things around the house, not to mention nursing care.
4. You had major surgery. People who have major surgical operations may need a licensed nurse to come by their home to attend to their wound, monitor medications, or give injections. They will also look for infection and check your vitals during your recovery period.

Many insurance companies provide home health care services, so check with your insurance to find out if the costs are covered.

15 December 2014