Home CareHome care services are intended to promote, maintain, or restore health or to minimize the effects of illness or disability. Home care services can be categorized as skilled care or home support services. Skilled care is service prescribed by a physician and provided by a licensed professional. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses monitor medicines, help with wound or catheter care, teach the recipient or family members about special procedures, and provide other skilled services. Medical social workers provide short-term counseling and make referrals to community resources that can help recipients and their families cope with physical, emotional, and financial stresses. Nutritionists help plan special diets. Therapists perform physical, speech, respiratory, and occupational therapies in the home. Home support services include personal care assistance with daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, exercising); homemaker services (meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping); and companion ("sitter") services. Certified home health aides usually perform these services. There are three specific programs: Certified Home Health Agencies, Long Term Home Health Care Programs, and Licensed Home Health Services Agencies, identified below that are offered extensively throughout the network. Certified Home Health Agencies are agencies that meet state licensing requirements plus federal conditions of participation for payment in the Medicare program. Agencies, so designated, may be reimbursed by either Medicare, Medicaid, or other private third party insurers. Requirements for patients to receive the nursing, ancillary or social services from a CHHA include: that the patient is homebound, and that the patient needs skilled care from one to three services: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy.
These home health care programs are funded by Medicaid and use home health aides, RNs, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and social workers, care management and limited skills services to enable patients who are eligible for admission to a residential health care facility care to remain living at home.
Licensed Home Health Services Agencies These agencies offer a range of services including nursing, occupational, physical and speech therapy; medical social services; nutritional/dietary services and meals; homemaker services; home health aide services; respiratory and IV therapy; and medical supplies, drugs and medical appliances.
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