Home health care — frequently referred to simply as "home health" — is skilled care delivered directly to a patient's home. Licensed medical professionals, including nurses, therapists, and aides, provide this type of care to treat or manage an illness, injury, or medical condition.

Home health services can be delivered to the patient's residence (a private home or adult foster home), an assisted living, or a residential care facility.

Services that may be covered include medical services such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and non-medical services such as social services or assistance with daily living.

Home health is available to any patient who needs it, but for it to be covered by Medicare, the patient must be deemed "homebound."

Homebound simply means that the patient's condition prevents them from being able to safely leave the home without assistance from others or assistive devices (e.g. canes, walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs).

In most cases, patients are still considered homebound even if they leave the home as needed for medical treatments that cannot be provided in-home. Brief and occasional non-medical absences may also be allowed, such as going to church, the beauty shop, or special family events.

A home health agency must first obtain a provider's order for services. The home health agency then works with these providers to develop a detailed plan of care. A home health clinician performs an initial consultation with the patient and performs an assessment of the patient's needs.  Family members and other caregivers are encouraged to participate in this planning process to ensure consistent and comprehensive care.

When services begin, home health staff will implement the plan – following all physician and/or non-physician practitioner orders – and keep the physician and/or non-physician practitioner updated about the patient's progress. The frequency and type of home health visits will vary depending on the patient's needs. 

All services are tailored to the patient's needs.

Home health is designed to help the patient rest, recover, and receive treatment in the comfort of their own home or residence. Services provided by Volunteer are offered with the goal of helping the patient regain independence to become as self-sufficient as possible while also managing their disease or condition.

Home health can benefit both acute and chronic conditions, including but not limited to the following:

• Alzheimer's Disease

• Chronic kidney disease

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
       (COPD)

• Diabetes

• Heart disease

• Recovery from illness or surgery

• Chronic conditions or injuries

In addition to providing medically necessary services for the treatment of the above conditions, home health professionals act as a liaison between the patient, the patient's family, and the patient's physician and/or non-physician practitioner. Home health professionals keep a log for each visit and provide updates on the patient's condition to the physician and/or non-physician practitioner as needed. This helps to ensure continuity of care.

The primary benefit of home health is that it can be delivered directly to the patient's residence, whether it be a private home, adult foster home, assisted living, or residential care facility. 

Family members are encouraged to be active participants in the planning process to help set and meet goals, working with home health care professionals for the benefit of the patient.

Additional benefits of home health for seniors include:

• Faster recuperation and recovery from
        illness or injury

• Improved independence (over time)

• Maintaining or improving current
       condition or level of function

• Regaining of self-sufficiency in the home

• Slowing of the decline of serious
       conditions

• Better symptom management

No. Hospitalization is not required to receive home health care. Many patients are referred by their physician and/or non-physician practitioner.

A home health nurse provides skilled services in keeping with a physician and/or non-physician practitioner's plan of care for a home health care patient. These services may include the following:

• Taking the patient's vitals

• Administering pain medication

• Completing medical treatments

• Recording symptoms in a journal

In addition to these simple tasks, a home health nurse helps facilitate communication between the patient's physician and caregivers. Continuity of care is extremely important, and a home health nurse helps keep the lines of communication open, helping teach all involved parties how to properly manage the patient's condition.

Medicare pays 100% of the cost of home health care services for eligible patients. Your state’s Medicaid program or your private insurance may also cover home health care.

There are rules for how to qualify for home health care, especially if you want it to be covered by your insurance or Medicare plan. To be eligible, you must meet these requirements:

• Be under the care of a physician who
       orders home health services

• Meet the definition of "homebound"

• Require skilled nursing or therapy services
       on an intermittent basis

Home health services are covered by Medicare as long as certain eligibility requirements are met. In order to be eligible for Medicare coverage for home health care, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be considered "homebound" according to
       the Medicare definition

• Require part-time or intermittent skilled
       care to improve, maintain, prevent, or
       further slow the progression of an existing
       condition

• Be under the care of a medical physician
       and/or non-physician practitioner who
       prescribes home health care (you must
       have documentation of an in-person visit
       with said physician and/or non-physician
       practitioner either three months before
       starting home health care or within one
       month of when home health care begins)

Medicare typically covers skilled nursing care and rehabilitative services, which may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Depending on your needs, additional services like medical social services, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and other in-home services may also be covered.

If you have Original Medicare, you may be able to receive home health care at no cost (though you might pay up to 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for durable medical equipment). If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may qualify for additional coverage.

Medicare does not cover non-skilled personal care services such as cooking, cleaning, transportation, and other elements of custodial care.

Absolutely, and we’d be honored to care for you or your loved one. Federal law gives patients the freedom to choose their health care provider.

We thoroughly screen and train our home health team members. Patient care staff have professional licenses and certifications that are applicable to their role. We also perform background checks and require several personal and professional references. Once hired, Volunteer employees continue honing their skills through an extensive orientation process and ongoing training programs.