What is home health?

Home health gives you the opportunity to receive the care you need in your most comfortable environment – your home. The goal of these services is to provide care on an intermittent basis to help you maintain independence and improve quality of life.

Home health is designed to meet patients where they are. Whether it’s recovering from a surgery or recent hospital stay, or managing a disease or injury, it can provide the necessary care to help you achieve the best outcomes.

What services are provided?

Home health requires the need for skilled services, which is medical care provided by licensed health care professionals. The home health team works closely with your physician to create a customized plan of care and regularly informs them of your progress.  

Skilled care refers to nursing and therapy. Skilled nursing monitors your plan of care and provides necessary treatment, while physical, occupational and speech therapy help improve your functional abilities. Examples of skilled services include wound care, disease management, and patient and caregiver education.

It’s important to choose an agency that takes a holistic approach to care, meaning they treat the whole person. Through this approach, non-skilled services can be provided to support the medical care you receive, as long as there is still a need for skilled care. Your plan of care may include the help of medical social workers, who find available community resources, and aides, who help with daily activities like bathing and dressing.

How can home health benefit me?

In addition to receiving care in your own home, home health care can help you:

• Maintain your independence and improve quality of life
• Receive patient-centered care specific to your needs
• Avoid potential hospitalizations and the need for emergency care
• Ease the load on caregivers and loved ones
• Increase your overall health and well-being

How do I know if I qualify for home health services?

If you think you or a loved one could benefit from home health care, talk to your physician and ask if home health is an option for you. For services to be covered by Medicare, your physician must decide you are homebound, meaning you have difficulty leaving home, and have a need for skilled care.

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