A lot of people believe they can’t get professional health care services outside a hospital. In case you fall into this category, we would like to let you know that you can get healthcare outside the normal hospital setting. One of the ways you can do this is through home health care. Home health is a professional health care service provided at the patient’s preferred location.
Although the care provided might be interim, it is delivered by certified and eligible professionals, such as therapists, nurses, aides, and medical personnel.
There are also lots of services patients can get from interim home healthcare. These include; physical, speech, and occupational therapy, nursing, and non-medical services such as social services or help with day-to-day activities.
Benefits of home health care
Home health care comes with quite a lot of benefits, some of which are stated below:
- It provides easy access to health care, as patients receive treatment from the comfort of their homes.
- It saves cost, as some hospital bills such as bed space would be avoided.
- It gives room for independence. Patients can move around and do daily activities, like cooking and bathing.
- It offers personalized care to the patient. Patients receive better attention that meets their specific needs.
- Home health also gives room for friends and family to visit the patient. This helps to fight against loneliness and makes them recover faster.
Types of home health care
Speech, Physical, or Occupational Therapy
This type of home health is given to patients who need to improve their speech after an illness or relearn daily activities. A physical therapist helps the patient strengthen the muscles and joints through a previously outlined plan of care. On the other hand, an occupational therapist treats patients with social, emotional, developmental, or physical disabilities.
Nursing care
Nursing care is the most common type of home health care. Depending on the patient’s need, a registered nurse consults the doctor, and they both draw out a plan of care for specific patients. Most times, nursing care involves ostomy care, pain control, giving proper medications, intravenous therapy, and other health care services.
Doctor Care
As a part of home health care, the Doctor visits patients in their homes to diagnose or treat diseases. The Doctor also reviews the home health care regularly and needs to meet the specific and timely needs of the patient.
Volunteer care
Often, volunteers from different organizations render help to patients by giving emotional support, companionship, comfort, personal care, and many others. This goes a long way in managing some patients’ medical conditions and prevents unforeseen medical conditions.
Medical social services
Patients can also get care from professional medical social workers who have been trained to locate, counsel, and aid the patient’s recovery with the use of community resources available. In cases where the patient’s case requires the coordination of different services, some social workers can also serve as case managers.
Laboratory and X-ray imaging
Patients don’t have to visit the hospital to carry out laboratory tests with home health care. With the help of portable x-ray machines and professional lab technicians, these tests are carried out in the patient’s home.
Myths About Home Health Care
A lot of people have different misconceptions about home health care, which is why they prefer to visit the hospital instead. The following are common myths about home health care:
Home health care is Expensive
Most times, home health care is covered by different private insurance companies. This helps to beat down the cost. Home health care is also sometimes mistaken for other private personal home care, which is often expensive.
Home Health Care Providers Invade Privacy
On the contrary, home health respects your privacy and often works by your rules. They check on you from time to time depending on your medical conditions and give you tools and tips on how to maintain good health.
Can’t Trust A Stranger In Your Home
Home health care providers undergo different screenings and are certified as eligible to cater to your medical needs. They build a good relationship with you and help you get comfortable with them. This helps you build a good level of trust in them and help you feel at ease while they’re with you.
If You Already Have Someone Caring For You, You Don’t Need Home Health.
Although caregivers are also important, they can’t play the role of a home health care provider. There’s a wide difference between home care and home health care. Home health care providers are trained medical professionals who provide health care services different from what you get from home caregivers.
Home health care is not as standard as going to the hospital
This is a very wrong belief. The fact is that getting home health care is just as effective and standard as going to the hospital. Only licensed and skilled professionals are employed as home health care workers; hence you have an added advantage of getting treated by professionals in the comfort of your home.
Now that you know what home health care is, its benefits, and its myths, nothing should stop you from getting the right home health care service tailored to your specific medical needs.