Did you know that you can receive health care services for an injury or illness at home? Depending on your individual situation, care can range from specialized medical services to nursing care. Like hospital care, home health care also aims at treating illnesses and is as effective as care you will receive in a hospital or rehabilitation setting.
Why Consider Home Health Care?
Receiving care at home is vital for positive health outcomes. As technology advances, there is a rapid expansion to the health services provided at home.
Typically, home health care will give you the following advantages:
- It's safer than a hospital setting.
- It's more convenient.
- It's less expensive.
- It provides a more comfortable environment for healing.
What Are the Types of Home Health Care?
If you are a patient or caregiver looking for home health care services, there are different types to choose from based on the nature of your problem. Here are the four most common.
Skilled Doctor Care
Skilled care by a licensed provider mainly takes two forms:
- Telehealth: You can consult the doctor and receive a prescription remotely.
- In-Person Consultation: The doctor will visit your home to diagnose and treat your condition. They may also make periodical follow-up visits.
Different Types of Therapies
Some people may require therapy to relearn how to perform daily routines after an injury or illness. In such a case, a therapist can create a plan of care and deliver services at home. There are three types of therapy that you can receive through home health care:
- Physical Therapy: To promote and restore health through physical examination, physical intervention, and rehabilitation.
- Speech Therapy: To treat speech disorders and communication problems.
- Occupational Therapy: To help with your sensory, physical, or cognitive problems to enable you to regain independence.
Nursing Services
These are provided by a registered nurse. Nursing care is the most common type of home health care. In consultation with doctors, a nurse will visit your home and provide the following services:
- Wound care
- Injections
- Nutrition therapy
- Caregiver and patient education
- Monitoring of unstable patients or those with serious illness
Social Services
If a patient and caregivers need psychosocial support, a medical social worker may visit them at home. Normally, their primary focus is to help improve the patient's and family's coping skills. Their services include:
- Coordination of resources
- Providing emotional support
- Help caregivers explore available options
Not all medical conditions require the traditional health care environment, such as a rehabilitation center or hospital. Some of them can be managed at home through home health care. Receiving in-home care allows patients to remain at home while their daily living and health care needs are managed.
