Types of Home Health Care Services

Home health aides can help the patient with his or her basic personal needs such as getting out of bed, walking, bathing, and dressing. Some aides have received specialized training to assist with more specialized care under the supervision of a nurse. Angela Haupt has been a health writer and editor for more than a decade. News & World Report, where she spent 11 years covering and editing wellness and conditions topics.

Care.com helps you find local caregivers ready to help with meal prep, bathing, companionship, transportation and more. We provide high quality, individualized care for patients of all ages where you feel most comfortable – your home or community. Our services and equipment are designed to help you regain and retain a level of independence. Once home health care starts, the patient and provider work together to determine the appropriate days and hours for visits. “It varies greatly—from one hour at a time to 24-hour care,” says Pecora.

An occupational therapist can help a patient with physical, developmental, social, or emotional disabilities relearn how to perform such daily functions as eating, bathing, dressing, and more. A speech therapist can help a patient with impaired speech regain the ability to communicate clearly. Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only.

Depending on the person's needs, hot meals can be delivered several times a week. Dietitians can come to a patient's home to provide dietary assessments and guidance to support the treatment plan. The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress. Through a Medicare health plan, check with your plan to find out how it gives your Medicare-covered home health benefits. Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards.

As with all things, the first agency you try might not be the best one for you. If the patient needs it, training can be provided on how to take medicines or use of the equipment, including intravenous therapy. Certain laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests, can be performed in the comfort of the patient's home health care home. In addition, portable X-ray machines allow lab technicians to perform this service at home. Some patients who are home alone may require a companion to provide comfort and supervision. Medicaid coverage is determined at the state level, so it varies greatly—but in most cases, there will be some coverage.

To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. For instance, the hourly rate for a home health aide in Louisiana in 2020 was $17 compared to $33 in Minnesota. It can take a little while for some seniors to adjust to having a stranger in their home, says Yount, which is why finding the right fit is so important.