Home Health

As we age we are faced with a variety of health care decisions.  Ultimately it is up to us as to which environment we would like to be cared for in.  Home health care is one option we may choose from for either our care or for the care of someone we love.  There are other options such as placement in a nursing home, adult day care centers, assisted living, hospice etc.  Home health care is an option that brings the professionals to you in an environment that you are the most familiar with.

Home health care simply is a wide array of health care services that can be brought to your own home for an illness or injury you have sustained.  Generally, home health care is less expensive than other options, obviously it is more convenient, and it is just as effective as the care you would get in a hospital or another skilled nursing facility.  The goal of home health care is for you to get better, regain your independence to resume your normal daily activities, and to become as self-sufficient as possible. 

In order to begin home health care services, a physician order, or referral, is needed.  Once your provider refers you for the services, the home health agency, in this case Total Home Health will schedule an appointment with you to come into your home to speak with you and your loved ones about your needs.  During the initial visit, our staff will ask you questions regarding your health to gain a baseline evaluation.  Our staff will be willing to answer any questions or discuss any concerns that you may have regarding our services.  Once care begins, Total Home Health professional staff will keep in contact with your provider about your care and the progress that is being made to restore your level of functioning.  It is important that the Total Home Health staff see you as often as the doctor has ordered, this will require participation and motivation on your part as the patient, so that your goals can be met as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Home health care staff should include the following criteria to be completed either during the initial visit and/or with consecutive visits to your home:

·      Check to see if the client is eating and drinking sufficiently.

·      Assess blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing patterns.

·      Ensure that you are correctly taking your medications as prescribed.

·      Ensure that you are correctly having other procedures/treatments completed per orders provided by your physician.

·      Assess your level of pain.

·      Check the safety in your home. (Throw rugs, smoke alarms, extension cords, etc.)

·      Provide education about your personal care so that you may increase your independence in the absence of your caregiver.

·      Coordinate care by communicating regularly with your provider and anyone else who provides you with care.

Your home health service professional could be a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN), a personal care aide (PCA), a home health aide (HHA), physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT), speech language pathologist (SLP), or a licensed social worker (LSW), and of course, all orders will be carried out from your provider.  Any of these professionals could be involved in your care at any point depending upon your situation.  Their overall duties are carried out as follows.

The RN will be responsible to create a care plan focused on your current situation by establishing goals that may restore your independence and/or previous level of functioning.  The RN will also be the one to educate the patient and family of ways to manage their current illness or injury.  The LPN will most likely provide the hands on basic medical care per the care plan goals that is within their scope of practice, such as dressing changes, medication administration, obtaining vital signs, providing assistance with personal hygiene, etc.  The LPN may also supervise the nursing assistants and aides to see that all their work is completed efficiently and effectively.  The personal care aide (PCA) will assist the patient with their activities of daily living, basically with anything that does not require a medical skill, such as bathing, eating, dressing, doing laundry, washing dishes, etc.  The home health aide (HHA) will do the same things as a PCA but note that they have been through advanced training with their state of employment.  This extra training allow them to be able to recognize any undesirable health changes in the patient, and they must immediately report any changes to the nurse in charge.  If needed a physical therapist (PT) will do their best to improve the patient’s mobility so that they will be safe in their home and community.  Also, an occupational therapist (OT) will work with those who have difficulty in conducting their activities of daily living, with the goal to improve their ability to safely take care of themselves in their own home.  The SLP, if needed, will work with those individuals that have difficulty speaking or swallowing.  Finally, the LSW will assist patients and their families to adapt to their illness or injury and will direct them toward community resources to assist them to accept their condition.

Total Home Health has a one of a kind home health service to provide care for you or your loved one whenever you are ready!  It is always important to never hesitate to contact us regarding any questions or concerns that may arise during your service.  Please know that with Total Home Health you are not alone; we are always available so that your experience is as excellent as possible.