Home health care for Medicare
beneficiaries can be a very desirable option for seniors who want to continue
receiving medical care from a physician and nurse who are not their primary
physician or in-house nurse. Although home
health care services offer many positive benefits to seniors, some
challenges can be encountered. When choosing a home health care provider, the senior needs to find one that offers
personalized services that match the patient's needs. It is also a good idea to
find out if they are board-certified and have privileges to administer
medications and conduct physical examinations.
There are three
main types of services that home health agencies offer: in-home nursing, home
health aides, and hospice. In-home nursing is a type of service where the
elderly member of the family or other designated caregiver visits the patient's
home to perform all necessary tasks needed daily. The caregiver may take the
patients medicine or change dressings or bathe the patient. They may also
perform simple tasks like preparing meals or helping with personal hygiene.
Home health care for Medicare
beneficiaries who need skilled nursing is a much more specialized form of
service. This is often done by a physician or by a licensed practitioner in a
nursing facility that specializes in caring for Medicare patients. Medicare home health care services that use a
skilled nursing facility to receive training from a physician who has
experience treating medically frail adults. Skilled nursing is also provided by
licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN).
Home Health Care For Medicare
The most common
type of home health care service for
seniors that utilize a nursing facility is in-home nursing. These services
require that the physician or professional who provides the care has privileges
at an LPN or RN level. Skilled nursing facilities are staffed by licensed
practical and nurse aids. Licensed practical nurses (LPN) are nurses who have
completed an approved nursing program and can diagnose, treat, and prevent
injuries and illnesses that affect people as they age. A licensed nurse
assistant also helps to provide emotional support to the seniors that will
allow them to live as independently as possible.
Another type of home health care service for Medicare beneficiaries is in-home hospice care. This is
provided by a nurse or other trained professional in a hospital or other
inpatient setting. Some physicians and nursing home administrators prefer to
hire nurses with specialities in-home health services to provide this care
because it allows them to offer specialized services to their patients, which
may not be possible if they were to provide care in a physician's office. Many
people who live with chronic illness prefer to be treated in a hospice
environment rather than a hospital because they are comfortable and feel at
home.
Home health
nursing care is provided by nurse practitioners, also known as nurse
anaesthetists. These physician assistants can prescribe medications, administer
treatments and also monitor the progress of the patient. A nurse practitioner
can collaborate with a physician and prescribe medications jointly. In some
cases, the nurse practitioner will take over-treating the patient if the
physician is not available, but most nursing homes require a nurse practitioner
to supervise the care of the patient and report progress to the physician
daily.
Home health plans
are designed to pay for the cost of home
health care services for Medicare beneficiaries. There are many differences
among home health plans, such as how long providers are allowed to stay out of
the hospital and how much benefit they are entitled to receive. Some home health care plan oversight groups
recommend that Medicare supplement the premiums of home health plans with a
higher income tax credit. This credit is available to married couples with two
working adults who do not receive coverage through their workplace. The credits
are also available for purchasing other health insurance, such as supplemental
insurance and certain long term care policies. Medicare periodically reviews
the progress of beneficiaries to determine whether they qualify for additional
benefits.
To meet the needs
of their elderly patients, home care aides work closely with physicians and
nurses. They perform routine tasks, such as documenting the daily medication
regimes, performing physical examinations and assisting the physician during
the process of treating the patient. Some home
health care aides also provide psychotherapy, counselling and companionship
services to the patient. Some also offer assistance in bathing, feeding,
clothing, toileting and related services. If the patient needs surgery or
dialysis, the aide would be responsible for these actions and the
administration of anaesthesia. Some home
health care aides work directly with patients, while others are general
caregivers who report to the physician daily and handle minor tasks when
patients are at home.