Overview
Home health care describes a variety of healthcare services that can be provided to people staying in their home. It is generally less expensive and provides similar care to what you would get in a hospital. However, home care also entails non-medical services to help with home-life. Unfortunately there are obstacles and fall-backs within the industry that need serious attention. We will talk about a much-needed infrastructure plan in this article, but first let’s summarize home care today.
Here are some examples of home health services:
- Education of the patient and family members
- Taking care of wounds and pressure sores
- Nutrition therapy
- Regular injections
- Monitoring of unstable health issues
- Assisting people with transportation
- Helping with meal planning
- Emotional Support
Of course, these are only a small percentage of what goes into at-home care. In broad terms, the purpose of home health care is to provide quality medical care to treat illnesses and injuries while also helping people who are not necessarily ill in their everyday lives.
In this article, we will explore more aspects of home health care and President Biden’s plan to support this field with a $400 billion budget towards infrastructure.
Home health workers do God’s work, but aren’t paid much. They have few benefits, and 40% are still on SNAP or Medicaid. It’s unacceptable.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2020
I’ll give caregivers and early childhood educators a much-needed raise.
What to expect from home health care?
The initial step towards benefiting from home health care is to consult with your doctor who will provide you with a referral. After that, the home health agency will arrange a rendezvous to visit your home and discuss the health issues you are facing.
To be more comprehensive, the home health agency may contact your doctor to inquire about the type of care you need.
Here are a few things to expect from in-home caregivers:
- Assess the safety of your home
- Evaluate your nutrition status (e.g., consumed foods, fluids)
- Take your vitals (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, breathing frequency, temperature)
- Ensure that you are taking your prescribed drugs correctly
- Educate you about self-care measures
- Ensure adequate coordination between different parties (i.e., doctor, caregiver)
- Help with various chores around the house (e.g., laundry, picking up, taking dog out)
Range of home health benefits
Some services of in-home healthcare include:
Occupational, physical, and speech therapy – working with your caretaker or professional therapists to restore or improve your ability to perform everyday tasks is a key element of home health services.
Medical social services – these include counseling a therapist for emotional support related to the disease or injury you might be dealing with.
Skilled nursing care – this is a broad category that includes changing wound dressings, the injection of drugs, and nasogastric feeding. Note that home nursing and personal care are limited to 8 hours a day. However, this rule has several exceptions.
For individuals who need full-time nursing care, they are most likely not eligible for home health benefits.
Medical supplies – some medical conditions may require special supplies to manage (e.g., wound dressing, catheters); these will be provided by your health agency.
Transportation and errands – older individuals tend to have difficulties traveling to places or shopping for necessary items. Today, in-home healthcare covers grocery shopping, pharmacy pick-up, medical appointments, activities in the community, and even getting some fresh air.
You can get a ride to wherever you need to go with the help of your caregivers, especially if you do not have any other means for transportation.
For instance, if you have a doctor’s appointment, we will ensure you’re there on time and provide you full assistance.
Household management– in-home healthcare may also cover cleaning the house, removing trash, and doing the laundry. Our team will do the heavy lifting, making your life easier, and allow you to focus on the enjoyable aspects of your day.
Meal planning – malnutrition is a primary driver of placing a loved one in a home. The reason behind the high incidence of this issue boils down to the simple fact that older individuals do not cook nutritious meals for themselves. For this reason, in-home healthcare may also include meal planning and dietary choices.
Companionship and mental health – aside from providing you with the assistance you need, focusing on your mental health and providing you with the psychological care you need is a key component of in-home healthcare.
Biden’s $400 Billion Plan to support in-home caregivers/healthcare
Earlier this year, President Biden announced a $400 billion plan to substantially bolster Medicaid coverage of long-term care. This marks the first practical step towards achieving the President’s campaign promises in regard to aging adults and in-home caregivers.
It is announced as part of Biden’s initial $2 trillion package focused on infrastructure. Dubbed The American Jobs Plan, the $400 billion plan would support a broader range of access to in-home and community-based services (HCBS), while boosting the underpaid care-giving boots on the ground.
Throughout the President’s campaign, he’s emphasized providing the opportunity to receive care at home to improve quality of life.
While the infrastructure plan details are in the works, Biden promised to extend the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. Including promoting Medicaid-covered alternatives to nursing homes.
Note that the plan also benefits caregivers, as they are expected to see a rise in wages from their current state of $12 per hour.
In a statement released by the White House, they expect these investments to help hundreds of thousands of aging adults. Most of whom need long-term services and support. The new infrastructure will also create thousands of job opportunities for in-home caregivers with improved wages.
Overall, Biden’s plan to improve the quality of in-home healthcare will undoubtedly revolutionize this field if the remaining steps are implemented properly.
Takeaway message
Home health care is an excellent alternative for individuals who do not want to stay in the hospital or an assisted living facility. Additionally, we offer a wide-ranging array of everyday support that evolves with each client.
We hope that the President’s infrastructure plan to support this field is the first of many anticipated opportunities for workers and those in need. The increased interest and motivation that something like this can provide an industry like ours is amazing. All of us benefit when we find ways to grow.
If you still have any questions or concerns about anything discussed in this article, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by clicking on this link or leave a comment in the section below.