Understanding Home Health Care: A Complete Guide

Getting the right medical care at the right time is crucial to ensure proper healing and a better quality of life. Understanding how home health care works and fits into a care plan of an individual recovering from a traumatic injury, illness or recurring condition is important to help understand the options available to you or your loved one. 

Medical care does not always end after discharge from a hospital.  If you or your loved one is ready to leave the hospital but still need skilled medical or rehabilitative care, home health is an option that can play a big role in an individual’s continued recovery.  

This comprehensive guide to home health care will cover: 

• What home health care is and how to receive it
• The benefits it provides
• Who qualifies 
• Types of care provided
•  Services not provided by home health
• Average costs and insurance coverage 

What is Home Health Care?  

Home health care brings skilled medical care provided by licensed medical professionals to an individual in their own home. 

“Home health care provides ongoing care and support, and ensures appropriate resources are in place,” says Chandler Rice, occupational therapist in Brooks Rehabilitation Home Health division. “This helps promote a successful transition home for the patient.” 

People may receive home care to manage or treat an illness, medical condition or injury. Services can be provided wherever home is. This includes:  

• A private residence 
• While staying with a family member  
• A senior living facility.  

How to Receive Home Health Care

To receive in-home care, a patient’s doctor writes an order for services.  A home health agency staffed with a variety of healthcare professionals, such as nurses and therapists, is then able to provide skilled care with physician oversight.  

After services start, the staff keeps the doctor informed, who will then update the treatment plan as needed. The length of time someone continues to receive home health depends on their medical condition and progress.  

Benefits of Home Health Care  

There are several benefits for patients and their families. One advantage is that it allows someone to receive care in the comfort of home instead of a hospital.  It also eliminates missed appointments due to transportation or logistic issues.  

Other benefits include:

• Emotional well-being: Being in the home with support from family and friends can contribute to recovery and may improve well-being.  
• Less trips to the hospital: home health care can reduce the need for patients to visit the hospital, which can save money, reduce stress and exposure risks.
• Familiar environment: Receiving care in the home helps patients learn to regain self-sufficiency in their environment. For example, therapy may help an individual develop ways to navigate a home environment. It may also promote self-sufficiency and allow individuals to immediately experience the benefits of therapy.  

Patients also experience an increased quality of life through:

• Faster recovery from an injury or illness 
• Slow the decline of a medical condition  
• Better symptom management
• Improved level of functioning  
• Learning alternative ways to do activities  

Who Qualifies for Home Health Care?  

Individuals who have any of the following conditions may need in-home care:  

• Recovering from an illness or traumatic injury 
• A setback or flareup of a chronic health condition, such as COPD, multiple sclerosis or congestive heart failure  
• Recovering from surgery  
• Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia  

 Types of Care Provided

Home health care encompasses a variety of services. The services ordered may vary depending on the patient’s condition and needs. Many people receive more than one type of service.  

“To advance the health and well-being of patients in their home, we provide a multidisciplinary approach, which consists of nursing, physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy, along with medical social work and home health aide services,” said Maria Fisher, RN, who works as a nurse for Brooks Rehabilitation’s Home Health.  

Types of home health care services are listed below.  

Rehabilitative Therapy 

Physical, occupational and/or speech therapy plays a significant role in helping someone regain their independence and functioning.

Physical therapists help improve mobility, functioning and reduce pain. Care may include:  

• Fall prevention  
• Home safety  
• Balance work  
• Strengthening  

Occupational therapy helps people to perform activities of daily living. This may include:  

• Using adaptive equipment  
• Retraining for dressing and grooming  
• Learning ways to conserve energy 

Speech therapists treat people with language, speech and swallowing disorders. Treatment may include:  

• Post-stroke recovery  
• Strengthening the muscles involved in speech 
• Teaching alternative methods of communication  

Nursing Care 

Home health may include skilled nursing care. Nursing care may consist of a variety of services, such as:  

• Taking vital signs 
• Completing medical treatments 
• Administering medications  
• Providing dementia care 
• Managing pain and other symptoms  
• Medication education  
• Respiratory care 
• Wound care 
• Diabetes education   
• Dressing changes  

Medical Social Services 

The medical system is complex and some people find navigating a medical condition challenging and overwhelming. Medical social workers help patients with the social, psychological and financial aspects related to recovery.   

Services may include:  

• Counseling
• Education  
• Referrals to community resources, such as transportation  
• Support and development of coping strategies 
• Help to assess insurance or finical assistance  
• Patient Advocacy  

Doctor Care 

Not all home health care includes doctor visits. However, in some cases, a physician may visit to review home health needs. Even when doctors do not come to the home, they will periodically review the patient’s progress and makes appropriate adjustments to the orders.  

Services Not Provided by Home Health

It is important to understand that the professionals providing care are highly trained clinicians. Home health professionals are generally not in the home full time and only come as needed to perform services.

If other services are needed such as help with preparing meals, daily living activities and companionship, private options such as custom care are available to provide these daily living support services.

Average Cost of Home Health Care 

It is challenging to state the average cost of home health care. Various factors affect the cost, such as :

• Services provided 
• Length of time care is provided 
• Location  

Some estimates indicate that the average cost is about $26 an hour. But this is widely variable.  

Is Home Health Care Covered by Insurance? 

Some insurance providers cover home health services if an individual meets the requirements. However, insurance coverage varies greatly by provider.  

Medicare Coverage 

Medicare Part A covers home health services when the patient meets certain qualifying conditions, such as:  

• A doctor orders for home health service 
• The physician deems the care medically necessarily 
• You meet the criteria of “homebound.” 

If you have Medicare Part A, the cost to you for covered home health care is $0. But before services start, you should contact Medicare and determine the exact coverage for what for what the doctor ordered.  

Private Insurance  

In some instances, private insurance covers some or all of your home health services when you qualify. But because insurance coverage varies, contacting your insurance provider is important. Also, if you have long-term care insurance, your policy may cover some home health costs. 

Home Health Care with Brooks

We hope this article helps you understand better how home health care works and how it can help you.

Brooks Rehabilitation is dedicated to empowering patients to their highest level of recovery and has various care settings throughout its system to ensure individuals recovering from a traumatic injury or illness are supported through the entire recovery process.

Learn more about Brooks home health care and request services here.