Benefits of Home Health Care

Home Health Care can be a tremendous advantage for those people who do not need continuous nursing care and who wish to be cared for at home. It is the place where family, friends, and familiar surroundings make you feel most comfortable and recover faster. Home Health Care services can vary from simple companion care to more complex medical monitoring.

Protect Personal Freedom

Once a family member has to make the transition to a residential health care facility, particularly a nursing home, then the client has had to give up a significant amount of freedoms. If the loved one can be cared for at home, they are able to maintain a greater sense of privacy and dignity, and may still call the shots to a greater extent about their personal choices regarding meals, schedules and other activities of daily living.

Better Health

When a loved one is aging and has an acute or chronic illness, it is critical that they receive appropriate nutrition, medication, rest, and medical supervision. For many people, home health care workers can help loved ones maintain their level of wellness for a longer period of time.

In fact, research shows that home health care services can improve client’s ability to walk or move around, get in and out of bed, have less pain when moving around, improve bladder control, get better at bathing, are short of breath less often, need less urgent unplanned medical care in general and related to a wound.

Saves Money

Compare the costs to what you would pay for a loved one to live in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The average costs in the United States (in 2009) are:
$198/day for a semi-private room in a nursing home
$219/day for a private room in a nursing home
$3,131/month for care in an Assisted Living Facility (for a one-bedroom unit)
$21/hour for a Home Health Aide
$19/hour for a Homemaker services
A typical home health care visit occurs in a two to four block of time two to three times a week.

Provides Companionship

Research shows that even for those living with chronic illness or disability, living at home is often the best option for physical and mental well being. It can be difficult to quantify the advantages of companionship for someone needing home health care, but research indicates that social isolation can do as much harm to someone’s health as smoking. The National Institute of Mental Health noted that in 2004, nearly 16% of suicide deaths were individuals over 65 years of age. Isolation and quietness take over in environments that once were lively with children, pets, and neighbors in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Reduces Stress for Client and Loved Ones

Home Health Care services can be beneficial when a family member has serious medical needs and loved ones need to work, or enjoy some time away from care giving responsibilities. Home health care staff can help caregivers avoid missing family time, childrenís activities, and declining career opportunities.

Original blog posting – Heart Song Care