It’s not unusual that when you or a family member is hospitalized that home health care or hospice is mentioned. Most get these two services confused.
Some believe that home health care is a service that provides any needs you may need while at home while others believe that hospice is a dreaded death sentence. You may be surprised to learn that these two necessary health care services offer much more than meets the eye.
So what is the difference between hospice and home health care? We’re here to help you fully understand what these services entail.
What is Home Health Care and Who Needs These Services?
Home health care is an important service that can be provided to people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, recently underwent surgery, were hospitalized, or those who are elderly.
These services can include things like personal care, rehabilitation therapy, skilled nursing services, medication management, and other supportive services.
Interdisciplinary Team
There are typically many disciplines involved with home health care depending on the patient’s needs. Most home healthcare agencies have nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and speech therapy staff helping to work with the needs of their patients.
Is Home Health Right for You?
There are many reasons why you may need home health care. You may be recovering from surgery, have limited mobility, need help with daily activities or suffer from a chronic condition that requires regular monitoring.
Whatever your reason for needing home health care, there are professionals out there who can provide you with quality and compassionate care that you deserve.
If you haven’t been recently hospitalized or require a certain skill in the home but just have trouble getting out to doctor’s appointments, at home primary care may be a more fitting service to you. This type of service allows your primary care team to come to your home instead of you needing to go to their office for routine care.
Hospice and Those Who Benefit
Hospice care is a kind of medical care that focuses on providing comfort and pain relief to patients who are near the end of their life.
Hospice care is not just for people with terminal illnesses. It can also be used by people who have chronic illnesses that have become too difficult to control. Hospice care can also be used by people who are in the last stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or those who have a terminal illness such as cancer.
Where Do Hospice Services Take Place and Who Pays for it?
Hospice services can be provided at home, in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals. These services include 24-hour nursing care, medications for pain management and symptom management, and counseling for patients and families.
Most hospice services focus on the physical, social, and emotional needs of the patient. They also provide bereavement counseling for families and friends of the patient who have passed away.
Hospice services are often covered by Medicare or private health insurance plans leaving the patient and family with typically no out of pocket expenses.
The Goal of Hospice
The goal of hospice care is to provide patients with comfort, dignity, and peace at the end of their lives and the sooner these services are started, the more beneficial it is to the patient and family.
If you or a loved one is in need of hospice services, contact your doctor today.
