What Is Home Health Care?

Home health care is the term for a wide range of services delivered in the home following an injury, illness or medical procedure. People in various roles provide home health care, including doctors, nurses, therapists, medical social workers, home health aides and others.

This article explains what home health care is, what services are available and why this type of care is beneficial.

Typical Home Health Care Services

Each healthcare organization has its definitions of home health care and the services the term covers, but it commonly refers to the following:

• Physician care: Doctors may visit patients at home to diagnose or treat illnesses or injuries. They might also visit to assess a patient’s current status and care needs.
• Nursing care: In collaboration with a patient’s physician, a home health nurse may provide many services, including monitoring general health, dressing wounds, administering medication, managing intravenous therapy and coordinating pain control.
• Therapy: Physical, occupational and speech therapists may visit a patient at home to provide various therapies. They focus on strengthening or improving the range of motion in muscles and joints, providing training on tasks of daily living following a change in physical status and helping a patient regain their verbal communication skills respectively.
• Medical social services: Medical social workers provide services like counseling or helping patients find community resources. They may also serve as the person’s case manager, helping them navigate the healthcare system more effectively.
• Nutritional support: Dieticians visit patients to assess their nutritional needs and recommend changes to their diets if needed to align with and support treatment plans.
• Help with daily living tasks: Home health aides can assist with personal needs, like helping the patient get into or out of bed, bathe and dress.
• Laboratory and imaging support: Samples for some lab tests, like blood or urine tests, can be collected at the patient’s home. Portable imaging equipment, such as X-ray machines, can also be taken to the patient’s residence to perform procedures.
• Pharmaceutical and technical assistance: Patients who need to know how to take medicines can get that training at home, and medical equipment technicians can set up devices needed for patient care.
• Transportation: Helping patients get to and from medical appointments may be considered a home health care service.
• Supervision and companionship: Some patients who live alone might need supervision or benefit from social interactions with a caregiver.
• Homemaker services: Home health care may include assistance with tasks like light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation and grocery shopping.

What Are the Benefits of Home Health Care?

Home health care provides several benefits to those needing it, including:

• Increased comfort and convenience
• Personalized care tailored to their needs, schedule, etc.
• Cost-effectiveness versus extended hospital stays
• Reduced infection risk
• Minimized travel
• Family involvement

The parameters for home health care are driven by the entity paying for the services (insurance company, government entity, etc.). It’s crucial to understand how your home health care costs will be covered as you consider arranging for services.

Talk With Your Baptist Health Provider About Home Health Care

If you need or anticipate needing home health care services, talk with your Baptist Health provider. They can direct you to the appropriate resources.

Use our online provider directory to find a home care provider if you don’t have one. You can also call 1.888.925.6124 to connect with a Baptist Health provider.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Home Care at Baptist Health
What Is Hospice Care at Home?
What Is Respite Home Care?
Cancer Care Home Services
Home Care for Dementia Patients