A home health professional helps a woman with her medication. Home health services can help people with a number of conditions, and aim to prevent hospitalization while encouraging independence. (Public domain stock photo from Flickr)

MARQUETTE — Do you want to live independently at home and avoid hospitalization as much as you can?

Can assistance from a nurse, physical therapist or occupational therapist achieve that? If going out of your home is challenging for you, skilled home health care may be the solution.

Home health care encompasses a variety of healthcare services that can be delivered in your home, often used to help people heal from surgery, injury, or a sudden illness.

Skilled home health care can also help people cope with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, COPD, or heart disease at home.

To qualify for home health coverage, you must meet some criteria, including your doctor’s confirmation that you are ‘homebound.’ This means that you have trouble leaving home without assistance. You might not have a driver’s license, or you may require a wheelchair or walker for support. You must also be under a doctor’s care that verifies you need skilled services.

Once admitted, your home health providers will work with you to set goals that are specific to you and your situation.

These may include:

≤ Helping you feel better and recover after an injury or illness

≤ Assisting you in keeping independent at home as long as possible through education

≤ Delaying or preventing the need for a nursing home or other facility

≤ Maintaining your highest possible level of health and ability while living with a chronic illness

≤ Teaching you and your caregiver how to manage your health care at home

≤ Preventing unnecessary and potentially costly trips to the hospital.

There are a variety of home health care services that can be included in your care plan and every patient has unique needs.

Your home health care team may consist of nurses, to serve as your doctor’s eyes and ears in your home.

The nurse may teach you and your caregiver about your condition, medications, and symptoms; help you manage pain and other symptoms; provide wound care; or teach you and your caregiver to manage your medications.

Physical therapists may help you improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of falling by relieving pain, restoring flexibility, improving strength, balance, coordination and ability to move, and prevent disability.

An occupational therapist may teach you how to use special equipment, suggest ways to make your home safer, and provide tips and tools to make it easier for you to daily activities like bathing, dressing, and household chores.

You may need skilled home health care if you have difficulty leaving home and:

≤ You recently got discharged from a skilled nursing facility or hospital after an illness, injury or surgery,

≤ You visit your doctor of the emergency room often,

≤ You’re managing one or more chronic health conditions,

≤ You take several medications and need education regarding why and how to take your medication as directed.

≤ You recently had a medication change and need help monitoring the side effects and making sure they are working properly.

Could skilled home health help you maintain your independence? Find out today.

The best way to get skilled home health care is to ask your provider about it and they can help determine your eligibility and can make a referral.